Frank Thomson and his Scottish Dance Band
For the very best in traditional music and song, join Gary Innes for Take the Floor. This week, we bring you a great archive session from Frank Thomson and his band.
For the very best in traditional music and song, join Gary Innes for Take the Floor. This week, we bring you a great archive session from Frank Thomson and his band to celebrate Frank and the recent BEM award he has received in the King's birthday honours list. Frank joins Gary on the programme to tell us what this honour means to him, and to share his memories of performing at a number of Gillies Balls on the Balmoral estate throughout his life.
We then share some brilliant performances from this year's graduating class from the traditional music course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The students recently visited BBC Pacific Quay in Glasgow, to learn more about radio production, and to gain experience in a recording studio, performing as two folk bands.
The line ups were as follows:
Group One: Vocalist Brodie Crawford, with Anna Whiteford on accordion, Anya Johnston, Sandra Castro, JoeJoe McCann and Abbie Nye on fiddles and Duncan Ritchie on piano.
Group Two: Fiddle players Ruby Whitaker, Ruaridh Mackay and Eilidh Paterson, Rory Carter on octave mandolin, Noah Scott on piano, Rachel Harrower on clarsach, and Arren McWilliams on drums.
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Frank Thomson and his Scottish Dance Band
Frank Thomson BEM Lead Accordion
Dennis Morrison Second Accordion
Sarah Beattie Fiddle
David Little Piano
Brian Cruickshank Bass Guitar
Neil Mitchell Drums
TITLE: Gay Gordon
a) The Hamefarers Dance Band [Willie Hunter]
b) The Laird’s Walk [Hector MacAndrew]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Flora’s Fancy
a) Lady Charlotte Bruce’s Favourtie [N Gow]
b) Hoddam Castle [Sharp]
c) Lady Elizabeth Cole’s Reel [Robert Mackintosh]
d) Simon’s Jig [Peter Farnan]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Bonnie Banchory
a) Bonnie Banchory [James Scott Skinner]
b) The Balmedie Lasses [Alastair Hunter]
c) Reel for Nick [Frank Thomson]
d) The Legacy [Gordon Pattullo]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Ruby Waltz
a) Dreaming [Archibald Joyce]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Miss Eleanor
a) Ann Dix of Harmans Water [Ian Muir]
b) The Ross Strathspey [Ian Muir]
c) Margaret’s Fancy [Ian Powrie]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Irish Rover
a) The Irish Rover [Trad]
b) The Boys of Wexford [Trad]
c) Down the Brae [Trad]
d) Captain Dunne’s March [Trad]
e) God Save Ireland [Trad]
f) The Dawning of the Day [Trad]
g) Henry Joy McCracken [Trad]
h) The Three Flowers [Trad]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Band Leader’s Choice
a) James Murray of Abercairny,
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: White Heather Foxtrot
a) The Jewel of a Hundred Years [Phil Cunningham]
b) Ian Powrie’s Farewell to Scotland [Jimmy Blue]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Miss Mary Douglas
a) Miss Mary Douglas
b) Fraser Pattullo’s Jig [Gordon Pattullo]
c) Full Marks to Bill Henry [John Huband]
d) The Rusty Claymore [Trad]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Innes Russell of Perth
a) Innes Russell of Perth [Adam Rennie]
b) Dr McHardy [James Scott Skinner]
c) Susan Ross of Arbroath [Michael Philip]
d) Frank’s Favourite [Fred Moyes]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Band Leader’s Choice
a) Sonja’s Reel [Fiona Driver]
b) The Hamnavoe Reel [Fiona Driver]
c) Trip to Scourie [Fiona Driver]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Miss Murray of Lintrose
a) Miss Murray of Lintrose [John Bowie]
b) Gordon Pattullo’s Reel [Angus Cameron]
c) The Merry Reapers [Trad]
d) Ingram’s 35 [Freeland Barbour]
ARTIST: Frank Thomson Scottish Dance Band
BBC Take The Floor Recording
TITLE: Wild Mountain Thyme
TRK: 10
ARTIST: Siobhan Miller
CD: Bloom
LABEL/CAT NR: Songprint Recordings - SPR006CD
TITLE: Ascension Jigs
Skylark’s Ascension / Dr Iain MacAonghais/ The Skyeman’s
TRK: 2
ARTIST: Graham MacKenzie & Rory Matheson
CD: Take Six
LABEL/CAT NR: BDM003CD
TITLE: Dr J D Hunter of Aultbea / Leaving Port Askaig
TRK: 5
ARTIST: Matthew McLennan Scottish Dance Band
CD: Traditionally Inspired
LABEL/CAT NR: MDM001
TITLE: Annabel Lee
Set to a Edgar Allan Poe Poem
First Rule of Box Club [Mairearad Green]
ARTIST: RCS STUDENTS – Group 1
BBC Take The Floor & Travelling Folk Recording
TITLE: The Banks of The Lee [Trad]
ARTIST: RCS STUDENTS – Group 1
BBC Take The Floor & Travelling Folk Recording
TITLE: The Merry Dancers [Noah Scott]
ARTIST: RCS STUDENTS – Group 2
BBC Take The Floor & Travelling Folk Recording
TITLE: Lochslin
Lochslin Castle [Ruaridh MacKay]
The Restoration Reel [Ruby Whitaker]
ARTIST: RCS STUDENTS – Group 2
BBC Take The Floor & Travelling Folk Recording
TITLE: Reels
Louise’s Reel / The Holly Bush / Beare Island
ARTIST: Graham MacKenzie & Rory Matheson
CD: Take Six
LABEL/CAT NR: BDM003CD
TITLE: Da Laird O Gulberwick / St. Anne's Reel / Calum Donaldson / Sleep Soond in Da Mornin /
The Shetland Fiddler
TRK: 1
ARTIST: Sandy Legget & The Carseloch Ceilidh Band
CD: Ceilidh Capers
LABEL/CAT NR: CCBCD2
Broadcast
- Sat 28 Jun 202519:00BBC Radio Scotland
