Box and Fiddle
Year 41 No 02
October 2017
Price £3.00
40 Page Magazine
12 month subscription £33.60 + p&p £15.85 (UK)
Editor – Pia Walker, Cupar
B&F Treasurer – Willie Johnstone, Inverurie
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
And as some of you don’t open until October, welcome back to all Clubs. I hope this year…………
Pia Walker
Iain MacPhail & Brian Griffin
Lifetime Achievement Award
by Bobby Stewart (Galston)
On Sunday 27th August 2017, 250 people from all over the UK packed into the function suite of the Salutation Hotel in Perth to witness two giants of the Scottish Dance Band scene receiving lifetime achievement awards, in recognition of their contribution to our music for over forty years.
The afternoon began with organiser Leonard Brown welcoming the crowd and introducing the ‘men of the moment’, Iain MacPhail and Brian Griffin. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric, as compere John Caskie welcomed Leonard and his All-Star Band to the stage. They captivated the audience with a varied and entertaining programme, which included many if Iain MacPhail’s compositions and arrangements. Leonard displayed his amazing skills, as did his talented band members, showing us exactly why they continue to impress audiences all over Scotland and beyond! Leonard, a former All-Scotland Accordion Champion, showed great control, technique, attention to musical detail, competent melodic playing and often harmonizing at the same time, all done with the greatest professionalism and showmanship. He stood centre stage and performed the material flawlessly whilst very ably supported by his band, consisting of Liam Stewart (piano), John Sinton (bass), Malcolm Ross (drums) and Duncan Finlay (banjo & guitar). Leonard paid tribute to Iain and Brian. He also praised the numerous musicians who had worked with them on many and varied projects over the years.
Both Iain and Brian received a beautiful lifetime achievement award, suitably inscribed to mark this fantastic occasion. We were delighted to see our two Guests of Honour joined by their wives, Viola and Margaret, and they too were presented with a lovely bouquet of flowers. Iain and Brian then gave us an insight to their remarkable musical relationship, and thanked Leonard and the audience members in attendance, many of whom (including me!) had been enthusiastic fans and supporters of the MacPhail Band for all that time. They highlighted the fact that they had ‘just clicked’ musically back in the early 1970s, ‘the rest is history’! This musical pairing was to result in a most successful contribution and driving force to the Scottish dance music scene; a partnership whose popularity has never waned. They have notched up countless radio broadcasts and album recordings, punctuating a busy schedule of prestigious performances at home and abroad, not to mention their appearances at Accordion & Fiddle Clubs, dances and concerts throughout the land during the last four decades.
In the second half John Caskie, who then introduced Iain and Brian, first treated us to a couple of songs. The All-Star Band accompanied Iain and Brian, and the pair thrilled the admiring crowd with a selection of great accordion duets and fantastic harmonies, as well as some of their famous band sets of yesteryear.
I consider it a real privilege to have been present at this concert, to witness Iain and Brian being so rightly recognised in this way. Massive thanks must go to Leonard Brown for his usual impeccable organisation of the event, as well as his own unique brand of entertainment on the day. This was typical of the highly successful musical extravaganzas that Leonard has become known for, and I comment him for his efforts in the promotion of ‘our music’ and live music generally. Keep them coming, Leonard – what a day!
Rab Stark - A Man with a Liking for Drums
by Pia Walker
This month I’m talking to Rab Stark, originally from Falkland but now living in Newburgh. Rab collects drum kits! Yes the full kit and caboodle and I was lucky enough to meet them all.
I have met Rab several times in the last couple of years as he has played with bands at Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and Strathspey & Reel Societies. Sitting down over a cup of coffee,I took the time to learn a little more about him.
His dad, Bert Stark, was a drummer in the original Lomond Dance Band and Rab has been messing with drums since he was 9 and played with bands since he was 15 – “You’d be lucky then to get 10 bob for a gig, but you did it for the love of playing.” He has played with many a band and is still playing 61 years later. Another way of measuring the length of time he has been working as a drummer is to count how many times he has played at events for the same person; “Take Norman Myles – you know Norman who helps run the LArgoward dances and goes to Windygates? Well I played for his 18th and 21st birthdays, at his wedding and at his 21st wedding anniversary.” Rab is a busy drummer and likes local gigs in local halls where people know each other.
Rab plays at several Accordion & Fiddle clubs and drums for Dundee, Fife, Perth and Dunkeld Strathspey & Reel Societies plus the Windygates Buttons & Bows. Stories and names kept coming up in conversation, names such as Rob Gordon, Ian Henderson, Bobby Moore, Bill Nicol, Jimmy Shand Jnr, Billy Anderson. Colin Dewar, Jim Cleland and Bert Pozie with whom he has played since 1978.
So what did he do before he started collecting kits? “Cars”, he says – he used to have 14, but is now down to 4! He ran a wedding car business until about 8 years ago, which kind of explains it. The household must have been a busy place as Rab who is a joiner to trade and his wife, whom he lost 6 years ago, also ran the Tay View Pub in Newburgh and on top of that have fostered 21 children over the years. He also used to have a wide selection of parrots, but is now down to one African Grey.
