Box and Fiddle
Year 28 No 10
June 2005
Price £2.20
44 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £20 + p&p £6.50 (UK)
Editor – Karin Ingram, Hawick
B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
We bid a fond farewell to Lesmahagow Club (back page) and thank Jack and Jean Gray for all their hard work and dedication over the years.
We decided not to run all three articles about our Honours Recipients – Bobby coghill, Ken Mutch and Robert Whitehead – in the same issue ; but rest assured they will be included in the next two or three months.
We’re really looking forward to the AGM, Celebrity Luncheon ans Ceilidh on Sunday, June 19th in the Huntingtower Hotel, Perth. All the tickets for the lunch have been sold, but if you are one of the nominees for the BAFFI Awards and can come along to the ceilidh afterwards for the presentations (the runners-up get keepsakes too) please phone either myself or Jim Balneaves to let us know.
Karin Ingram
Ken Mutch
by Karyn McCulloch
Anybody who has listened to ‘Take the Floor’ on BBC Radio Scotland on a Saturday evening will be familiar with the name – and voice – of Ken Mutch. He is the show’s Producer – and also features ‘on air’, reading the ‘Dance Diary’ for the week ahead. Ken will be one of the Guests of Honour at the Association’s Presentation Luncheon in June 2005. However, what do we really know about ‘the man behind the name?’ Let’s find out, shall we?
Ken Mutch was born at Inch Hospital in Aberdeenshire and spent the first four years of his life in Oldmeldrum. His family then moved to Inverurie and he lived there until he left school. During his time in Inverurie he learned to play the fiddle, but gave it up when he left school. The only musical connection in the family before this was his grandfather, who played fiddle in a Scottish dance band. Ken remembers family visits to his grandparents’ house on Saturday afternoons during the 1950’s and being told to “keep quiet” when the Scottish Dance Music programme came on the radio! Nowadays there are a few more family members involved in the music scene – Ken’s sister, Sheila, sings in the Dunfermline Abbey Choir, his cousin Stevie Morrice plays in a band called ‘The Redcoats’ and another cousin, Sandy Hardie, plays pipes in the Inverurie Pipe Band.
After leaving school, Ken joined the BBC in 1969 as a technical operator in London – but it was TV shows he worked on then – radio came later. The very first show he worked on was Blue Peter. Other shows included Steptoe and Son, Up Pompeii and The Sky at Night (with Patrick Moore). He worked for the BBC in Edinburgh for a while before moving to the BBC in Beechgrove, Aberdeen.
Radio Aberdeen just happened to be looking for a presenter for a folk music programme. The people there knew Ken was interested in folk music, so he got the job. He expected the show (called ‘Mutch Folk’) to run for thirteen weeks – it ended up running for two years! Ken left the BBC in 1978 to set up his own business doing freelance film sound recording, which he did until going back to the BBC in 1980.
It was around this time (1980) when a producing job came up at the BBC in Glasgow, so he applied – and got the job. A fine job it was too – Ben Lyons had just retired, so Ken stepped into his shoes, producing shows such as Gerry Ford’s Country Corner, The Tartan Terror Show with Gerry McKenzie, Andy Cameron’s Sunday Joint and Howard Lockhart’s Greeting programme. Later, he went on to produce Ken Bruce’s show when he worked for Radio Scotland and also the Art Sutter Show. After a while doing this, he went back to Aberdeen to work on ‘Take the Floor’.
Prior to going back to Aberdeen, he produced Travelling Folk and presented it for a while after Robin Hall left. Ken was also responsible for taking on the show’s presenter Archie Fisher some twenty odd years ago!
During his time on Take the Floor, Ken has worked with many of the great names in Scottish music, such as Sir Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Blue, Jim MacLeod, Angus Fitchet, John Ellis, Andy Stewart and Jim Johnstone. He also did a series of programme with Phil Cunningham a few years ago (called Cunningham and Company) where they interviewed people such as Gerry Rafferty, Bonnie Raitt, Eddi Reader, Jay Unger (who wrote the popular tune Ashokan Farewell) and Russ Barrenberg (who wrote a tune called Return to the Brandywine).
