December meeting success for Turriff and District Accordion and Fiddle Club
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Where has 2019 gone? It is said that the older you become the faster the years pass and this has certainly been true.
Chairman Bob Rae welcomed an almost full house to the last Turriff And District Accordion And Fiddle Club meeting of 2019 and handed over to compere Bill Gray who got everyone into the party mode with his jokes and stories.
Santa arrived with the tubs of sweets, the mincemeat pies and shortbread were for ready for fly time and everyone was relaxed and seated for another night of great music.
Although the number of ‘off the floor’ players was few the quality was still there.
Age is no barrier to musical skill and 90-year-old accordionist Dod Fowlie was proof of this as he opened the evening’s entertainment with some lively weel kent musical sets ably accompanied by pianist Rosie Kellas.
Singer and mouthie player Dennis Shepherd - also accompanied by Rosie - followed with the Methlick Barn Dance, Sprig Of Ivy, Australian Ladies and the unusual Wheelbarrow Song, keeping the participating audience on the hop!
Accomplished pianist Suzanne Elrick stepped on stage and delighted the audience with a fine selection of tunes – The Blackboard Of My Heart, Bonnie Kirkwall Bay, My Bonnie and Coming Through the Rye.
The ever-popular north-east musical champions, the Garioch Blend, were the guests for the evening with Charlie Esson senior on accordion, Willie Kelman on fiddle and Charlie junior on drums.
Balladeer Bill Gray, accompanied by the band, sang Red Is The Rose and Home To My Donegal, both of which were just excellent.
The band had the audience in the palm of their hand, with the rousing reel sets getting hands clapping and feet tapping to the more subdued Kate Martin’s Waltz and the Log Cabin Waltz.
Other tunes played by the band included the Bonnie Lass Of Bon Accord, Lunan Bay, Welcome Christmas Morning, Jingle Bell Quickstep, Christmas Carol Singalong and Charlie senior's compositions the Boer’s Head Ceilidh and the Bonnie Banks Of The River Don.
Willie Kelman’s singing just pulls at the old heart strings; whether it be the Isle of Tiree, When The Accordion Started To Play, Granny’s Armchair or the more comical 5 Old Ladies Stuck In The Lavatory - it was great fun for everyone.
The band and other players excelled at the end of year stramash, leaving the audience hoping for more and more music - a great end to another year's club entertainment.
The success of the club revolves around the continued support of loyal club members, non-members and local supporters and if you wish to brush off the new year and winter blues or just want an evening of lively Scottish, Irish, Canadian and continental music the club has it all.
A warm and friendly atmosphere awaits you and everyone is welcome - players and non-players.
At the end of the night Bob Rae thanked everyone for their continued support and invited them back to the next meeting on Thursday, February 6, in the Commercial Hotel in Cuminestown at 7.30pm when the guest artistes will be Roddy Matthews and the Tweed Valley Ceilidh Band.
Door to door transport is available from Turriff, and for more information you can contact: 01888 563 000.
