February 2010

David Kennedy S.D.B.

After a January cancellation due to the prevailing weather conditions it was all systems go for our February meeting. Chairman, Alan Gardiner, opening the meeting with a mention of the sad and untimely death of one of our most regular supporters, Jim Paterson from Peebles on 2^nd February, and extending the sympathy of everyone at the Club to Jim’s family. The Club had been well represented among the many hundreds of mourners at Jim’s funeral earlier in the week, a mark of the esteem in which he was held by all.

But back to the regular business of the evening. Our guests were a young band based in Thornhill, Dumfriesshire the David Kennedy SDB with David taking lead accordion, Adele Queen (Closeburn) on second accordion, Steven Todd (Dalkeith) on keyboard, Tom Gold (Douglas) on fiddle and Andrew Gibb (Biggar) on drums. It almost goes without saying that almost all are pupils of Keith Dickson. David explained that he had been suffering from a cold for the last couple of weeks and wasn’t feeling 100% but the band put on an excelling performance giving us a variety of tempos. Also of note was the piece played by Adele when she took the lead, a lovely and technically demanding Continental polka entitled “Perles de Crystal” backed by Steven, Andrew and David. The band brought a large contingent of family and friends with them which helped fill the hall and create a great atmosphere.

Local musicians who turned out to support us were accordionists Jim Gold, Riddell Cairns, Fiona Sinclair, Charlie Todd, Alan Gardiner, Andrew Gibb and Bobby Elder (all the way from Auchtermuchly in Fife). On concertina was David Corner and on fiddle Emma Gardiner and Tom Gold.  On keyboard were Jim Gold, Keith Dickson and Alan Gardiner and on drums Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope, Ross Anderson and Garry Kellow, also visiting us from Kinross in Fife. Many thanks to them all for their excellent contributions.

December 2009

Ian Muir Trio

 Once again the weather played havoc with our audience numbers (and players also for that matter) with a weekend of severe frost. The Council seem to be saving on the gritting this year, certainly as far as the side roads go, and as a result many of our regulars understandably opted to stay at home. But for those who did turn out it was the usual feast of Festive entertainment.

On accordions were Jim Gold, Andrew Gibb, Adam Gibb, Emma Dickson, Charlie Todd and Alan Gardiner and we were particularly pleased to see Dochie McCallum (who came through with our guests) and John Weaks who made the long journey from Glasgow to be with us. Thanks lads.

On fiddle were Tom Gold, Emma Gardiner, Hannah Dickson and David Corner, on keyboard Jim Gold, Alan Gardiner, Adam Gibb and Keith Dickson and on drums Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope, James Dickson, Andrew Gibb and Andrew Barrie. David Corner have us a few selections on his concertina.

Good to see so many young players taking the stage and giving such an excellent account of themselves and all credit to their teachers for their guidance and encouragement. 

Guests for the evening were the Ian Muir Trio with Ian taking the lead accordion, Neil McMillan on keyboard and Ian Adamson from Cupar on drums. As usual the boys gave a sparkling performance of Scottish dance music with various other idioms thrown in for good measure interspersed with Ian’s excellent jokes and anecdotes.

November 2009  

Marian Anderson SDB

Our November meeting attracted a good turnout and an excellent response from local players. Congratulations in particular to one of those, 16 year old Andrew Gibb, on his recent wins at the Perth Festival – the Senior Scottish, the senior pipe, the trio and the bands and not forgetting his teacher, of course, Keith Dickson. Well done to them both.

On accordions we had James Paterson, Charlie Todd, Jim Gold, Andrew Gibb, Duncan Hutchison, Alan Gardiner, Fiona Paul, Paul Capaldi, Lynn Christie, Scott Nichol, Willie McFarlane and Darren Broadley. On fiddle were Tom Gold, Robert Menzies, David Corner and Emma Gardiner. On keyboard Jim Nichol, Alan Gardiner and Jim Gold and on drums James Paterson, George Sheills, Tom Hope, Andrew Barrie and Andrew Gibb. David Corner gave us a couple of concertina selections. All in all a very respectable turnout. Accordionist Robert Menzies was invited up to the recent Shetland Festival as a solo fiddler, which speaks volumes for his ability on his “second instrument”. The talents of some of these young players seem to know no bounds.

Our guests for the evening were the well travelled and ever popular Marian Anderson SDB with Marian taking the lead, Graham Bell on second accordion, Izzy Hodgson on keyboard and Max Ketchin on drums. Marian mentioned they had recently been playing in North Carolina, quite a difference from a freezing cold night in South Lanarkshire I imagine. They gave us an interesting and varied programme with some rather nice arrangements away from the country dance idiom. Many thanks to them for making the long journey to entertain us so ably.

September 2009

Nicol McLaren and the Glencraig S.D.B. 

With no meeting in October (due to the absence of players at the Shetland Festival) Biggar started the season with a tribute to our late founder, Alex MacArthur, who died twenty years ago in October 1989. Needless to say there was only one choice of guest artiste –nephew Nicol McLaren and the Glencraig SDB. As always Nicol rose to the occasion and fielded a six piece band with Davy Bell on drums, John Sinton on string bass, Izzy Hodgson on keyboard, Alan Gardiner on second box (standing in at short notice for Neil Caul who was cavin’ a coo), Gordon Howe on fiddle and Nicol himself on lead. 2009 also marks the 35th season for the Club which started in 1974 and Nicol was there on that very first night at the Clydesdale Hotel just across the road (he’s obviously a lot older than we thought!)

Nicol was playing his late uncle’s straight tuned Domino IV and interspersed a variety of Alex’s original sets (which brought back a flood of memories) and medleys of the tunes which Alex had played, with some of his own more recent sets. We were also delighted to have three generations of the family with us for the evening namely, Evelyn MacArthur, daughter Fiona and grand-daughter Heather.

Local players on the night were accordionists Charlie Todd, Jennifer Cowie, Jim Gold, Andrew Gibb, Alan Gardiner and Iain MacPhail who made a surprise but very welcome visit to the club.  On fiddle were Emma Gardiner and Tom Gold, on concertina David Corner, on keyboard Jim Gold, Alan Gardiner and Keith Dickson, on drums Geordie Shiels, Tom Hope, Andrew Gibb and Neil McGregor who made the trip all the way from Thurso. We also had a couple of excellent vocal renditions from Shelley Clark.