Ken also produced a series for Radio Scotland called ‘Live at the Lemon Tree’, with guests like Steve Harley (Cockney Rebel) and Geno Washington (Ram Jam Band). Back in the early days in the BBC in Glasgow, Ken was producing some of the recording sessions with the Scottish Radio Orchestra for BBC radio 2, under conductor Brian Fahey – who just happened to be the man who wrote the tunes called The Sign of the Swinging Cymbal. You may think you’ve never heard of this tune, but I’ll bet you have – it was the theme tune played every week for ‘Pick of the Pops’ with Alan Freeman on Radio 2.
Ken has produced around 800 Take the Floor programmes – and around 250 of these were outside broadcasts. Although outside broadcasts seem quite different from a studio broadcast, they both require a certain amount of planning. For a studio broadcast you need to organize the band and then a feature. With an outside broadcast you still need a band, but also have the added task of finding a venue and booking a couple of guest artistes. However, it would appear that OB’s seem to ‘run slightly smoother’ and there never seem to be very many retakes required.
Due to Ken’s previous experience as a technical operator, he edits all the programmes as well as producing them. Mind you, it’s much easier nowadays as most editing is done on computer – whereas in days gone by he would need to do all the edits on the quarter inch tape the sessions were recorded on at the time!
Ken recalls what we would call a ‘technical problem’, during the days of quarter inch tape. Once the show had been edited, the tapes were sent in the post to the BBC in Glasgow to be broadcast. One particular programme was sent in the post, but when it arrived in Glasgow the tape box was all bashed and mangled. The tape spool was so buckled that each time it turned round there was a terrible noise – as there wasn’t enough time to spool it onto another tape for the broadcast unfortunately it had to be abandoned.
Ken had very enjoyable trip to Portugal and California recording Take the Floor. In Portugal, the show was recorded in the open air with the Craigowl Band and special guest, ace accordionist, Kepa Hunkera from the Basque Region of Spain (there’s a track on the 25th Anniversary CD). In California the TTF Team, with David Cunningham’s Band, were on board the RMS Queen Mary berthed at Long Beach. He has also visited Cape Breton Island recording a show for Radio 2 with Aly Bain. But the most exciting broadcast was a ‘live’ broadcast directly from Holyrood Palace, with Iain MacPhail’s Band, which coincided with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2003.
Travelling to Paris with Phil Cunningham to record an interview with Gerry Rafferty was another memorable trip – but for very different reasons! Ken and Phil arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport safe and sound – and very casually dressed – only to discover that their suitcases hadn’t made the same journey! Gerry’s manager was quite keen that they continue with the meeting – in the Ritz Hotel in Paris! I don’t suppose there are many people who can say the went into the Ritz in Paris wearing jeans and a leather jacket!! Anyway, the interview went ahead, during which the manager kept “plying the boys with wine”. After they had finished recording, they headed down to the bar – where Gerry Rafferty ordered champagne cocktails and caviar and lobster nibbles – by this time everyone was “quite merry”. Since Gerry had been so generous with the wine, Ken decided to pay for the champagne and nibbles……(Jings!!)
Next morning Ken and Phil were having breakfast and Phil was saying what a great night it had been – Ken agreed. “Even better”, Phil said “as it didn’t cost us a penny!” Then Ken found a credit card receipt in his pocket – which worked out to be around £350!!
Away from the studio, you’ll most likely find Ken relaxing on the golf course, or out walking his two Dalmatian dogs – called Major and Monty. What type of music does he like to listen to when he’s at home? Well, basically anything – as long as it has a good melody and a good beat!
Although the musical standards of the youngsters coming into the scene seems to be getting better and better all the time, Ken has some concerns about the future of the dance bands. Every week on Take the Floor you can hear a five or a six piece band playing , but how often do you actually see a six-piece band playing at a dance? Unless it happens to be a ‘big event’, then it tends to be mostly trios. Will we end up with no youngsters who want to learn the bass, for example? We certainly hope not and have every confidence that this will not be the case.
If any youngster has aspirations of becoming a radio producer, just like Ken, then his advice is to “get in anywhere you can”. It is becoming more and more difficult to get jobs in the entertainment industry, so take anything you can – even if it’s just making the tea or answering the phones! Once you’ve got a foot in the door, who knows where you could end up? Seems like “Sound Advice” to me (pardon the pun!)
The future certainly looks good for Ken Mutch – he’s spending the next three months working in Glasgow producing the Iain Anderson Show, from July until September. After that he just plans to keep producing Take the Floor to his usual high standards.
On that note, may I take this opportunity to congratulate Ken on his forthcoming presentation and to wish him all the best for the future. We hope he continues to “push the right buttons” at BBC Radio Scotland for many years to come!
Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail 2005
by Margo MacLennan
Over the past three years……………
Dumfries & District
Music Festival Association
by
Dumfries & District Festival Music Association ………….
The Piping Shrike
by Hamish Paterson
Having attended ………
The Musical Kiwi
by Peter Elmes
Dec 31st -
Oban – Festival Results
Accordion and Fiddle Masters Competition – St John’s Cathedral – Friday 29th April 2005
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
An t-Eilean – The Island – Skye CD030 – Macmeanmna
Here’s a Health – The Garioch fiddlers – DRCD1050 – Donside Records
Book Review
Highland Collections – ISBN 0-95414785-5 – Highland Music Trust
History Unfolds – 100 Years of Hohner Accordion in Pictures
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
I really enjoy playing as a guest artiste in A&F Clubs, but I don’t know if I will be able to afford it for very much longer. It’s great to give the audience value for money – but is £2.50 for a night’s entertainment really realistic?
Earlier this year I took a 5-piece band to play at a Club 150 miles away (that’s a 300 mile round trip for 2 cars, because all the equipment doesn’t fit into one). That’s at least £60 for petrol. We left home at 4.30 (two of the guys had to leave work early) and didn’t get home until 2.30 the next morning. Our fee was £180. By my calculations, that’s five people working for 10 hours each for £2.40 an hour!
Would the Association consider issuing guidelines for door charges and bands’ fees? At this rate no-one will want to play the guest spot at clubs because they could end up out of pocket. Surely £5 would be a reasonable door charge. No wonder we’re seeing the demise of the full Scottish Dance Band. We have also, on occasion, been asked to play for dancing – but for the same fee.
A Disgruntled Band Leader
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
4th June 05 – Duncan MacKinnon SDB (Feature on Ron Kerr)
11th June 05 – Ian Muir SDB (Composer Max Houliston)
18th June 05 – Robert whitehead and the Danelaw SDB (Dunedin Dancers)
25th June 05 – Skipinnish & Special Guests (OB from Tiree)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 19th June 05 – Lyne Valley Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 5th June 05 – Andy Kain Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th June 05 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 22nd June 05 – Karen Hannah & Alan Small Duo
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 14th June 05 – James Coutts
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 9th June 05 - tbc
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 8th June 05 - tbc
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 3rd June 05 – Annual Dance
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St)
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 21st June 05 – Dick Black Band
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 26th June 05 – Marian Anderson Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 8th June 05 - AGM
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) –
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 1st June 05 – Willie McHardy
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 28th June 05 – Bon Accords
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) –
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 1st June 05 – Ian Muir Trio
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 18th June 05 – Dance to Gordon Shand
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 5th June 05 – Open Day
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) –
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 2nd June 05 – Jennifer Forrest Duo
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st June 05 – Deirdre Adamson
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 26th June 05 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 7th June 05 - AGM
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig)
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 2nd June 05 – AGM & Gary Forrest Band
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) - 12th June 05 – All Players Welcome
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 2nd June 05 – Turriff Academy CB & Johnny Duncan
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 16th June 05 – South of the Border
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Beith
8. Belford
9. Blairgowrie
10. Bromley
11 Coalburn
12. Cults
13. Dingwall
14. Dunblane
15. Dunfermline
16. Duns
17. Fintry
18. Forfar
19. Forres
20. Glenrothes
21. Highland
22. Isle of Skye
23. Kintore
24. Lesmahagow
25. Lewis & Harris
26. Livingston
27. Lockerbie
28. Montrose
29. North East
30. Peebles
31. Perth
32. Premier
33. Rothbury
34. Stonehouse
35. Thurso
36. Turriff
37. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2004
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. West Barnes ( - present)
77. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84 Callander A&F Club (
85 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87 Club Accord
88 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
103. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
104. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
105. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
115. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
116. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
117. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
118. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
119. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
120. Tranent A&F Club
121. Vancouver
122. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
123. Wellbank A&F Club
124. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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B&F Treasurer – Charlie Todd, Thankerton
The main features in the above issue were as follows (this is not a comprehensive detail of all it contained. The Club reports, in particular, are too time consuming at this stage to retype).
Editorial
We bid a fond farewell to Lesmahagow Club (back page) and thank Jack and Jean Gray for all their hard work and dedication over the years.
