January Club Night Report

HIGHLAND ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUBJANUARY CLUB NIGHT REPORT


The Highland Accordion and Fiddle Club welcomed the new year with a very large crowd in the usual venue .

Graham Wilson started and had Jacquie Macdonald on keyboards and Iain Stewart on drums. Iain is better known for his accordion or piano skills but is certainly no slouch on the drum stool either.

Cammy Maclean followed and had his Dad Martin on drums and Jacquie remained on keyboards.

Still with the MacLean clan and this time Stuart Maclean took to the stage with the fiddle. Calum Mackaskill had the guitar and Bob Wares was on drums.

Club stalwart Jean Millward followed with her piano accordion. Jean is a regular visitor to the audience area and only rarely takes to the stage. On this occasion she had Christine Matheson from the Dingwall Club on keyboards and Martin Maclean on drums. No problems for Jean and a super couple of sets put her mind at ease.

Jimmy Smith followed on the mouth organ. Calum Mackaskill on guitar and Jock Stephen on drums completed the line up. Jimmy celebrated his 75th birthday earlier in January and is very popular with the Highland faithful.

Time for the guest artistes now and Archie Macphee and the Bogroy Band did the honours. Wow! What a terrific sound from these guys right from the off. Waltzes, marches , reels and jigs just kept coming and coming and all played with such enthusiasm and skill. Timing was exceptional and very little blethering between tracks made them a real joy to listen to.

Archie had Jacquie Macdonald on keyboards, Carol Irvine on fiddle and George Bremner on drums

The second half opened with Colin Donaldson who had Jacquie Macdonald on keyboards and a visitor to the club for the night in the shape of Ali Macintyre on drums. Ali is a very experienced drummer and his cv includes such luminaries as Colin Dewar. Ali had travelled from Balloch near Loch Lomond just to see Archie and the band.

Hamish Macdpougall and his melodeon were to follow and Ali Mcintyre remained at the drum stool. Iain Stewart moved onto the keyboards.

Iain Stewart then showed his versatility and took to the lead accordion and Jacquie Macdonald was at the keyboards.

Dougall Macdougall completed the line up of local players with the three row button box and had Allen Shepherd on keyboards and Bob Wares on the drums

What an array of local talent we are blessed with at the Highland Club and once again apologies are due to those players who never reached the stage due to the numbers present and graciously stepped aside.

Back to the guest artistes and Archie Macphee and the Bogroy Band continued where they left off. Quality musicianship and entertainment from 4 genuine and sincere musicians, who play all their music from the heart. A fiddle solo from Carol was delightful and it was plain to see why these guys are in such big demand across the country.

Archie’s CD entitled “A Different Beat” can be purchased from any good record shop or we can put you in touch with Jacquie via this website or face book page.

Another fantastic night for the Highland faithful who left the hall buzzing and probably not able to drop off to sleep till well through the night with their heads buzzing to the sounds of Archie Macphee and The Bogroy Band.