5th November 2009

The first Thursday of November in the Royal Hotel, Portree, found a large group of members and friends of the Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Club gathered for an evening of great music introduced by Club chairman and m.c., Jim Campbell. As usual, local musicians started the evening with Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on piano accordion, John Cameron on keyboards and Donald John Campbell on drums getting the feet tapping with a great selection of marches, jigs and reels. One of the Club’s younger players, Emma Beaton of Flodigarry on piano accordion played some marches to be followed by the solo fiddle of Wendy Riva of Kilmuir with a varied and well prepared programme. The trio of Club stalwarts, John MacGilvary and John Cameron on accordions and Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on drums were followed by some very fine piping from young Bruce MacDonald. The audience were delighted to welcome visiting accordionist Bobby Dowds who had travelled all the way from Leuchars. Bobby borrowed two players from the guest band of the night to accompany him, namely drummer Richard Hughes and Derek Hamilton on keyboards and proceeded to give a fine performance to an appreciative audience. Portree drummer Donald MacRae joined accordionist John Cameron who had returned to the stage to give another enjoyable selection before the official guest band of the evening made their eagerly awaited appearance. The remainder of the evening was devoted to the John Stuart Scottish Dance Band which comprised of John himself from Leven leading on piano accordion, Stuart Reid of Dunfermline on fiddle, Derek Hamilton of Galston on piano keyboard and, from Tobermory, Richard Hughes on drums. These great musicians are no strangers to the Skye Club and, as usual, provided their audience with an excellent and varied mix of music played to a high standard in a fine traditional style which was greatly appreciated. The next meeting of the Club will be for their annual buffet dance in the Royal Hotel, Portree on Friday 4 December when the music for dancing will be provided by the ever popular Allan McIntosh and the Heather Dance Band.