8th October 2009

The 2009/10 season of the Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Club got off to a flying start when a large number of musicians and enthusiasts gathered in the Royal Hotel, Portree on Thursday 8 October to enjoy a great evening of entertainment. Young players were to the fore but, after a warm welcome from Club Chairman and M.C., Jim Campbell, it fell to Club stalwarts Aly “K” MacPherson on piano accordion and Donald John Campbell on drums to open the proceedings with some toe-tapping selections of pipe marches, jigs and reels. This was followed by a selection of marches on accordion from young Emma Beaton of Flodigarry. Next on stage were representatives from four local charities to receive donations from the Club as a result of funds raised at the Club’s highly successful Accordion and Fiddle Festival held in May. Back to the music and a nice set of tunes from young fiddler Eilidh MacPherson accompanied by her tutor, Cairena Campbell of Portree. Cairena stayed on stage for a fiddle solo accompanied by Aly “K” on accordion and Donald John on drums and delighted the audience with a marvellous slow air, march, strathspey and reel set. Another change of instrument brought young piper Rona Nicolson of Portree to entertain with some well known tunes including The Man From Skye. Included in her very capable performance was her own composition, Hector’s Jig which she had composed in honour of well known local piper, Hector Henderson. Later in the programme the audience were treated to a further pipe selection from another great young piper, Bruce MacDonald. A trio of Club members and regular contributors to the meetings, John Cameron and John MacGilvray on piano accordions and the versatile Aly “K” who moved to drums entertained with some nice sets, finishing with a lovely Gaelic waltz. Fiddler Wendy Riva of Kilmuir gave her usual polished performance to be followed on accordion by Catherine MacFarlane of Edinbane accompanied on drums by Aly “K”. To close the first half of the evening there were some rousing sets from the local “A and E Ceilidh Band” with Edward MacLeod of Kensaleyre and Aly “K” MacPherson both on accordion with drum backing from Donald MacRae of Portree. The entire second half of the evening was devoted to the Club’s special guests, the Duncan MacKinnon Ceilidh Band with Duncan from the Island of Barra leading on 3-row button-box, John Burns of Falkirk on piano accordion and, on drums Andrew MacPherson of Portree. A real foot-tapping performance from this fine trio delighted the appreciative audience and sent them homewards happy after a great night of music. At their next meeting in the Royal Hotel, Portree on Thursday 5 November the Club look forward to being entertained by old friends, the John Stuart Scottish Dance Band from Leven.