But back to the drums, which it what this is really about. Why on earth does he collect drum kits?” It’s a hobby – I like repairing them and I have been known to get home from a gig and start tinkering with a faulty drum.” He, for example, gets hold of bigger kits and makes them into smaller ones. Rab got his first kit as a 14 year old – but not from a friend of the family,, from his dad or anyone else. No, he built his own from hardboard and old skins and made the stands at metalwork at his school in Auchtermuchty. He only got his first new kit when he was 18. How does he get hold of kits? “I’m not bad at getting a deal from shops. Pals offer me things, perhaps swapping to get something from me. I have been a collector of kits for 20 years, but am not sentimental so I change items all the time.”
It was now time to be introduced to the kits (other than the coffee tables in his living room) and Rab took me outside to his garage or should I say garages – I counted 4! He did tell me there were more round the corner! Obviously, he is a collector of garages too! Anyway up goes the garage door and…….drum roll…….my jaw dropped. Kit after kitafter kit after kit on shelves, stacked, layered and just there. “Hhhow many?” I asked when I could speak. I have 19 kits in all”, he told me. He actually used to have as many as 28 – ranging from £20 in price to thousands. I got the distinct impression that the money wasn’t the most important thing, but the story behind them. “This is one of the three, of which Nazareth and now Callum Wallace have one.” He pointed to a blue tartan one – and then to a smaller drum. “This was the first of them, but the builder wasn’t happy with it.” He pointed to another definitely well used, unadorned drum – “That’s the one my dad used to play.”
“Do you keep the drums in your garage always?” His answer was to ask me if I can climb ladders! And up we went to the loft where the kits usually live with a couple of pipe-band drums, one of which I am now the proud owner of. Thank you so much, Rab, I will treasure it. After having climbed down again, we continued our conversation on drums and cymbals – “Ufip are probably the best right now” – and he showed me some mighty beautiful ones of that ilk (out of his 58 or so!) We talked a bit about the ‘off-beat’, which for a dancer sometimes can both sound and look….well…..off beat! And the talk was again back to bands and stories and I will finish with one he told me.
Rab was playing in a Leven hall with Bert Pozie’s band and had to go through the hall to set up. So there he was walking down the middle of the hall, weighed down by his gear and being greeted by many a grinning local. It wasn’t until he reached the stage that he realised why all the grins. Jack Paul and/or Bert Pozie had attached a bra to his kit and he had been trailing this along the length of the hall to the audience’s great amusement. He finished quietly: “And I never did find out whose bra it was!”
PS That’s a bra’ story!
Lairg’s Got Talent
by
The 2017 Lairg Music Festival was a tremendous success……….
Centre Stage
Sandra Burt
The NAAFC AGM in brief
The AGM of the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs took place at the Huntingtower Hotel, Perth on Sunday 25th June 2017. As always it was a full house with many Club representatives and only a few apologies, and as always it was good to see so many weel-kent faces and to welcome new attendees.
Chairman Nicol McLaren opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. His report was short and to the point, mentioning that we were still supporting the Trad Awards by sponsoring the Scottish Dance Band of the Year. Finalists in 2016 were Lomond Ceilish Band, Peter Wood Shetland Band, Sixties Bairns and Trail West (winners). Mauchline Club was short-listed for Club of the Year, Craig Paton was nominated for Instrumentalist of the Year, and Take the Floor was nominated for the Trad Music in the Media award. Again, though, the category SDB of the Year had the fewest number of votes cast of all the categories, and Nicol asked all Clubs to vote!
The Box and fiddle broke even despite the rising costs; the following discussion and vote resulted in an increase in RRP and a new incentive for Clubs to sell the magazine. I later highlighted that sales outside Clubs are up. This could be the reason that many Clubs are now reporting new visitors through the door. The team work hard at promoting the magazine and clubs by going to Festivals etc and one advertiser also promotes the magazine at events such as in Belfast and England. Thanks to Marie we are often congratulated on the design of the magazine and thanks to our new team-member Denis Shepherd, our voluntary proof-reader extraordinaire, we now have fewer typos for you to laugh at. Shirley Young still works selling advertising space. If you have a business or know someone who has, please let me know, so that we can convince you and them to advertise. The whole team including printers and our loyal advertisers were thanked.
The Festival also saw better results than the previous year, thanks to generous sponsorship and ingenuity. Andrew Knight gave the report on the Festival, which he felt was a great success musically, socially and financially, although entries were down from the previous year. The Committee is reviewing the pricing structure and negotiating venue costs and fundraising during the year. They are contacting teachers to try and encourage them to enter their pupils. The committee are also investigating alternative avenues.
Nicol further named the winner of the Billy Thom Memorial Trophy at the NAAFC Golf Day as Lewis Fraser from Inverness. Nicol pointed out that it was again a great day with a fine evening of superb music. He finished his report by thanking the entire Committee for their hard work and mentioning Charlie and Lorna specifically.
