7th May 2009

A well attended meeting of the Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Club was held on Thursday 7 May in the Royal Hotel, Portree where Club Chairman and M.C. Jim Campbell opened the proceedings by inviting Portree accordionists Aly ‘K’ MacPherson and James Stewart, visiting keyboard player Clare Jordan of Oban and drummer Donald MacRae of Portree to get the music under way. This they did in fine style with some lively jigs and marches. Their performance was the first of many from the Club members, Emma Beaton of Flodigarry, Rebecca MacDonald, John Cameron and John MacGilvary of Portree and Catherine MacFarlane of Edinbane, all on piano accordions. Fiddle selections were provided by Wendy Riva of Kilmuir and then by visiting fiddler Jean Cater all the way from Ipswich who played the beautiful air “Mr and Mrs MacLean” followed by some great jigs. Another welcome visitor to the Club was Helen Murray of Inverness on piano accordion who teamed up with Clare Jordan of Oban on keyboards, Portree’s Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on drums, and on second box John Burns, leader of the guest band of the evening. This group played some rousing marches to keep the audience feet tapping.

The guest band, who entertained in both halves of the evening’s programme comprised of John Burns leading on accordion, brother George Burns on second box and completing the lineup, Finlay Robertson on drums. This Falkirk based band delighted the audience with their lively repertoire, played with feeling and professionalism, to bring yet another great Club night in Skye to a close.

As a finale to the current very successful season the Club are now looking forward to their fifth annual Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Festival to be held in Portree from the 21st until the 23rd of May, starting with a Club night in the Royal Hotel, Portree when the guest band will be the Iain MacPhail Scottish Dance Band - a Festival not to be missed!

John Grundy