The musicians involved in producing my CD
Accordion: Susan MacFadyen
Fiddle: Shona MacFadyen
Electronic keyboard: Ewan Galloway
My Story by Jim Stott
In October 2019 I taught a Scottish Country Dance workshop in Buenos Aires. It was such a great day. For the event I wrote two dances which were well received. When we were all confined to home during COVID-19 I decided to wrtie more dances for the planned weekend in Buenos Aires in September 2020. Unfortunately the event never happened.
By Jim Stott
Ewan Galloway, Accordionist
I am a professional full time accordionist who has performed for the Royal Highland Show on numerous occasions and released a number of very popular CDs. I have broadcast the Scottish Shindig radio programme for over 10 years. I have performed for numerous Scottish Country Dance events including the RSCDS St Andrew’s Summer School, various classes and abroad for the Nunspeet weekend. Recently I have brought out a book of Scottish Country Dances for the Stagger Inn with accompanying CD. The CD is for sale and can be purchased online at www.ewangalloway.co.uk
Susan MacFadyen
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Susan has been playing the accordion since the age of 14, taking lessons from Ian Muir of Prestwick. She has won many solo accordion competitions over the years, including titles at the All Scotland Accordion Championships & The National Association Of Accordion & Fiddle Clubs (NAAFC) Musselburgh Festival. Highlights include winning the senior accordion pipe music section twice, the band section in 2004, being awarded the best band rhythm section in 2007 & winning the trios section in 2007, 2018 & 2019 at the aforementioned NAAFC Festival. Susan has also performed on BBC Radio Scotland's Take The Floor programme on numerous occasions with her own band as well as with other bands. She has also performed for Frank McAtee, the Minister for Tourism, Culture & Sport at the time and Hugh Grant (Movie Star).
Shona Macfadyen
Shona has been playing the fiddle since the age of 12, under the tutorship of Simone Welsh, Jenna Reid, Gill Simpson & more recently Alistair McCulloch. She has also won many solo fiddle competitions over the years, including titles at The All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Championships, National Association Of Accordion & Fiddle Clubs (NAAFC) Festival, Lairg Music Festival, Kirriemuir & Banchory Fiddle Festivals & The Ayrshire Music Festival. She gained a BA in Scottish Music at the RSAMD in 2009. Shona has performed on BBC Radio Scotland's Take The Floor programme, at Celtic Connections & has performed with the likes of Blazin Fiddles & the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra.
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To Jim
From Anne McArthur
I am delighted to see the production of this CD, a culmination of many month's work. Jim Stott had a vision during COVID-19 to produce a book of dances and an accompanying CD in memory of an amazing visit to Argentina in 2019.
Jim devised 3 Jigs, 3 Reels, 7 Strathspeys and a medley. He gave each dance the title of one of the places he had visited across Argentina. While devising the dances he gave consideration to the accompanying tunes. He used ones presented to him by band leaders over the years but also composed eight new tunes dedicating some of them to his dancing friends in Argentina and other to members of his family.
He enlisted friends Ewan Galloway, Susan and Shone MacFadyen to record the music for this CD. The proceeds from the Book and CD will go to various cancer charities in memory of members of his family.
By Anne McArthur