Lorna Mair, our Secretary, reported that there were 62 subscribing Clubs. She welcomed Clydesdale and Macmerry and hoped that the number of Clubs would increase in the coming year. She encouraged Clubs or persons to send in ideas for the Executive to discuss at their twice yearly meetings. She further thanked all the secretaries who kept her up-to-date with changes in their clubs, and encouraged all clubs to send in their NAAFC subscription as soon as they received the new form. She ended by thanking the Committee and the clubs who strive to keep traditional music alive.
Iain Cathcart mentioned an incentive given last year by Simon Thoumire of £2,000 to start up any traditional Club. All that was required was to show a business plan of how an applicant would set up and keep the club going. Iain was willing to help anyone who was looking to start up.
There were a lot of very good suggestions coming from the floor, which the Executive will discuss at future meetings. So watch this space.
After the meeting closed, it was onwards to the Celebrity Luncheon and BAFFI Awards as mentioned in the August issue.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Matt Tighe – CDTRAX395
Book Review
Celebrating 20 Years – Falkirk Fiddle Workshop 1997-2017
Letters to the Editor
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
No details
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st Oct 2017 - tbc
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 11th Oct 2017 – Neil Hardie SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th Oct 2017 – Garioch Blend
Arbroath (The Meadowbank Inn) - 1st Oct 2017 – Open Afternoon + Evening Dance to Scott Band SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th Oct 2017 - tbc
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 30th Oct 2017 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th Oct 2017 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 16th Oct 2017 - tbc
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – Oct 2017 – no meeting
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 10th Oct 2017 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 12th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd Oct 2017 – Scott Band SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 9th Oct 2017 – Club Night
Castle Douglas (Springholm Memorial Hall) – 17th Oct 2017 – Marian Anderson Trio
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms) - 1st Oct 2017 – Ian Smith Band
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 6th Oct 2017 – Dance to Willie McFarlane Band 19th Oct 2017 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Crieff & District (British Legion) 5th Oct 2017 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 17th Oct 2017 – Alisdair MacLeod Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th Oct 2017 – John Morgan
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 10th Oct 2017 – A Drop of the Good Stuff
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 16th Oct 2017 – Jim Gold Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th Oct 2017 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 29th Oct 2017 - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th Oct 2017 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) - 9th Oct 2017 – Craig McFadyen SDB
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 26th Oct 2017 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 4th Oct 2017 – Muriel Johnstone
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 1st Oct 2017 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th Oct 2017 – Daniel McPhee
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 11th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th Oct 2017 – Colin Garvin Duo
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 3rd Oct 2017 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 25th Oct 2017 – The Occasionals
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 11th Oct 2017 - tbc
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 5th Oct 2017 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th Oct 2017 – Gordon Clark Band
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 31st Oct 2017 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 22nd Oct 2017 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th Oct 2017 – Callum Cruickshank Band
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 26th Oct 2017 – Alistair McCulloch
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th Oct 2017 – Graeme Mitchell SDB (40th Birthday Party)
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 3rd Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 5th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 4th 11th 18th 25th Oct 2017 – Club Night 20th Oct 2017 – Da Fustra (40th Anniversary Concert)
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 26th Oct 2017 – Bon Accords Trio
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 17th Oct 2017 – Lomond Ceilidh Band 28th Oct 2017 – Neil Hardie SDB (After the Festival Dance)
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 5th Oct 2017 – Derek Hamilton Duo
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st Oct 2017 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 5th Oct 2017 – Festival start 26th Oct 2017 – Hector MacFadyen Trio
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 12th Oct 2017 – Derek Hamilton & Friends
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 21st Oct 2017 – Steven Carcary
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 2nd Oct 2017 – Iain Cruickshank
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 5th Oct 2017 – Andrew McDonald Trio
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 19th Oct 2017 – Iain Anderson Band
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 14th 28th Oct 2017 – Club Night
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th Oct 2017 – Susie Simpson SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Blairgowrie
4. Buttonkey
5. Crieff
6. Forfar
7. Glasgow
8. Lewis & Harris
9. Orkney
10. Peebles
11. Renfrew
12. Rothbury
13. Seghill
14. Turriff & District
15. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2016
(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. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
16. Coalburn A&F Club (
17. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
18. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
19. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
21. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
22. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
23. Ellon A&F Club (
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 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?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
123 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
124 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
125. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
126. Tranent A&F Club
127. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
128. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
129. Wellbank A&F Club
130. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
131. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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Half Page (colour) - £110
Half Page (b&w) - £70
Quarter Page (colour) - £55
Quarter Page (b&w) - £35
Eighth Page - £18
Small Boxed £12
B&F Treasurer – Willie Johnstone, Inverurie
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
And as some of you don’t open until October, welcome back to all Clubs. I hope this year…………
Pia Walker
Iain MacPhail & Brian Griffin
Lifetime Achievement Award
by Bobby Stewart (Galston)
On Sunday 27th August 2017, 250 people from all over the UK packed into the function suite of the Salutation Hotel in Perth to witness two giants of the Scottish Dance Band scene receiving lifetime achievement awards, in recognition of their contribution to our music for over forty years.
