27/04/2026
SUNDAY 15th MARCH 2026
GUEST ARTIST - Hjaltibonhoga
By 1.45pm St Mary’s Club Rooms were full to the gunwales, mainly as a result of a bus-load of fiddlers from Shetland and beyond arriving mid-way through their spring tour. We did wonder if there had been a miscommunication to our venue as local rumours abounded of an influx of musicians, dressed all in black, being the first customers at opening time at the Clydesdale Inn, a five-minute walk down Lanark High Street.
The club had been in correspondence with Margaret Robertson MBE for over a year in planning this visit, and the logistical challenges of bringing by far the largest group of musicians to be guest artists was now upon us. We needn’t have worried, HJALTIBONHOGA were in town. www.hjalti.com
They arrived in plenty of time, immaculately turned out, in good spirits, hungry, and enthusiastic to be joining us for the afternoon, and we managed to squeeze them all around our extended guest artist table.
In a change to our normal format, we were entertained in the first half by local and visiting players. First onto the stage were regular supporters who travel cross country from Alnwick in Northumberland, Joan Kirk and Mungo Riddle on accordions. Fiona Paul was up next treating us to her usual polished performances with well thought out arrangements and harmonies. Marshall Harkness on his Ranco accordion played next before Fin Hope almost brought the roof off with a couple of sets, cheered on by an obvious fan club amongst our guest players. Bill Stewart was next to play playing some well-known Scottish melodies. Our next two ladies fresh from their competition successes at the NAAFC’s Partick Festival the previous week played their winning sets for us, namely, Elizabeth Cathcart (4/4 Marches) and Nicola Braid (Own Composition). Neil MacMillan on accordion with June Meikle on fiddle gave us some wholesome traditional tunes before we closed the first half’s entertainment with selections from our very own Allan Smith of Clyde Valley Ceilidh Band fame, and the irrepressible Charlie Kirkpatrick from Giffnock. Drumming duties on the afternoon were carried out by Alex Lyall, Tom Hope and Billy Hutton.
This month our prize quiz had a Shetland theme to it given the origins of our Guest Artists.
1. ALY BAIN was the fiddle player pictured on screen.
2. The largest town in Shetland is LERWICK.
3. PARTICK BURGH HALLS was the venue of the 52nd NAAFC Festival last weekend.
4. How many fiddle players played with Hjaltibonhoga in today’s guest artist – THIRTY ONE.
5. The name of the renowned Dance Band containing Jim Halcrow, Willie Hunter & Ronnie Cooper was THE HAMEFARERS.
And so to our Guest Artists – Hjaltibonhoga comprising thirty one fiddle players (at the last count), accompanied by leader Margaret Robertson MBE, Duncan Christie, Ryan Couper, Callum and Brian Cruickshank providing a solid and well rehearsed rhythm section on piano, drums, guitar, accordion and bass respectively.
Hjalti took over the entire second half of the club meeting and performed two 45 minute spots of the very highest quality traditional music. Almost every piece performed on the day had a connection to the group’s native Shetland Isles, be that jigs, reels, airs, marches or waltzes, with several compositions from the leader’s pen. One such tune was a beautiful air entitled ‘Still Water’ for which the group were joined by Islay Cathcart on fiddle for this one item.
The line-up consisted members of the Hjalti community from all airts and pairts of the country, with players from Orkney, the North-East, Fife, even some fiddlers who had travelled from New Zealand to be part of the tour, and of course a core group of Shetlanders, each with their own individual playing style forged into an extremely powerful, yet sympathetic at times, orchestral group. It really was a privilege to hear this ensemble in such an intimate acoustic environment. The enjoyment of the music was evident on the smiles of the performers, and equally so on the faces of the audience lucky enough to be in attendance on that afternoon.
Several members of the group were given the opportunity to shine with solo or leading pieces, stepping forward to lead or showcase their musical talents.
On behalf of Clydesdale Accordion & Fiddle Club we would like to wholeheartedly thank Margaret and her amazing group for their wonderful performance and friendliness during their visit and wish them every success for their future ventures, at home in the UK, or in an ambassadorial capacity when asked to perform abroad.
We won’t forget this afternoon in a long time!
Our guest artist for our final meeting of the season will be two young Highland gentlemen now residing in Glasgow, fiddle sensation GRAHAM MACKENZIE accompanied by the wonderful RORY MATHESON on piano. www.grahammackenziemusic.com
The club starts as usual at 2pm on Sunday 19th April 2026 in St Mary’s Club Rooms, Lanark. We look forward to welcoming a large crowd to close our 10th season in style.
