December 2009

There was a smaller crowd than usual at our club night on Thursday 3rd December, but for those us there, we had another smashing night. Our MC tonight was Sandy Maclean and our local players started off the first half of the night. On accordion were: Ishbel Crichton, Donnie Maciver and Ian Soapy Macphail, followed by Angus Maclean, Helen Macleod, and Emma Macdonald. Tracy Gordon played keyboards: Campbell Scanlon played a solo fiddle set, followed by Donnie Leody and his group of young fiddlers. During this set Lorna Scanlon also played a solo set. These youngsters are such a joy to listen to.

It was then time for our guest artistes to take to the stage.  They were the Michael Garvin Band, comprising Michael on accordion, Ross Macpherson on second  accordion and Gus Finlayson on drums. This trio were in superb form starting with a set of Irish jigs, waltzes, marches and reels, and their piece de resistance in the first half was a waltz set, the tunes were The Jacqueline Waltz and Alpine Slopes, absolutely perfect. 

After the stramash it was back to the local players : on accordion were Hector Murray, Alexander Maciver, Graham Maclennan, Dol Macdonald, Anna Fraser, Anne Louise Stewart and DB Macleod. This time David Bowen accompanied on keyboard.  The raffle was then drawn and it was back to  the Michael Garvin Band, who started with the Trumpet Hornpipe, waltzes, 2/4 marches, a continental set, 6/8 marches, when he announced the last two sets would be a Highland Scottische, then a set of reels, but, we were having none of  that, we wanted to hear more, and the boys duly obliged, giving a toe tapping session right to the end, an absolute pleasure to listen to. 

Thursday 10th December, we are having our launch night of our new club CD, it is called Lewis & Harris Accordion & Fiddle club CD Our Favourites 2, admission is free and there will be a buffet, this should be another good night.  On behalf of the club and committee, I would like to say a big thank you to all our visiting artistes who crossed the Minch to visit us in Stornoway this year, we were thoroughly entertained by all of you.  Our next monthly meeting will be on Thursday January 7th, and this will be a night of local players.  Finally, I would like, again on behalf of the committee, to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Chrisella Macdonald