February 4th 2010

Isle of Skye.

The severe wintry weather having forced the cancellation of their January meeting, the Isle of Skye Accordion and Fiddle Club welcomed a good number of members and friends on the first Thursday of February to the Royal Hotel, Portree looking forward to a night of great music – and they were not to be disappointed. Club Chairman and M.C. opened the evening by introducing the first of the local and visiting players who were to provide the entertainment for the first half of the programme. It was Portree’s Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on piano accordion accompanied on keyboards by John Cameron who led off with two sets of fine marches followed by set of jigs. Two of the Club’s youngest players, both on accordion, took to the stage to delight the audience. Eight year old Iona MacAskill and nine year old Maria MacAskill each played a solo selection and later in the programme it was eleven year old Rhona MacInnes of Dunvegan on accordion who played some beautiful Gaelic airs. The Club is indeed fortunate to have such young players willing to take the stage to display their talents. As a change from the accordion, talented young piper Bruce MacDonald of Woodend played two selections, the first being a Strathspey and two reels followed by a hornpipe and jigs. With his pipes in good tune Bruce gave an excellent performance to the appreciative audience. Young Emma Dixon brought her accordion on stage with a fine selection. Regular player, Wendy Riva of Kilmuir on fiddle gave her usual well prepared and meticulous contribution to the evening to be followed by a group of Club stalwarts for a great set of Gaelic waltzes followed by some foot-tapping reels. Leading on accordion was John Cameron of Portree, on second box John MacGilvray of Borve and on drums, Aly ‘K’ MacPherson of Portree. Making up the quartet on keyboards, the Club were pleased to see the familiar face of the multi-talented Derek Hamilton from Galston in Ayrshire who had made the long journey north to visit the Club. The final local player was Catherine Macleod, another of the Club’s younger players who gave selections on her piano accordion accompanied by Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on second box. To close the first half of the evening it was again Derek Hamilton, this time on piano accordion, with visiting band leader Alan Gardiner of Biggar on keyboards and another popular visitor, Richard Hughes of Tobermory on drums. They played two great sets, starting with some Lowland waltzes followed by a lively set of Border marches – including Derek’s arrangement of The Soft Lowland Tongue Of The Borders played in 4/4 time!
The second half of the evening was devoted to the eagerly awaited performance of the guest band, the Alan Gardiner Trio comprising of Alan leading on piano accordion, his nephew Kevin Gardiner of Larbert on second box and Richard Hughes on drums. Their fine performance in a relaxed style with a fine tight sound enthralled the audience and the evening was rounded off with other players joining the Trio for a great stramash. The Club meets again on the first Thursday of March when the guest artistes will be The Michael Garvin Trio.