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AFTER THE PERTH FESTIVAL DANCE

INCLUDING AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR U18s TO
​
"PLAY ALONG WITH JOHN BURNS & HIS SCOTTISH DANCE BAND"

SALUTATION HOTEL, PERTH
SATURDAY 31st OCTOBER 2026

The National Association of Accordion & Fiddle Clubs is once again pleased to host the “After the Perth Festival Dance” following the All-Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Championships being held in the Salutation Hotel, Perth on Saturday 31st October 2026.

We are delighted to present one of the longest standing supporters of Perth Festival to play for this event, none other than John Burns and his Scottish Dance Band. John is a previous All-Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion Champion, having won the title in 1999 and a regular finalist over the past twenty five years. In addition John‘s band have won the Band Section at Perth on no less than seven occasions and not forgetting his incredible talent as a composer, lifting that trophy multiple times down the years.

John leads one of the country’s top dance bands, with exceptional musical talent throughout his group. They maintain a traditional sound whilst pushing boundaries in terms of tunes and set selection with tasteful and intriguing arrangements, including many of his hugely popular modern compositions.

Joining John on stage on the night will be Neil Ferguson (fiddle), Stuart Cameron (2nd accordion), Tom Orr (piano), Brian Cruickshank (bass) and Duncan Christie (drums). John and his band have three BBC Radio Scotland Take the Floor Broadcasts to their credit in addition to several more recordings with previous groups.

The format of the event will follow previous years, being suitable for all ages; with old time, ceilidh and set dances commencing in the Moncrieffe Suite of the Salutation Hotel, Perth at 8.00pm, finishing at midnight or thereby. Please note, under 18s should be accompanied by an adult.

Following on from the success of last year’s “Play Along With……” initiative the NAAFC is delighted to offer young accordionists and fiddle players a second opportunity to join this year’s band on stage. On this special Halloween evening John and his band have agreed to play two dances where under 18s can bring their instruments along to create a fantastic spectacle for listeners and dancers alike. It truly was a special moment last year and we are sure this initiative’s return will be eagerly awaited by all.

John is a hugely talented composer of popular modern traditional Scottish and continental music with a tune-book in the pipeline for publication in the coming months. We have taken this opportunity to showcase eight of John’s most popular compositions, arranged in pairs for two rounds of dances for the Gay Gordons and St Bernard’s Waltz.

We have 12 places available for our “Play-Along” initiative, please email [email protected] for further information. Sheet music books will be provided free of charge together with an online flip-book version of the music complete with audio recordings of each set recorded by John Burns on accordion accompanied by Keith Dickson on piano.

Ticket sales are now live below priced at £10 for adults and £5 for u18s with a 20% discount available to current NAAFC Individual Members.

There will be a prize raflle (all donations extremely welcome) and a fully licensed bar.

Look out for videos, photos and a report from the 77th Perth All Scotland Accordion & Fiddle Festival in the December issue of our free monthly e:Zine “Box & Fiddle – Key-Notes”, sign up for your copy at our website.

​We look forward to welcoming you to the Sally on 31st October 2026 for another memorable “After the Festival Dance”.
AFTER THE PERTH FESTIVAL DANCE
​TICKET SALES
GENERAL ADMISSION
​£10
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NAAFC MEMBER
​£8
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UNDER 18 ADMISSION
​£5
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UNDER 18 NAAFC MEMBER
​£4
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2026 BAFFI AWARDS WINNERS

👏🏻 Congratulations to all the finalists in this year's BAFFI AWARDS.
❎ The votes have all been counted and verified.
🏆 The winners in each category will be announced at our forthcoming Presentation Luncheon following our Annual General Meeting on Sunday 28th June 2026 at the Invercarse Hotel, Dundee.

🎫 Tickets for the event are available from Charlie Kirkpatrick on 07900 040477 [email protected] or can be purchased online at https://www.boxandfiddle.com

🪗🎻🎹🥁 Guest Artist of the Year Finalists:
  • Murray Cowie
  • Colin Dewar Scottish Dance Band
  • Fin Hope Band
  • Jake Johnstone Band
  • Calum MacColl Trio [WINNER]
  • Sandy Nixon Scottish Dance Band
 
