November 2008

Alan Gardiner SDB

After skipping a meeting in October it was back to business as usual for our November meeting and it was our Club Chairman Alan Gardiner, by popular request it has to be said, making a rare appearance as Guest Artiste. Alan had been persuaded to make a recording for Take the Floor, his first for 7 years, and had invited pianist Richard Currie over for the event. Having made the recording at Pacific Quay in the afternoon it was then on to Biggar for 4 of the band members leaving Brian Cruickshank to return home.

But firstly we were entertained by an absolute wealth of talent in the form of accordionists James Paterson, Davy Miller, Charlie Todd, Andrew and Adam Gibb, Jim Gold, Fiona Paul, Kevin Gardiner, Emma Dickson, Paul Capaldi, Allan Smith, Roger Dobson, Eric Goodfellow, Tom Orr, Scott Nichol, Lynne Christie and Duncan Hutchison. On fiddle were Adam Gibb, David Corner, Hannah Dickson and Tom Gold. On keyboard were Jim Gold, Emma Dickson, Tom Orr, Jim and Scott Nichol and on drums Geordie Shiels, Andrew Barrie, Eric Goodfellow and Andrew Gibb and on concertina David Corner.

Four of our youngest players namely, Adam Gibb (lead accordion), Emma Dickson (keyboard), Hannah Dickson (fiddle) and Andrew Gibb (drums) played their Perth Band set readily demonstrating where the future of the Club lies. Again our thanks must go to our two local teachers Keith Dickson and Andy Kain for their sterling efforts in tutoring the youngsters of the area.

One other item of local note is that Tom Orr from Hyndfordbridge has brought out his first band CD “Tomorrow’s World” which was selling like hotcakes. No-one who has heard Tom or his band could be in any doubt that it would be anything but brilliant.  

For our two guest spots Alan, Gordon Smith, Keith Dickson and Dr Richard Currie provided a variety of selections in the immaculate style that used to be associated with the band when they were featuring regularly on the air waves. Alan explained that Richard had been resident in Padova, near Venice in Italy for the last 6 years but such is the standard of his musicianship that there was no noticeable difference, indeed he undertook a solo piece called Song C by Bruce Hornsby.     

So here’s hoping it’s not another 7 years before they grace the stage at Biggar again. Next month sees a welcome return to Biggar of the Graeme Mitchell SDB on Sunday 14^th December. As ever the Club meet at 7pm in the Municipal Hall. 

September 2008

Craigowl S.D.B.

Meeting a week earlier than usual had an unfortunate effect on audience size at Biggar but that didn’t deter from the quality of the performers. Local performers were- on accordion Jim Gold, Gavin Jackson, Jim Paterson, Jennifer Cowie, Charlie Todd, Scott Nichol, Tom Orr, Alan Gardiner, Keith Dickson and a first time visitor all the way from Musselburgh, Ronnie Johnstone – thanks to him for making the long trip to be with us. On fiddle were Tom Gold and Emma Gardiner, on drums Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope and Ross Anderson and on keyboard Alan Gardiner, Jim Nichol, Scott Nichol and Jim Gold.

Our guests for the evening were the Craigowl SDB. Despite leader Kevin Clark being a relative local, staying at Bothwell  for 19 years, the Club had never got round to inviting him as guest. This was finally rectified and in the company of sister Stella Wilkie (Falkland) on fiddle, Graham Sheritt (Friockheim) on drums, Bruce Quirie (Perth) 2^nd accordion and Mark MacDougall (Newcastleton) on keyboard they gave us two excellent sessions of dance music. Many of our audience members recall the band’s origins as the young Dundee Accordion and Fiddle Club Band when they appeared annually at the Association’s AGM Weekend in it’s Dunblane Hydro days and time may have changed a few of the faces but it has also added a wealth of experience which shone through.

With no meeting next month we look forward to a rare appearance of the Alan Gardiner SDB on 9^th November at the usual venue, the Municipal Hall at 7pm. Hope to see you there.