HIGHLAND SHOWTIME

HIGHLAND SHOWTIME

(Saturday 12 November 2011)

The Highland Accordion and Fiddle Club held their annual Highland Showtime in the spectacular setting of Eden Court Theatre, Inverness. A capacity audience was treated to the very best on offer with laughter and outstanding musical talent the order of the night.

MC for the evening was John “The Prof” Matheson from Moray Firth Radio. John  had the place rocking with laughter and found himself tangling with a wayward cleaner on stage and even managed to do the Highland Fling with the dancers in the guise of a dancing champion from Canada! John is a master of these events and reigns supreme in this part of the world.

Thes how was superbly produced by Club Secretary Jacquie Macdonald.and she can relax for a wee while now until she picks up the reigns for next years show in just a few weeks time.

The Sileas Sinclair Ceilidh band opened the show and were accompanied right from the start by the Elizabeth Fraser Dancers in their tartan outfits. A great splash of colour and action to set the tone.

The Monach Isle Ceilidh Band brought a mixture of old and new with their own versions of traditional tunes and had the fiddle, bagpipes, small pipes and whistles alongside the accordion. All local lads and leader Michael Macmillan can be very proud of his contribution alongside Chris Mackenzie on everything else and Gordon Ferguson the fiddle.

The Elizabeth Fraser Dancers under the direction of Elizabeth Fraser herself brought glamour and elegance to the proceedings with a superb dancing display. No Highland dancing is complete without the pipes of course and Yvonne Kerman was on hand to complete that function brilliantly. Yvonne was able to demonstrate her skills in a wee solo spot and she is undoubtedly an exceptionally talented musician.

The Gaelic speaking patrons were not to be forgotton and Mod Gold Medallist Paul MacCallum sang beautifully with a really polished piano accompaniment from Hamish Menzies.

For the purist Jacquie had turned to Sileas Sinclair from Oban who has just recorded a CD which should be in the shops soon. Sileas was backed by the brilliant fiddler Deirdre Macdonald, keyboards with Ruaridh Campbell and the drummer was Ryan McGlynn. Together they made a formidable sound and were joined for a couple of sets by 13 year old Hannah Macrae. Hannah was a winner at the recent Mod in the 18 and under fiddle class and is a real star of the future. Hannah is a pupil of Dierdre and the whole dance band scene is in good hands with a secure future when young, raw talent as was displayed here is on display.
The splendour of the whole occasion was brought home at the finale when the whole company assembled on stage with Sileas Sinclair and her band playing in the background.

A great night of talent, all of whom come from the Highlands but a huge thank you must go to Jacquie for her skills in putting the whole show together.

Bob Wares