5th March 2009

A packed venue at the Royal Hotel, Portree on the first Thursday of March 2009 for the monthly meeting of the Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Club waited with eager anticipation for an evening of great music and they were not to be disappointed, especially as the guest artiste for the evening was to be accordion virtuoso Gordon Pattullo. Starting off the entertainment it was a welcome return to the Club by accordionist James Stewart of Portree with fine marches and reels and accompaniament by local players Blair Douglas on keyboards and Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on drums. The Club are fortunate to have a number of up and coming young players being tutored by accordionist Lorraine Gillies of Portree and it was one of her pupils who next took to the stage. Emma Beaton of Flodigarry delighted the audience with her selection, as did her fellow pupils Mhairi MacKinnon, Elaine MacDonald and Kimberley Lamont, all on accordions, later in the programme. The only fiddler of the evening was Wendy Riva of Kilmuir who regularly gives a well prepared and polished performance, usually including a short classical piece among her celtic offerings. Young Ceitidh Douglas of Braes on piano accordion was joined on stage by dad, Blair, also on accordion to play a couple of Blair’s compositions. The first was “Iain Angus’s Welcome to the Big WideWorld” followed by his recent composition “John Nicolson’s March to Freedom” in tribute to a local character who was recently awarded the Freedom of Skye & Lochalsh as recognition of his work over many years for the local community. Ceitidh continued with the reels “Bratach Bana” and “Mrs MacLeod of Raasay” and closing with two lovely waltzes. Two of the more senior Club members, John Cameron and John MacGilvary, brought their accordions on stage to be accompanied by Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on drums for some nice selections before Rebecca MacDonald on accordion played a solo set of Gaelic waltzes and marches. To close the first half of the programme it was with great pleasure that Club chairman and M.C., Jim Campbell, called upon guest player Gordon Pattullo of Coupar Angus on accordion. From his opening medley Gordon wowed the appreciative audience with his fantastic playing, the variety of his programme, not to mention some hilarious anecdotes, taking a happy crowd up to the refreshment break.

After the break there were still a few local players waiting to perform and Aly ‘K’ MacPherson displayed his versatility by strapping on his piano accordion while John Cameron took over keyboards, James Stewart was on second box and Portree druimmer Donald Macrae made up the quartet. Solo accordionist Fiona MacKinnon of Portree entertained with a fine set of marches followed by Gaelic waltzes and then handed over to accordionist Calum Munro, formerly of Glenurquhart and now of Kilmuir, Skye who was accompanied by Blair Douglas on keyboards and Aly K’ on drums. Their fine performance led up nicely to Gordon Pattullo who, once again, enthralled to audience with his musical expertise and wit – surely the consummate entertainer – bringing a fine Club night to a close. The next Club night will be held in the Royal Hotel, Portree on Thursday 2 April when they look forward to being entertained by Archie McPhee and the Bogroy Ceilidh Band.

John Grundy