Castle Douglas Accordion and Fiddle Club's October meeting
There was a smaller than usual turnout at Castle Douglas Accordion and Fiddle Club’s October meeting.
Compered by Gerald Bell, the first local player for the evening was Bob Watson from Torthorwald, who led off on his accordion with Ian Riddet’s March, remembering a well-loved member of the club who passed away a couple of years ago.
He was followed by Brian and Madeleine Maxwell from Gretna, playing traditional tunes on button accordion and whistle respectively. Next came local man George Shanks with his mouth organ and the spoons, ably assisted by the ever-popular John Douglas from Dumfries, whose fine accordion playing accompanied John Cowan from Kirkcudbright on fiddle and Stuart Faulds from Dreghorn on his accordion. William Little from Dumfries was the last of the local players in the first half, entertaining the audience with his whistles.
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The guest artiste was the excellent John Waugh from Carlisle who is no stranger to the club, often coming as a local player and contributing his skills to the evening.
John played with Alan Brown on keyboard and Billy Porter on drums, and had arranged a very varied and entertaining programme of new and traditional Scottish pieces, which was very well received by an enthusiastic audience.
After tea and biscuits and the raffle, young Matthew Murray from Dumfries, showed his increasing skill on his accordion and then the ever-competent Barbara Fisher, also from Dumfries, entertained on her accordion. Both these players were accompanied by John Douglas, who then gave a selection on his own, with Bill Porter adding his drums to the performance.
John Douglas was not allowed to retire after this, as John Waugh asked him to make the trio into a quartet for his second half performance, and the augmented band came together with a rich and balanced sound, which brought another fine evening in Castle Douglas to a close.
The next meeting of the club will be on Sunday, November 10 at 2pm when the guest artiste will the Karyn McCulloch Duo.