We decided not to run all three articles about our Honours Recipients – Bobby coghill, Ken Mutch and Robert Whitehead – in the same issue ; but rest assured they will be included in the next two or three months.
We’re really looking forward to the AGM, Celebrity Luncheon ans Ceilidh on Sunday, June 19th in the Huntingtower Hotel, Perth. All the tickets for the lunch have been sold, but if you are one of the nominees for the BAFFI Awards and can come along to the ceilidh afterwards for the presentations (the runners-up get keepsakes too) please phone either myself or Jim Balneaves to let us know.
Karin Ingram
Ken Mutch
by Karyn McCulloch
Anybody who has listened to ‘Take the Floor’ on BBC Radio Scotland on a Saturday evening will be familiar with the name – and voice – of Ken Mutch. He is the show’s Producer – and also features ‘on air’, reading the ‘Dance Diary’ for the week ahead. Ken will be one of the Guests of Honour at the Association’s Presentation Luncheon in June 2005. However, what do we really know about ‘the man behind the name?’ Let’s find out, shall we?
Ken Mutch was born at Inch Hospital in Aberdeenshire and spent the first four years of his life in Oldmeldrum. His family then moved to Inverurie and he lived there until he left school. During his time in Inverurie he learned to play the fiddle, but gave it up when he left school. The only musical connection in the family before this was his grandfather, who played fiddle in a Scottish dance band. Ken remembers family visits to his grandparents’ house on Saturday afternoons during the 1950’s and being told to “keep quiet” when the Scottish Dance Music programme came on the radio! Nowadays there are a few more family members involved in the music scene – Ken’s sister, Sheila, sings in the Dunfermline Abbey Choir, his cousin Stevie Morrice plays in a band called ‘The Redcoats’ and another cousin, Sandy Hardie, plays pipes in the Inverurie Pipe Band.
After leaving school, Ken joined the BBC in 1969 as a technical operator in London – but it was TV shows he worked on then – radio came later. The very first show he worked on was Blue Peter. Other shows included Steptoe and Son, Up Pompeii and The Sky at Night (with Patrick Moore). He worked for the BBC in Edinburgh for a while before moving to the BBC in Beechgrove, Aberdeen.
Radio Aberdeen just happened to be looking for a presenter for a folk music programme. The people there knew Ken was interested in folk music, so he got the job. He expected the show (called ‘Mutch Folk’) to run for thirteen weeks – it ended up running for two years! Ken left the BBC in 1978 to set up his own business doing freelance film sound recording, which he did until going back to the BBC in 1980.
It was around this time (1980) when a producing job came up at the BBC in Glasgow, so he applied – and got the job. A fine job it was too – Ben Lyons had just retired, so Ken stepped into his shoes, producing shows such as Gerry Ford’s Country Corner, The Tartan Terror Show with Gerry McKenzie, Andy Cameron’s Sunday Joint and Howard Lockhart’s Greeting programme. Later, he went on to produce Ken Bruce’s show when he worked for Radio Scotland and also the Art Sutter Show. After a while doing this, he went back to Aberdeen to work on ‘Take the Floor’.
Prior to going back to Aberdeen, he produced Travelling Folk and presented it for a while after Robin Hall left. Ken was also responsible for taking on the show’s presenter Archie Fisher some twenty odd years ago!
During his time on Take the Floor, Ken has worked with many of the great names in Scottish music, such as Sir Jimmy Shand, Bobby MacLeod, Jimmy Blue, Jim MacLeod, Angus Fitchet, John Ellis, Andy Stewart and Jim Johnstone. He also did a series of programme with Phil Cunningham a few years ago (called Cunningham and Company) where they interviewed people such as Gerry Rafferty, Bonnie Raitt, Eddi Reader, Jay Unger (who wrote the popular tune Ashokan Farewell) and Russ Barrenberg (who wrote a tune called Return to the Brandywine).
Ken also produced a series for Radio Scotland called ‘Live at the Lemon Tree’, with guests like Steve Harley (Cockney Rebel) and Geno Washington (Ram Jam Band). Back in the early days in the BBC in Glasgow, Ken was producing some of the recording sessions with the Scottish Radio Orchestra for BBC radio 2, under conductor Brian Fahey – who just happened to be the man who wrote the tunes called The Sign of the Swinging Cymbal. You may think you’ve never heard of this tune, but I’ll bet you have – it was the theme tune played every week for ‘Pick of the Pops’ with Alan Freeman on Radio 2.
