Sounds and spirit of 1959 will be recreated with Scottish fiddle concert
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THE sounds from a 1959 variety show will be given a modern twist at a community concert in Dufftown.
Sixty four years ago Dufftown fiddler Alex Grant, a Glenlivet farmer, was one of the star turns at the concert in the Mortlach Memorial Hall along with the Hillside Skiffle Group, Auchindoun WRI and other talented local folk.
A recording of Alex (1905-2000) will feature once again in a new community concert in the hall as the finale of the Dufftown Stories project on Friday, April 21.
Through the magic of technology, Alex, who was recorded by Edinburgh University for the School of Scottish Studies Archive, will be heard once again, this time accompanied live on piano by Grantown musician Hamish Napier.
Mr Napier said: “Alex was a great fiddler in his day, remembered I’m sure by many and we thought it would be a great idea to include him in this modern-day version of the kind of event that was once popular in the town.”
The programme will aim to capture the spirit of 1959, while the show will feature Dufftown Dance Club, tunes, stories and songs, music from popular music club, The Stramash, and a new setting to music of one of Dufftown poet Mary Symon’s best-loved poems.
Children from Mortlach Primary will perform songs written by them at a workshop with Hamish Napier and fellow Dufftown Stories project worker, David Francis.
The project has also produced a ‘Dufftown ABC’, a listing of the town’s distinctive and best-loved features in a poll by townspeople and school children. The ABC has been produced in poster form with illustrations by Aberlour artist, Steve Carroll.
The evening will be rounded off with a dance with music from talented local family Alison and Brona Gillies and their band.
Tickets £5 (concessions £3, under 16s free), are available from Costcutter, Balvenie Street, or online at Eventbrite (search Dufftown Stories).
Dufftown Stories is part of The People’s Parish, run by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government’s Culture Collective programme.
