Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival

Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival 2010

Thursday 27th May 2010
Michael Philip Scottish Dance Band held in The Royal Hotel, Portree at 7.30pm

Friday 28th May 2010

Iain Cameron Scottish Dance Band held in The Royal Hotel, Portree at 7.30pm

Saturday 29 May 2010

Afternoon - Ally K MacPherson & Friends

Brandon McPhee Trio

8.30pm - Ceilidh Dance in the Skye Gathering Hall with Marian Anderson and her Scottish Dance Band.

info@skyemusic.co.uk or 01478 612153

As well as the above organised events, there will of course be music in some of the other bars around the village.

If you are looking for accommodation we suggest you contact the local Tourist Information Office on 01478-612137 or online at www.visithighlands.com. Lists of accommodation are also available on www.skye.co.uk and also The Royal Hotel, Portree on www.royal-hotel-skye.com or 01478-612525.

The fifth annual Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Festival got off to a flying start on Thursday 21 May in The Royal Hotel, Portree where a host of musicians and friends crowded in to the opening event in this increasingly popular celebration of accordion and fiddle music. The opening sets of the event were provided by accordionist Ross MacPherson who had travelled from Connel in Argyllshire to attend the festival. Ross is no stranger to Portree, being a former chairman of the Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Club who organise the annual festival and he has been responsible for teaching many of the Club’s fine young players. As if to demonstrate the popularity of the festival with musicians from far and wide, Ross was joined on stage by keyboard player Jimmy MacDonald of Tighnabruaich, Derek Hamilton of Galson, Ayrshire on second box and Donald MacRae of Portree on drums. Thereafter a steady stream of fine musicians kept the capacity audience happy with everything from slow airs to jigs and reels. A great turnout of musicians from the Borders area took their turn on stage including Robin and Deryn Waitt, Mungo Riddell and John Murray, all on accordions. Drummers on the evening were Gerry Boxhall, Tom Riddell, Bob Dorrance, Donald Macrae, George Bremner of Inverness and, not forgetting that veteran of festivals, Richard Hughes from Mull. Perthshire was represented by two fine accordionists, Iain Cameron of Ballinluig and Andy Gregory of Pitlochry while from Leven in Fife came another welcome visitor with his accordion, John Stuart. From Muir of Ord came the great wee 2-row button-box with the great big sound ably produced by Hamish MacDougall and from Inverness Erik Spence joined in with keyboards as did local musician Blair Douglas of Braes. Local Club players taking part were John MacGilvary of Borve, Rebecca MacDonald, Alan Palmer and Loraine Gillies of Portree and Ceitidh Douglas of Braes, all on accordions. On fiddle was Wendy Riva of Kilmuir and on keyboards, John Cameron of Portree.

Highlight of the evening, and possibly of the whole festival, was the appearance of The Iain MacPhail Scottish Dance Band who gave a stunning performance to a spellbound audience. Iain MacPhail leading on piano accordion was joined by Brian Griffin on second box, Andrew Knight on fiddle, Isobelle Hodgson on keyboards and George Darling on drums to produce that very special and magical sound associated with Iain MacPhail. From haunting slow airs through to sensational driving reels this five piece band performed with great feeling, humour and sheer professionalism leaving a delighted audience shouting for more.

The following day’s music started unofficially after breakfast and rapidly spread to other venues throughout Portree, courtesy of the many visiting musicians. In The Royal Hotel entertainment was provided by many of the players from the previous evening who were joined by others such as accordionists Helen Murray of Inverness and Elizabeth MacKenzie from Thurso, fiddler Ian MacDonald of Thurso and keyboard player Jacqui MacDonald of Inverness. James and Thomas Lawrie, accordion playing brothers from Dumfriesshire, contributed to the entertainment and special mention should be made of twelve year old Gregor Mitchell and his ten year old sister, Judith, from Stratmiglo, Fife who both played their accordions. The featured band on the Friday evening was the Fife based Gary Sutherland Ceilidh Band with Gary on lead accordion, brother Allan on drums, father Hamish on keyboards and fiddler Willie Johnstone who had travelled all the way from Jersey. Playing to a packed house, this eagerly awaited band presented a superb programme to an appreciative audience and bringing the evening to a close. As the toe-tapping music continued through Saturday two excellent young bands performed in The Royal Hotel to great acclaim, starting with The Andrew MacDonald Ceilidh Band. Andrew, from Inverlochy, has recently released his debut C.D. and played several sets from the recording ably accompanied by Ross Wilson of Mull on keyboards, Robert Nairn of Acharacle on fiddle and George Bremner of Inverness on drums. A name to look out for in the future, Andrew can look forward to a fine musical career. Closely following Andrew was another great young accordionist making his debut as a bandleader at a Club, it was Craig McFadyen of Oban who took to the stage accompanied by father, Hector on second accordion, Ross Wilson of Mull on keyboards and Richard Hughes of Mull on drums. Another great west coast band giving a polished and confident performance with an obvious rapport between father and son, not only musically but also in the humour department. The festival formally ended on the Saturday evening with a hugely successful sell-out dance in the historic Skye Gathering Hall to the great music of The Scott Harvey Ceilidh Band. However some musicians were obviously unaware, or chose to ignore, the end of the festival as the strains of music were still heard in many quarters through until Monday! The Skye Festival, which has built a reputation for hospitality, friemdship, great craic and the best of music has once again been voted a huge success and the hard working committee intend to build on that success next year when the festival starts in Portree on Thursday 27 May 2010.

John Grundy