Ken has produced around 800 Take the Floor programmes – and around 250 of these were outside broadcasts. Although outside broadcasts seem quite different from a studio broadcast, they both require a certain amount of planning. For a studio broadcast you need to organize the band and then a feature. With an outside broadcast you still need a band, but also have the added task of finding a venue and booking a couple of guest artistes. However, it would appear that OB’s seem to ‘run slightly smoother’ and there never seem to be very many retakes required.
Due to Ken’s previous experience as a technical operator, he edits all the programmes as well as producing them. Mind you, it’s much easier nowadays as most editing is done on computer – whereas in days gone by he would need to do all the edits on the quarter inch tape the sessions were recorded on at the time!
Ken recalls what we would call a ‘technical problem’, during the days of quarter inch tape. Once the show had been edited, the tapes were sent in the post to the BBC in Glasgow to be broadcast. One particular programme was sent in the post, but when it arrived in Glasgow the tape box was all bashed and mangled. The tape spool was so buckled that each time it turned round there was a terrible noise – as there wasn’t enough time to spool it onto another tape for the broadcast unfortunately it had to be abandoned.
Ken had very enjoyable trip to Portugal and California recording Take the Floor. In Portugal, the show was recorded in the open air with the Craigowl Band and special guest, ace accordionist, Kepa Hunkera from the Basque Region of Spain (there’s a track on the 25th Anniversary CD). In California the TTF Team, with David Cunningham’s Band, were on board the RMS Queen Mary berthed at Long Beach. He has also visited Cape Breton Island recording a show for Radio 2 with Aly Bain. But the most exciting broadcast was a ‘live’ broadcast directly from Holyrood Palace, with Iain MacPhail’s Band, which coincided with the Queen’s Golden Jubilee in 2003.
Travelling to Paris with Phil Cunningham to record an interview with Gerry Rafferty was another memorable trip – but for very different reasons! Ken and Phil arrived at Charles de Gaulle Airport safe and sound – and very casually dressed – only to discover that their suitcases hadn’t made the same journey! Gerry’s manager was quite keen that they continue with the meeting – in the Ritz Hotel in Paris! I don’t suppose there are many people who can say the went into the Ritz in Paris wearing jeans and a leather jacket!! Anyway, the interview went ahead, during which the manager kept “plying the boys with wine”. After they had finished recording, they headed down to the bar – where Gerry Rafferty ordered champagne cocktails and caviar and lobster nibbles – by this time everyone was “quite merry”. Since Gerry had been so generous with the wine, Ken decided to pay for the champagne and nibbles……(Jings!!)
Next morning Ken and Phil were having breakfast and Phil was saying what a great night it had been – Ken agreed. “Even better”, Phil said “as it didn’t cost us a penny!” Then Ken found a credit card receipt in his pocket – which worked out to be around £350!!
Away from the studio, you’ll most likely find Ken relaxing on the golf course, or out walking his two Dalmatian dogs – called Major and Monty. What type of music does he like to listen to when he’s at home? Well, basically anything – as long as it has a good melody and a good beat!
Although the musical standards of the youngsters coming into the scene seems to be getting better and better all the time, Ken has some concerns about the future of the dance bands. Every week on Take the Floor you can hear a five or a six piece band playing , but how often do you actually see a six-piece band playing at a dance? Unless it happens to be a ‘big event’, then it tends to be mostly trios. Will we end up with no youngsters who want to learn the bass, for example? We certainly hope not and have every confidence that this will not be the case.
If any youngster has aspirations of becoming a radio producer, just like Ken, then his advice is to “get in anywhere you can”. It is becoming more and more difficult to get jobs in the entertainment industry, so take anything you can – even if it’s just making the tea or answering the phones! Once you’ve got a foot in the door, who knows where you could end up? Seems like “Sound Advice” to me (pardon the pun!)
The future certainly looks good for Ken Mutch – he’s spending the next three months working in Glasgow producing the Iain Anderson Show, from July until September. After that he just plans to keep producing Take the Floor to his usual high standards.
On that note, may I take this opportunity to congratulate Ken on his forthcoming presentation and to wish him all the best for the future. We hope he continues to “push the right buttons” at BBC Radio Scotland for many years to come!
Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail 2005
by Margo MacLennan
Over the past three years……………
Dumfries & District
Music Festival Association
by
Dumfries & District Festival Music Association ………….