The afternoon began with organiser Leonard Brown welcoming the crowd and introducing the ‘men of the moment’, Iain MacPhail and Brian Griffin. The atmosphere was nothing short of electric, as compere John Caskie welcomed Leonard and his All-Star Band to the stage. They captivated the audience with a varied and entertaining programme, which included many if Iain MacPhail’s compositions and arrangements. Leonard displayed his amazing skills, as did his talented band members, showing us exactly why they continue to impress audiences all over Scotland and beyond! Leonard, a former All-Scotland Accordion Champion, showed great control, technique, attention to musical detail, competent melodic playing and often harmonizing at the same time, all done with the greatest professionalism and showmanship. He stood centre stage and performed the material flawlessly whilst very ably supported by his band, consisting of Liam Stewart (piano), John Sinton (bass), Malcolm Ross (drums) and Duncan Finlay (banjo & guitar). Leonard paid tribute to Iain and Brian. He also praised the numerous musicians who had worked with them on many and varied projects over the years.
Both Iain and Brian received a beautiful lifetime achievement award, suitably inscribed to mark this fantastic occasion. We were delighted to see our two Guests of Honour joined by their wives, Viola and Margaret, and they too were presented with a lovely bouquet of flowers. Iain and Brian then gave us an insight to their remarkable musical relationship, and thanked Leonard and the audience members in attendance, many of whom (including me!) had been enthusiastic fans and supporters of the MacPhail Band for all that time. They highlighted the fact that they had ‘just clicked’ musically back in the early 1970s, ‘the rest is history’! This musical pairing was to result in a most successful contribution and driving force to the Scottish dance music scene; a partnership whose popularity has never waned. They have notched up countless radio broadcasts and album recordings, punctuating a busy schedule of prestigious performances at home and abroad, not to mention their appearances at Accordion & Fiddle Clubs, dances and concerts throughout the land during the last four decades.
In the second half John Caskie, who then introduced Iain and Brian, first treated us to a couple of songs. The All-Star Band accompanied Iain and Brian, and the pair thrilled the admiring crowd with a selection of great accordion duets and fantastic harmonies, as well as some of their famous band sets of yesteryear.
I consider it a real privilege to have been present at this concert, to witness Iain and Brian being so rightly recognised in this way. Massive thanks must go to Leonard Brown for his usual impeccable organisation of the event, as well as his own unique brand of entertainment on the day. This was typical of the highly successful musical extravaganzas that Leonard has become known for, and I comment him for his efforts in the promotion of ‘our music’ and live music generally. Keep them coming, Leonard – what a day!
Rab Stark - A Man with a Liking for Drums
by Pia Walker
This month I’m talking to Rab Stark, originally from Falkland but now living in Newburgh. Rab collects drum kits! Yes the full kit and caboodle and I was lucky enough to meet them all.
I have met Rab several times in the last couple of years as he has played with bands at Accordion & Fiddle Clubs and Strathspey & Reel Societies. Sitting down over a cup of coffee,I took the time to learn a little more about him.
His dad, Bert Stark, was a drummer in the original Lomond Dance Band and Rab has been messing with drums since he was 9 and played with bands since he was 15 – “You’d be lucky then to get 10 bob for a gig, but you did it for the love of playing.” He has played with many a band and is still playing 61 years later. Another way of measuring the length of time he has been working as a drummer is to count how many times he has played at events for the same person; “Take Norman Myles – you know Norman who helps run the LArgoward dances and goes to Windygates? Well I played for his 18th and 21st birthdays, at his wedding and at his 21st wedding anniversary.” Rab is a busy drummer and likes local gigs in local halls where people know each other.
Rab plays at several Accordion & Fiddle clubs and drums for Dundee, Fife, Perth and Dunkeld Strathspey & Reel Societies plus the Windygates Buttons & Bows. Stories and names kept coming up in conversation, names such as Rob Gordon, Ian Henderson, Bobby Moore, Bill Nicol, Jimmy Shand Jnr, Billy Anderson. Colin Dewar, Jim Cleland and Bert Pozie with whom he has played since 1978.
So what did he do before he started collecting kits? “Cars”, he says – he used to have 14, but is now down to 4! He ran a wedding car business until about 8 years ago, which kind of explains it. The household must have been a busy place as Rab who is a joiner to trade and his wife, whom he lost 6 years ago, also ran the Tay View Pub in Newburgh and on top of that have fostered 21 children over the years. He also used to have a wide selection of parrots, but is now down to one African Grey.
But back to the drums, which it what this is really about. Why on earth does he collect drum kits?” It’s a hobby – I like repairing them and I have been known to get home from a gig and start tinkering with a faulty drum.” He, for example, gets hold of bigger kits and makes them into smaller ones. Rab got his first kit as a 14 year old – but not from a friend of the family,, from his dad or anyone else. No, he built his own from hardboard and old skins and made the stands at metalwork at his school in Auchtermuchty. He only got his first new kit when he was 18. How does he get hold of kits? “I’m not bad at getting a deal from shops. Pals offer me things, perhaps swapping to get something from me. I have been a collector of kits for 20 years, but am not sentimental so I change items all the time.”
