1st April 2010

With the April meeting of the Skye Club in the Royal Hotel, Portree coinciding with the start of a holiday weekend there were fewer than usual local players in attendance, but those who were able to come along had no difficulty in providing a great evening of entertainment. Club chairman and M.C., Jim Campbell, opened the proceedings by inviting Club stalwarts Aly ‘K’ MacPherson on accordion, John Cameron on keyboards and Donald John Campbell on drums to warm up the audience and get their feet tapping. Versatile as ever, several musicians changed instruments throughout the evening and, for example John Cameron moved from keyboards to strap on his piano accordion and to be joined by Aly ‘K’ who moved to drums and John MacGilvray who joined them on accordion. Their version of the beautiful Bays of Harris was particularly appreciated as was the fiddle solo of The Skye Boat Song performed by nine year old Ellie MacPherson, one of the Club’s youngest players. Maintaining variety in the programme, two fine young musicians from Sleat performed a superb duet on the Highland bagpipe which wowed the audience. They were Seumas O’Baoghill and Crisdean MacDonald who demonstrated their great talent later in the evening with Seumas picking up the fiddle, Crisdean changing to the Lowland pipes and joined by Iain Macleod on guitar for great lively sets. More toe-tapping music from Edward MacLeod’s accordion and two fine Gaelic songs from Rebecca MacDonald completed the local entertainers’ list for the evening. The guest band was the excellent Inverness based MacKays Dance Band with Jim and Graeme MacKay on button-key accordions, Stephen MacKay on fiddle and Iain Anderson on drums. With a great traditional sound their varied programme was hugely appreciated by the audience who enjoyed the fine sound of the Shand Morinos, with one of the highlights being Graeme’s solo version of The Bonnie Lass o’ Bon Accord. The next Club night will be held in the Royal Hotel, Portree on Thursday 6 May when the guest artistes will be The Nicky McMichan Scottish Dance Band.