The Piping Shrike
by Hamish Paterson
Having attended ………
The Musical Kiwi
by Peter Elmes
Dec 31st -
Oban – Festival Results
Accordion and Fiddle Masters Competition – St John’s Cathedral – Friday 29th April 2005
CD Reviews – See Hear with Judith Linton
An t-Eilean – The Island – Skye CD030 – Macmeanmna
Here’s a Health – The Garioch fiddlers – DRCD1050 – Donside Records
Book Review
Highland Collections – ISBN 0-95414785-5 – Highland Music Trust
History Unfolds – 100 Years of Hohner Accordion in Pictures
Letters to the Editor
Dear Karin
I really enjoy playing as a guest artiste in A&F Clubs, but I don’t know if I will be able to afford it for very much longer. It’s great to give the audience value for money – but is £2.50 for a night’s entertainment really realistic?
Earlier this year I took a 5-piece band to play at a Club 150 miles away (that’s a 300 mile round trip for 2 cars, because all the equipment doesn’t fit into one). That’s at least £60 for petrol. We left home at 4.30 (two of the guys had to leave work early) and didn’t get home until 2.30 the next morning. Our fee was £180. By my calculations, that’s five people working for 10 hours each for £2.40 an hour!
Would the Association consider issuing guidelines for door charges and bands’ fees? At this rate no-one will want to play the guest spot at clubs because they could end up out of pocket. Surely £5 would be a reasonable door charge. No wonder we’re seeing the demise of the full Scottish Dance Band. We have also, on occasion, been asked to play for dancing – but for the same fee.
A Disgruntled Band Leader
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 20.30 with Robbie Shepherd
Repeats
4th June 05 – Duncan MacKinnon SDB (Feature on Ron Kerr)
11th June 05 – Ian Muir SDB (Composer Max Houliston)
18th June 05 – Robert whitehead and the Danelaw SDB (Dunedin Dancers)
25th June 05 – Skipinnish & Special Guests (OB from Tiree)
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Westburn Park Lounge) –
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms – Shilbottle)
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 19th June 05 – Lyne Valley Band
Arbroath (Viewfield Hotel) - 5th June 05 – Andy Kain Trio
Armadale (Masonic Hall) –
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) –
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 27th June 05 - tbc
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 22nd June 05 – Karen Hannah & Alan Small Duo
Beith & District (Anderson Hotel) –
Belford (Community Centre) –
Biggar (Municipal Hall) –
Blairgowrie (Moorfield Hotel) - 14th June 05 – James Coutts
Bromley (Trinity United Reform Church) -
Button Key (Windygates Institute) – 9th June 05 - tbc
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) -
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary’s Social Club) -
Castle Douglas (Urr Valley Country House Hotel) –
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) -
Crathes (Crathes Hall, Banchory) -
Crieff & District (Crieff Hotel)
Cults (Culter Sports & Social Club) 8th June 05 - tbc
Dalriada (Argyll Hotel, Lochgilphead)
Dingwall (National Hotel) –
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 3rd June 05 – Annual Dance
Dunfermline (Headwell Bowling Club) –
Dunoon & Cowal (McColl’s Hotel)
Duns (Masonic Lodge, Newtown St)
East Kilbride (Masonic Hall, Kittoch St) –
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 21st June 05 – Dick Black Band
Fintry (Fintry Sports Centre) –
Forfar (Plough Inn) - 26th June 05 – Marian Anderson Trio
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 8th June 05 - AGM
Galashiels (Abbotsford Arms Hotel) –
Galston (Barr Castle Social Club) –
Glendale (Black Bull Hotel, Wooler) –
Glenfarg (Lomond Hotel) - 1st June 05 – Willie McHardy
Glenrothes (Victoria Hall, Coaltown of Balgownie) - 28th June 05 – Bon Accords
Gretna (Halcrow Stadium) -
Haddington (Railway Inn) -
Highland (Drumossie Hotel) –
Inveraray (Argyll Hotel) -
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) -
Islesteps (The Embassy Hotel) –
Kelso (Cross Keys Hotel) –
Kintore (Torryburn Hotel) – 1st June 05 – Ian Muir Trio
Lanark (Ravenstruther Hall) - 18th June 05 – Dance to Gordon Shand
Langholm (Crown Hotel) – 5th June 05 – Open Day
Lesmahagow (Masonic Hall) –
Lewis & Harris (Stornoway Legion) - 2nd June 05 – Jennifer Forrest Duo
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn)
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) -
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) -
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 1st June 05 – Deirdre Adamson
Newburgh (The Ship Inn) -
Newmill-on-Teviot (Newmill Country Inn) - 26th June 05 – Open Day
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) –
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 7th June 05 - AGM
Oban (McTavish’s Kitchen) –
Orkney (Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall) –
Peebles (Rugby Club) –
Perth (Salutation Hotel) –
Phoenix (Argyll Arms hotel, Ardrishaig)
Premier NI (Chimney Corner Hotel) -
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) –
Rothbury (Queen’s Head) - 2nd June 05 – AGM & Gary Forrest Band
Scottish Accordion Music (Banchory) - 12th June 05 – All Players Welcome
Selkirk (Cricket Club) -
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) -
Thornhill (Bowling Club Hall) -
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) –
Turriff (Royal British Legion) – 2nd June 05 – Turriff Academy CB & Johnny Duncan
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 16th June 05 – South of the Border
West Barnes (West Barnes Inn)
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) –
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Aberdeen
2. Alnwick
3. Annan
4. Arbroath
5. Banchory
6. Banff
7. Beith
8. Belford
9. Blairgowrie
10. Bromley
11 Coalburn
12. Cults
13. Dingwall
14. Dunblane
15. Dunfermline
16. Duns
17. Fintry
18. Forfar
19. Forres
20. Glenrothes
21. Highland
22. Isle of Skye
23. Kintore
24. Lesmahagow
25. Lewis & Harris
26. Livingston
27. Lockerbie
28. Montrose
29. North East
30. Peebles
31. Perth
32. Premier
33. Rothbury
34. Stonehouse
35. Thurso
36. Turriff
37. Wick
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2004
(Clubs didn’t necessarily notify the Assoc when they closed so the following may not be entirely correct. Only the clubs submitting the reports or in the Club Diary above were definitely open.)
1. Aberdeen A&F Club (1975 – present)
2. Alnwick A&F Club (Aug 1975 – present)