It was now time to be introduced to the kits (other than the coffee tables in his living room) and Rab took me outside to his garage or should I say garages – I counted 4! He did tell me there were more round the corner! Obviously, he is a collector of garages too! Anyway up goes the garage door and…….drum roll…….my jaw dropped. Kit after kitafter kit after kit on shelves, stacked, layered and just there. “Hhhow many?” I asked when I could speak. I have 19 kits in all”, he told me. He actually used to have as many as 28 – ranging from £20 in price to thousands. I got the distinct impression that the money wasn’t the most important thing, but the story behind them. “This is one of the three, of which Nazareth and now Callum Wallace have one.” He pointed to a blue tartan one – and then to a smaller drum. “This was the first of them, but the builder wasn’t happy with it.” He pointed to another definitely well used, unadorned drum – “That’s the one my dad used to play.”
“Do you keep the drums in your garage always?” His answer was to ask me if I can climb ladders! And up we went to the loft where the kits usually live with a couple of pipe-band drums, one of which I am now the proud owner of. Thank you so much, Rab, I will treasure it. After having climbed down again, we continued our conversation on drums and cymbals – “Ufip are probably the best right now” – and he showed me some mighty beautiful ones of that ilk (out of his 58 or so!) We talked a bit about the ‘off-beat’, which for a dancer sometimes can both sound and look….well…..off beat! And the talk was again back to bands and stories and I will finish with one he told me.
Rab was playing in a Leven hall with Bert Pozie’s band and had to go through the hall to set up. So there he was walking down the middle of the hall, weighed down by his gear and being greeted by many a grinning local. It wasn’t until he reached the stage that he realised why all the grins. Jack Paul and/or Bert Pozie had attached a bra to his kit and he had been trailing this along the length of the hall to the audience’s great amusement. He finished quietly: “And I never did find out whose bra it was!”
PS That’s a bra’ story!
Lairg’s Got Talent
by
The 2017 Lairg Music Festival was a tremendous success……….
Centre Stage
Sandra Burt
The NAAFC AGM in brief
The AGM of the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs took place at the Huntingtower Hotel, Perth on Sunday 25th June 2017. As always it was a full house with many Club representatives and only a few apologies, and as always it was good to see so many weel-kent faces and to welcome new attendees.
Chairman Nicol McLaren opened the meeting and welcomed everyone. His report was short and to the point, mentioning that we were still supporting the Trad Awards by sponsoring the Scottish Dance Band of the Year. Finalists in 2016 were Lomond Ceilish Band, Peter Wood Shetland Band, Sixties Bairns and Trail West (winners). Mauchline Club was short-listed for Club of the Year, Craig Paton was nominated for Instrumentalist of the Year, and Take the Floor was nominated for the Trad Music in the Media award. Again, though, the category SDB of the Year had the fewest number of votes cast of all the categories, and Nicol asked all Clubs to vote!
The Box and fiddle broke even despite the rising costs; the following discussion and vote resulted in an increase in RRP and a new incentive for Clubs to sell the magazine. I later highlighted that sales outside Clubs are up. This could be the reason that many Clubs are now reporting new visitors through the door. The team work hard at promoting the magazine and clubs by going to Festivals etc and one advertiser also promotes the magazine at events such as in Belfast and England. Thanks to Marie we are often congratulated on the design of the magazine and thanks to our new team-member Denis Shepherd, our voluntary proof-reader extraordinaire, we now have fewer typos for you to laugh at. Shirley Young still works selling advertising space. If you have a business or know someone who has, please let me know, so that we can convince you and them to advertise. The whole team including printers and our loyal advertisers were thanked.
The Festival also saw better results than the previous year, thanks to generous sponsorship and ingenuity. Andrew Knight gave the report on the Festival, which he felt was a great success musically, socially and financially, although entries were down from the previous year. The Committee is reviewing the pricing structure and negotiating venue costs and fundraising during the year. They are contacting teachers to try and encourage them to enter their pupils. The committee are also investigating alternative avenues.
Nicol further named the winner of the Billy Thom Memorial Trophy at the NAAFC Golf Day as Lewis Fraser from Inverness. Nicol pointed out that it was again a great day with a fine evening of superb music. He finished his report by thanking the entire Committee for their hard work and mentioning Charlie and Lorna specifically.
Lorna Mair, our Secretary, reported that there were 62 subscribing Clubs. She welcomed Clydesdale and Macmerry and hoped that the number of Clubs would increase in the coming year. She encouraged Clubs or persons to send in ideas for the Executive to discuss at their twice yearly meetings. She further thanked all the secretaries who kept her up-to-date with changes in their clubs, and encouraged all clubs to send in their NAAFC subscription as soon as they received the new form. She ended by thanking the Committee and the clubs who strive to keep traditional music alive.