♣️ Club Supporter of the Year Finalists:
  • Arbroath Accordion & Fiddle Club – Barbara Thomson
  • Banchory Accordion & Fiddle Club – Rona Cameron
  • Banff & District Accordion & Fiddle Club – Suzanne Elrick
  • Biggar Accordion & Fiddle Club – Tom Hope
  • Blairgowrie Accordion & Fiddle Club – Gerry Boxall
  • Carlisle Accordion & Fiddle Club – Dennis Ewin
  • Castle Douglas Accordion & Fiddle Club – Barbara Fisher
  • Clydesdale Accordion & Fiddle Club – Janet Campbell
  • Coalburn Accordion & Fiddle Club – Alex Lyall [OVERALL NATIONAL WINNER]
  • Dingwall Accordion & Fiddle Club – Elspeth Weir
  • Dumfries Accordion & Fiddle Club – Willie McRobert
  • Dunfermline Accordion & Fiddle Club – Chris McNeil
  • Glendale Accordion & Fiddle Club – Elizabeth Younger
  • Glenfarg Accordion & Fiddle Club – Stewart Smith
  • Glenrothes Accordion & Fiddle Club – Alex Lyall
  • Highland Accordion & Fiddle Club – Jacqui MacDonald
  • Isle of Skye Accordion & Fiddle Club – Calum MacAskill
  • Kelso Accordion & Fiddle Club – Bill Elliot
  • Langholm Accordion & Fiddle Club – Norman Swainson
  • Lewis & Harris Accordion & Fiddle Club – Peigi Maclennan
  • Macmerry Accordion & Fiddle Club – Neil Smith
  • Mauchline Accordion & Fiddle Club – David Graham
  • Montrose Accordion & Fiddle Club – Ron Stewart
  • North East Accordion & Fiddle Club – Bronagh Gillies
  • Peebles Accordion & Fiddle Club – Jock Beattie
  • Perth & District Accordion & Fiddle Club – Michael Philip
  • Rothbury Accordion & Fiddle Club – Muriel Brown
  • Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Club – Larry Sutherland
  • Turriff & District Accordion & Fiddle Club – Suzanne Elrick
  • Tynedale Accordion & Fiddle Club – Eddie Milligan
  • Wick Accordion & Fiddle Club – Addie Harper
All the above individual Club Supporter nominees will receive one year’s free individual membership of the NAAFC for 2026/2027. Any of the above club champions who attend the Presentation Luncheon will be presented with their membership badge together with a goodie bag of NAAFC merchandise.
One of these 29 nominees will also be presented with the coveted National Club Supporter of the Year award for 2025/2026.
 
🪗🎻♣️ Accordion & Fiddle Club of the Year Finalists:  
Thank you for to all member clubs and individuals who have supported the large volume of votes we have received over the past two months.

Good Luck to all the finalists!

AGM & Presentation Luncheon

Sunday 28th June 2026
The NAAFC's 55th Annual General Meeting - 11.00am
Gather in the Ballroom for Luncheon - 1.00pm

NAAFC Guests of Honour 2026

Ian Cruickshanks
George Meikle
Michael Philip

THE 15th NAAFC GOLF DAY - DUNBLANE NEW GOLF CLUB

FRASER JOHNSTONE SCOOPS THE BILLY THOM MEMORIAL TROPHY - CHAMPION GOLFER OF THE YEAR

Fifteen golfers assembled at Dunblane New Golf Club for a wonderful day of sport, music, and fellowship. This annual event has been enjoyed every year since the passing of one of our great luminaries, drumming legend Billy Thom. It is therefore fitting that the Billy Thom Memorial Trophy is competed for each year.
The weather was ‘up and down’ (much like some of the golf!!!) – some golfers even got the chance to use their warmer and waterproof clothing too.

There have been very few multiple winners in the history of the event but, on this occasion, Fraser Johnstone was victorious and was awarded the top prize for the second time. Fraser had accumulated the most Stableford points from his round, closely followed by Calum MacColl (2nd) and Ronnie Simpson (3rd).
All prizes were presented by Jennifer Stewart (daughter of the late Billy Thom), and her husband, Russell (currently Club Captain), praised the work of the organisers, thanking all the musicians who have been involved this year and in previous years, for what is always such an enjoyable event.

In addition to the main prize winners, the results were as follows:
Winning Team: Russell Stewart, Bruce Quirie, Ronnie Simpson and Calum ‘The Weatherman’ MacColl
Closest to the Pin in One: Ross Angus
Closest to the Pin in Two: Ross Angus

After enjoying a lovely high tea in the clubhouse and the much-anticipated prize-giving, all retired to the function area, where the musical golfers got up for a tune or two (as per the images attached) and were joined by George Gray, Leonard Brown, Emma Dickson and Callum Wynd.
​
NAAFC Chairman, Iain Cathcart, and others led groups of musicians for some excellent dance band music, with a few songs thrown in for good measure by Calum MacColl. The event concluded with a big stramash, and Charlie Kirkpatrick proposed a vote of thanks to this year’s organiser, Liam Stewart.

Thanks to Dunblane New Golf Club and Russell Stewart for assisting with arrangements prior to the event, and to all those who attended – a great day was had by all!
Fraser Johnstone - Champion Golfer of the Year
being presented with the Billy Thom Memorial Trophy by Billy's daughter Jennifer Stewart
Nearest the Pin - Ross Angus
Winning Team - Russell Stewart, Bruce Quirie, Ronnie Simpson, Calum MacColl
Apres-Golf Tunes

52nd NAAFC FESTIVAL - PARTICK BURGH HALLS
​What a fantastic weekend at the NAAFC Festival!
It was wonderful to see so many performers, supporters, and audience members come together to celebrate our music.
The standard of music throughout the festival was exceptionally high, and it was inspiring to watch such talented competitors take part.

A sincere thank you to everyone who supported us in our move to Partick.
Your encouragement and support helped make the festival a great success.

We’re also delighted to share that the festival featured on BBC Radio Scotland - Take the Floor programmes
​which were broadcast on 14.03.2026 & 21.03.2026.

Thank you again to everyone who performed, attended, and supported the festival.
Look out for a full Festival report and photos in the April edition of Box & Fiddle - Key Notes.

FESTIVAL COMPETITION RESULTS
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Enjoyed the music at the dance?
Check out the HAGGIS CHASERS CEILIDH BAND! 
​https://haggischasersceilidhband.com