3. Annan A&F Club (joined Assoc in 1996 but started 1985 – present)
4. Arbroath A&F Club (1991? – present)
5. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Closed early 08-09
6. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
7. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
8. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
9. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
10. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
11. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
12. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
13. Brittania B&F Club ( joined 07-08
14. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
15. Button Key A&F Club (
16. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
17. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
18. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
19. Coalburn A&F Club (
20. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
21. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
22. Cults A & F Club (
23. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
24. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
25. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
26. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
27. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
28. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
29. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
30. Ellon A&F Club (
31. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – present)
32. Forfar A&F Club (
33. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
34. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
35. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
36. Glendale Accordion Club (Jan 1973)
37. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
38. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93?
39. Gretna A&F Club (1991) Known as North Cumbria A&F Club previously (originally called Gretna when started in June 1966 but later had to move to venues in the North of England and changed name. No breaks in the continuity of the Club)
40. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 - )
41. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
42. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
43. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
44. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
45. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
46. Kintore A&F Club (
47. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier
48. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
49. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
50. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 -
51. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
52. Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
53. Maine Valley A&F Club (
54. Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
55. Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
56. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded
57. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999
58. Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
59. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
60. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
61. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
62. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
63. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
64. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
65. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
66. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
67. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
68. Selkirk A&F Club (
69. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
70. Stonehouse A&F Club (first report June 05 -
71. Sutherland A&F Club (
72. Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
73. Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
74. Turriff A&F Club (March 1982 - present)
75. Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
76. West Barnes ( - present)
77. Wick A&F Club (Oct 1975 - present)
Not on official list at the start of the season (closed, did not renew membership or omitted in error?)
78. Acharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
79. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
80. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
81. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
82. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
83. Buchan A&F Club
84 Callander A&F Club (
85 Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
86 Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
87 Club Accord
88 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
89. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
90. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
91. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
92. Derwentside A&F Club
93. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
94. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
95. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
96. Dundee & District A&F Club (1970? – 1995?)
97. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
98. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
99. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
100. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
101. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
102. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
103. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
104. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
105. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
106. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
107. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
108. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
109. Mull A&F Club
110. Newcastleton Accordion Club
111. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
114. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
115. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
116. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
117. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
118. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
119. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
120. Tranent A&F Club
121. Vancouver
122. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
123. Wellbank A&F Club
124. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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