Iain Cathcart mentioned an incentive given last year by Simon Thoumire of £2,000 to start up any traditional Club. All that was required was to show a business plan of how an applicant would set up and keep the club going. Iain was willing to help anyone who was looking to start up.
There were a lot of very good suggestions coming from the floor, which the Executive will discuss at future meetings. So watch this space.
After the meeting closed, it was onwards to the Celebrity Luncheon and BAFFI Awards as mentioned in the August issue.
See Hear! with Bill Brown
CD Reviews
Matt Tighe – CDTRAX395
Book Review
Celebrating 20 Years – Falkirk Fiddle Workshop 1997-2017
Letters to the Editor
Take the Floor – Saturday Evenings 19.05 – 21.00 with Robbie Shepherd (repeated on Sunday’s 13.05 – 15.00)
No details
CLUB DIARY
Aberdeen (Old Machar RBL) – 31st Oct 2017 - tbc
Alnwick (The Farrier’s Arms) 11th Oct 2017 – Neil Hardie SDB
Annan (St Andrew’s Social Club) - 15th Oct 2017 – Garioch Blend
Arbroath (The Meadowbank Inn) - 1st Oct 2017 – Open Afternoon + Evening Dance to Scott Band SDB
Balloch (St. Kessog’s Church Hall) – 15th Oct 2017 - tbc
Banchory (Burnett Arms Hotel) – 30th Oct 2017 – Charlie Kirkpatrick Trio
Banff & District (Banff Springs Hotel) – 25th Oct 2017 – Lomond Ceilidh Band
Beith & District (Beith Bowling Club) – 16th Oct 2017 - tbc
Biggar (Biggar Bowling Club) – Oct 2017 – no meeting
Blairgowrie (Red House Hotel) - 10th Oct 2017 – Ewan Galloway SDB
Button Key (Greig Institute, Windygates) – 12th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown
Campsie (Glazert Country House Hotel) - 3rd Oct 2017 – Scott Band SDB
Carlisle (St Margaret Mary Social Club) - 9th Oct 2017 – Club Night
Castle Douglas (Springholm Memorial Hall) – 17th Oct 2017 – Marian Anderson Trio
Clydesdale (St Mary’s Club Rooms) - 1st Oct 2017 – Ian Smith Band
Coalburn (Miners’ Welfare) - 6th Oct 2017 – Dance to Willie McFarlane Band 19th Oct 2017 – Matthew MacLennan Trio
Crieff & District (British Legion) 5th Oct 2017 – Matthew MacLennan SDB
Dalriada (Argyll Inn, Lochgilphead) - 17th Oct 2017 – Alisdair MacLeod Trio
Dingwall (National Hotel) – 4th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Dunblane (Victoria Hall) – 18th Oct 2017 – John Morgan
Dunfermline (Sportsman Bar, Rosyth) – 10th Oct 2017 – A Drop of the Good Stuff
Duns (Masonic Lodge) 16th Oct 2017 – Jim Gold Trio
Ellon (Station Hotel) – 24th Oct 2017 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Forfar (Forfar RBL) - 29th Oct 2017 - tbc
Forres (Victoria Hotel) – 11th Oct 2017 – Nicol McLaren SDB
Glasgow (Scotstounhill Bowling Club) - 9th Oct 2017 – Craig McFadyen SDB
Glendale (The Glendale Hall) - 26th Oct 2017 – Brandon McPhee Trio
Glenfarg (Glenfarg Village Hall) - 4th Oct 2017 – Muriel Johnstone
Gretna (The Solway Lodge Hotel) - 1st Oct 2017 – Seamus O’Sullivan
Highland (Waterside Hotel) – 16th Oct 2017 – Daniel McPhee
Inveraray (Inveraray Inn) - 11th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Isle of Skye – (The Royal Hotel, Portree) - 5th Oct 2017 – Colin Garvin Duo
Islesteps (Locharbriggs Social Club) – 3rd Oct 2017 – Lindsay Weir Trio
Kelso (Kelso Rugby Club) – 25th Oct 2017 – The Occasionals
Langholm (Langholm Social Club) – 11th Oct 2017 - tbc
Lewis & Harris (Caladh Inn, Stornoway) - 5th Oct 2017 – Club Night
Livingston (Hilcroft Hotel, Whitburn) 17th Oct 2017 – Gordon Clark Band
Lockerbie (Queen’s Hotel) - 31st Oct 2017 – Iain MacPhail SDB
Macmerry (Miners Social Club) - 22nd Oct 2017 – Gary Sutherland SDB
Mauchline (Harry Lyle Suite) - 17th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown
Montrose (Park Hotel) – 4th Oct 2017 – Callum Cruickshank Band
Newburgh (Adbie Hall) - 26th Oct 2017 – Alistair McCulloch
Newtongrange (Dean Tavern) – 30th Oct 2017 – Graeme Mitchell SDB (40th Birthday Party)
North East (Royal British Legion, Keith) – 3rd Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown
Oban (The Royal Hotel) – 5th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Orkney (The Reel, Kirkwall) – 4th 11th 18th 25th Oct 2017 – Club Night 20th Oct 2017 – Da Fustra (40th Anniversary Concert)
Peebles (Rugby Social Club) – 26th Oct 2017 – Bon Accords Trio
Perth & District (Salutation Hotel) – 17th Oct 2017 – Lomond Ceilidh Band 28th Oct 2017 – Neil Hardie SDB (After the Festival Dance)
Renfrew (Masonic Hall, Broadloan) – 10th Oct 2017 – Leonard Brown & Malcolm Ross
Rothbury (Queen’s Head Hotel) - 5th Oct 2017 – Derek Hamilton Duo
Seghill (Old Comrades Club) - 3rd 10th 17th 24th 31st Oct 2017 – Club Night
Shetland (Shetland Hotel, Lerwick) - 5th Oct 2017 – Festival start 26th Oct 2017 – Hector MacFadyen Trio
Stonehouse (Stonehouse Bowling Club) - 12th Oct 2017 – Derek Hamilton & Friends
Sutherland (Rogart Village Hall) - 21st Oct 2017 – Steven Carcary
Thurso (Pentland Hotel) – 2nd Oct 2017 – Iain Cruickshank
Turriff (Commercial Hotel, Cuminestown) – 5th Oct 2017 – Andrew McDonald Trio
Tynedale (Hexham Ex Service Club) – 19th Oct 2017 – Iain Anderson Band
Uist & Benbecula (C of S Hall, Griminish) - 14th 28th Oct 2017 – Club Night
Wick (MacKay’s Hotel) – 17th Oct 2017 – Susie Simpson SDB
THERE WERE CLUB REPORTS FROM :-
1. Annan
2. Arbroath
3. Blairgowrie
4. Buttonkey
5. Crieff
6. Forfar
7. Glasgow
8. Lewis & Harris
9. Orkney
10. Peebles
11. Renfrew
12. Rothbury
13. Seghill
14. Turriff & District
15. Tynedale
CLUB DIRECTORY AS AT OCT 2016
(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. Balloch A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per January 1978 issue – present)
6. Banchory A&F Club (1978 – present)
7. Banff & District A&F Club (Oct 1973 – present)
8. Beith & District A&F Club (Sept 1972 – per first edition – present)
9. Biggar A&F Club (Oct 1974 – present)
10. Blairgowrie A&F Club (
11. Button Key A&F Club (
12. Campsie A&F Club (Nov 95 – present)
13. Carlisle A&F Club (joined Sept 1993 -
14. Castle Douglas A&F Club (c Sept 1980 – present)
15. Clydesdale A&F Club (Sept 2016 – present)
16. Coalburn A&F Club (
17. Crieff A&F Club (cSept 1981)
18. Dalriada A&F Club (Feb 1981)
19. Dingwall & District A&F Club (May 1979 – per first report)
20. Dunblane & District A&F Club (1971 – present)
21. Dunfermline & District A&F Club (1974 – per first edition)
22. Duns A&F Club (formed 20th Sept 04 – present)
23. Ellon A&F Club (
24. Forfar A&F Club (
25. Forres A&F Club (Jan 1978)
26. Galashiels A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
27. Glasgow A&F Club (Aug 2017 -
28. Glendale A&F Club (Jan 1973 – present)
29. Glenfarg A&F Club (formed 1988 joined Assoc Mar 95 -
30. 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)
31. Highland A&F Club (Inverness) (Nov 1973 – present)
32. Inveraray A&F Club (Feb 1991 - present)
33. Islesteps A&F Club (Jan 1981 – present – n.b. evolved from the original Dumfries Club)
34. Isle of Skye A&F Club (June 1983 – present)
35. Kelso A&F Club (May 1976 – present)
36. Langholm A&F Club (Oct 1967 - present)
37. Lewis & Harris A&F Club (Aug 1994 – present)
38. Livingston A&F Club (Sept 1973 – present)
39 Lockerbie A&F Club (Nov 1973 - present)
40. Macmerry A&F Club (Feb 2016 – present)
41 Mauchline A&F Club (Sept 1983 - present)
42 Montrose A&F Club (joined Sept 1982 - present)
43 Newtongrange A&F Club (joined Sept 1977 - present)
44. North East A&F Club aka Keith A&FC (Sept 1971 - present)
45. Oban A&F Club (Nov 1975 - present)
46. Orkney A&F Club (Mar 1978 - present)
47. Peebles A&F Club (26 Nov 1981 - present)
48. Perth & District A&F Club (Aug 1970 - present)
49. Renfrew A&F Club (1984 -
50. Rothbury Accordion Club (7th Feb 1974) orig called Coquetdale
51. Shetland A&F Club (Sept 1978 - present)
52 Stonehouse A&F Club (Opened 2003 - first report June 05 – Closed April 2018)
53 Thurso A&F Club (Oct 1981 - present)
54 Turriff A&F Club (1st April 1982 - present)
55 Tynedale A&F Club (Nov 1980 - present)
56 Uist & Benbecula A&F Club (Dec 2007 but formed 1994 -
57 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?)
