IT WAS standing room only for the Inveraray and District Accordion and Fiddle Club’s November night at the Inveraray Inn, many having travelled from far and wide.
Compere Jane MacKay welcomed everyone. Fyne Folk got the evening underway with Jake MacKay on moothie, Sally Hall on fiddle and Margaret Campbell on keyboard, and they were joined by Calum Satchel on fiddle and John Kelly and Jim McMillan on guitars, with a pipe march set followed by some well-known Gaelic waltzes.
Other supporting players were Calum Satchel on fiddle with John Kelly on guitar; John Kelly on guitar and vocals; John MacKay on guitar and vocals; Janet Graham on accordion with Grant MacDougall on drums; Jim McMillan on guitar and vocals, along with Jake on moothie and Jane MacKay on vocals; Neil and Angie MacEachern on accordion and fiddle, along with Tommy Walker on 2nd accordion. All the players delighted the audience with a varied selection of songs and tunes.
After tea and a raffle, it was over to the guest artists — Calum MacColl and his Trio: Martainn Skene on accordion and Andrew MacPherson on drums and pipes — for the whole of the second half.
Calum marched in with some stirring 2/4 pipe marches, with Martainn and Andrew joining in, and the audience knew then they were in for a treat. Calum swapped the pipes for the button box and the boys entertained the crowd with Gaelic waltzes, Gay Gordons tunes, a very moving tribute for Remembrance Day, various tempos of pipe marches, a set of jigs, and Calum delighted the faithful in between with a fine rendition of Lovely Stornoway and a couple of Gaelic songs, explaining the background to the tunes in his own inimitable style.
All too soon it was time for the last set of tunes. Jane thanked Calum and the boys and all the supporting players for a tremendous evening of music, and it was brought to a close with Calum back on the pipes, Martainn on accordion and Andrew on pipes, with a rousing medley for the grand finale.
