October Club Night Report

Highland Accordion and Fiddle Club

Club Night Report Monday October 17 2011

A very large crowd was seated in the hall a good half hour before the scheduled start time of 7.30 pm and the anticipation was obvious.

Nichol Mackay opened the proceedings with his 5 row button box and had backing from Jacquie Macdonald on keyboards and Bob Wares on the drums.

Nichol never fails on stage and played a tune he had composed himself entitled “The Waterside”, possibly named after the venue of the Waterside Hotel in Inverness or just because of our location next to the River Ness. Who knows and Nichol himself was undecided, but what a cracking wee tune and one that should rise to the fore more frequently I hope.  Megan Meikle had made the trip from Maryburgh for the show and is fast becoming a very accomplished player. Confidence is abundant and she played some lovely tunes without backing.

A visitor from Oban was next up. James Macarthur had the 2 row button box with him and played a couple of sing a long numbers which went down very well.

A change of instrument now and Stuart MacLean on the fiddle led a quartet of Jacquie MacDonald on the keyboards, Calum MacKaskill on guitar and Jock Stephen on drums. Stuart is now a regular visitor to the club and is a very welcome addition to any playing list.

Time now for the guest artiste and the Brandon McPhee Trio did the honours.

Brandon is only 14 years old and is possibly the youngest ever guest at the Highland Club. He had Manson Grant on keyboards and Robert Cameron on drums, and what a terrific sound these guys made. Brandon was so relaxed and the trio were resplendent in their black suits, white shirts and red ties. The professionalism was obvious to see and the band had arrived very early to complete a sound check before arrival of the faithful.

Not a note of music to be seen anywhere on stage and the large crowd enjoyed every minute of it.

Brandon played right across the board from old favourites to newer tunes and had no time at all for blethers. It was music all the way which is exactly what the crowd wanted.

The second half started with another club favourite leading. Archie Macphee had Jacquie Macdonald on keyboards and Bob Wares on drums. Archie is scheduled to be guest artiste at the Club at the January meeting and the rumour machine suggests there may be a cd in the offing. Watch this space.

Susie Simpson was next up and played some beautiful tunes as a soloist. Susie was a recent guest artiste at the club and it is really great that we are spoiled at the Highland Club with such talented local players.

Another talented local player was to follow Susie and Hamish Macdougall on his melodeon had Jacquie Macdonald on keyboards, Calum Mackaskill on guitar and Jock Stephen on drums behind him.

Time once again for the maestro on the three row button box. The Brandon McPhee Trio resumed where they had left off at the end of the first half. They played with precision timing and loads of style and panache and the crowd lapped it all up and for the first time in my thirty odd year involvement with Accordion and Fiddle clubs I witnessed a standing ovation.

Brandon and the boys deserved every second of that ovation and the future of the accordion sound is in no danger at all with young people like Brandon around.

A truly marvellous experience for everybody in the hall and Brandon and his mates have just released a new DVD and CD which is available very soon. Copies were on offer last night and a large number disappeared very quickly, which is an indication of just how much pleasure this young man generates.

Another memorable night at The Highland Accordion and Fiddle Club.

Brandons nw CD and DVD are available from all good record shops and also from http://www.panrecords.co.uk/

I guarantee you will not be dissapointed with it.
Bob Wares