58. Araharacle & District A&F Club (cMay 1988)
59. Armadale A&F Club (Oct 1978? or 80) originally called Bathgate Club (for 2 months) Last meeting May 2010
60. Ayr A&F Club (Nov 1983 – per Nov 83 edition) Closed
61. Belford A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
62. Bonchester Accordion Club (Closed?)
63. Bridge of Allan (Walmer) A&F Club (Walmer Hotel, Bridge of Allan) (c March 1982)
64. Brigmill A&F Club (Oct 1990) Closed
65. Britannia B&F Club ( joined 07-08 but much older
66. Bromley A&F Club (joined 95-96 – closed early 08-09)
67. Buchan A&F Club
68. Callander A&F Club (
69. Campbeltown & District A&F Club (c Dec 1980)
70. Cleland (cNov 1981 – March 1985) originally called Drumpellier A&F Club (for 2 months)
71. Club Accord
72. Coldingham A&F Club (Nov 2008 – cFeb 2014)
73 Coquetdale A&F Club (Feb 1974 or c1976/77 – 1981/2? – became Rothbury?)
74. Coupar Angus A&F Club (cSept 1978 - ?)
75. Crathes (aka Scottish Accordion Music – Crathes) (Nov 1997 -
76. Cults A & F Club (
77. Cumnock A&F Club (October 1976 - forced to close cDec 1982 - see Jan 83 Editorial)
78. Denny & Dunipace A&F Club (Feb 1981)
79. Derwentside A&F Club
80. Dornoch A&F Club (first mention in directory 1986)
81. Dumfries Accordion Club (Oughtons) (April 1965 at the Hole in the Wa’)
82. Dunbar Cement Works A&F Club (Closed?)
83. Dundee & District A&F Club (January 1971 – 1995?)
84. Dunoon & Cowal A&F Club (
85. East Kilbride A&F Club (Sept 1980 – Closed 04/05)
86. Edinburgh A&F Club (Apr 1981) prev called Chrissie Leatham A&F Club (Oct 1980)
87. Falkirk A&F Club (Sept 1978 - )
88. Fintry A&F Club (Dec 1972 – reformed Jan 1980 – ?)
89. Fort William A&F Club (21st Oct 1980 – per Dec 1980 B&F)
90. Galston A&F Club (Oct 1969 – per first edition – closed March 2006)
91. Glenrothes A&F Club (Mar 93? – left the Assoc c2013)
92. Gorebridge (cNov 1981) originally called Arniston A&F Club (for 2 months)
93. Greenhead Accordion Club (on the A69 between Brampton and Haltwistle)
94. Haddington A&F Club (formed Feb 2005 – 6th December 2015)
95. Islay A&F Club (23 Apr 93 -
96. Kintore A&F Club (
97. Kirriemuir A&F Club (cSept 1981)
98. Ladybank A&F Club (joined Apr 98 but formed earlier -
99. Lanark A&F Club (joined Sept 96 – closed March 2015)
100. Lauder A&F Club (May 2010 -
101. Lesmahagow A&F Club (Nov 1979 – closed May 2005)
102. M.A.F.I.A. (1966 – 1993?)
103. Maine Valley A&F Club (
104. Monklands A&F Club (Nov 1978 – closed cApril 1983)
105. Morecambe A&F Club (joined Sept 1982)
106. Muirhead A&F Club (Dec 1994 -
107. Mull A&F Club
108. Newcastleton Accordion Club
109. Newburgh A&F Club (joined 2002 but founded much earlier – closed April 2011 when venue closed)
110. New Cumnock A&F Club (cMarch 1979)
111. Newmill-on-Teviot (Hawick) (Formed late 1988 joined Assoc 1999 - closed March 2016)
112. Newton St Boswells Accordion Club (17th Oct 1972 see Apr 1984 obituary for Angus Park)
113. Northern A&F Club (Sept 2011 -
114. Ormiston Miners’ Welfare Society A&F Club (closed April 1992 – per Sept Editorial)
115. Premier A&F Club NI (April 1980)
116. Phoenix A&F Club, Ardrishaig (Dec 2004 -
117. Reading Scottish Fiddlers (cMarch 1997
118. Renfrew A&F Club (original club 1974/5 lapsed after a few years then again in 1984)
119. Selkirk A&F Club (
120. Stirling A&F Club (Oct 1991 – closed 20000/01?)
121. Straiton Accordion Club (c1968 – closed March 1979)
122. Stranraer & District Accordion Club (1974 – per first edition)
123 Sutherland A&F Club (Nov 1982 -
124 Thornhill A&F Club (joined Oct 1983 – see Nov 83 edition – closed April 2014)
125. Torthorwald A&F Club (near Dumfries)
126. Tranent A&F Club
127. Vancouver Fiddle Orchestra
128. Walmer (Bridge of Allan) A&F Club
129. Wellbank A&F Club
130. West Barnes (1981? - April 2016?)
131. Yarrow (prev known as Etterick & Yarrow) (Jan 1989 – closed 2001/02)
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