ABOUT the NAAFC
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The National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs is a national association of clubs dedicated to Scottish traditional dance music. In approx. 50 clubs in Scotland and Northern parts of England, players and audience meet monthly to share their love of this type of music. If you can play you can bring your instrument and have a tune, or you can choose to sit in the audience to listen to a wide variety of players and instruments and await the highlight of the evening, the entertainment from the talented guest band, hired specifically for that occasion. Several hours of live music in a friendly atmosphere, what else can a body wish for?
The NAAFC began in June 1971 with an exploratory meeting in Perth followed by the inaugural meeting in the Station Hotel in Ayr on 4th July with 9 clubs represented: Perth, Gretna, Straiton, Langholm, Dundee, Newcastleton, Dumfries, Galston and Milngavie. From the very beginning the season ran from September to May and this is still the case for many of the clubs. The end of the season is followed by the AGM and an award ceremony held on the last Sunday in June. This is an event that brings many together to celebrate the fact that the association is still as strong as ever. |
NAAFC Luncheon honouring Ian Powrie
Left Back – Sir Jimmy Shand, Andy Stewart, Ian Powrie
Left Front – Gordon Pattullo, Bobby Crowe, Angus Fitchet
Right Back – Jimmy Blue, Dave Barclay, Leila Powrie, Robin Brock, Jim MacLeod
Right Front – Bobby MacLeod, Jack Cooper, Ian Holmes, George Stirrat
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The People of the Association
Over the fifty five years of the Association’s existence, there have been a very small number of people involved in its management.
Chairman
Over the fifty five years of the Association’s existence, there have been a very small number of people involved in its management.
Chairman
Mickie Ainsworth
(1971 - 1975)
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Jimmy Blue
(1975 - 1994)
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Jim Johnstone
(1994 - 2000)
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Nicol McLaren
(2000 - 2025)
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Iain Cathcart (2025 - present)
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Vice - Chairman
Jim Johnstone
(1990 - 1994)
Neil Copland
(2006 - 2012)
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Graeme Mitchell
(1994 - 1997)
Iain Cathcart
(2012 - 2025)
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Nicol McLaren
(1997 - 2000)
Charlie Kirkpatrick (2025 - present)
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Ian Thomson
(2000 - 2006)
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Secretary
Ray Milbourne
(1971 - 1978)
Susan MacFadyen
(2012 - 2016)
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Andrew Nairn
(1978 - 1994)
Lorna Mair
(2002 - 2012, 2016 - 2018)
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Charlie Todd
(1994 - 1997)
Shona MacFadyen (2018-2022)
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Morag Robertson
(1997 - 2002)
Gillian Stevenson (2022 - present)
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Treasurer
David Ross
(1971 - 1983)
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Jim Balneaves
(1983 - 2000)
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Charlie Todd
(2000 - 2015)
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Willie Johnstone (2015 - 2021)
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Scott Band (2021 - present)
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Box and Fiddle Editor
Ian Smith
(1977 - 1986)
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Tom Clark
(1986 - 1991)
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Doug Adamson (1991 - 1994)
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Ron Ramsay
(1994 - 1997)
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Charlie Todd
(1997 - 2000)
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Grant Crawford
(2000 - 2001)
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Karin Ingram
(2001 - 2014)
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Pia Walker (2014 - 2024)
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Clubs and their members were previously kept informed through a magazine, Box & Fiddle. The magazine had over the years developed from a humble circular with information to secretaries to an exciting colour format with news not only about what has taken place in the previous months, but with articles, adverts, photos, news and listings of guest artistes and a monthly diary.
With the downturn in sales of all published mediums, by 2023 continuation of the magazine became commercially unfeasible.
Going forward, the NAAFC's focus in respect of sharing information and promoting Member Accordion & Fiddle Club & NAAFC events will be channelled through our Facebook Group. and from March 2026, our brand new Box & Fiddle - Key Notes bulletin-style e:Zine.
With the downturn in sales of all published mediums, by 2023 continuation of the magazine became commercially unfeasible.
Going forward, the NAAFC's focus in respect of sharing information and promoting Member Accordion & Fiddle Club & NAAFC events will be channelled through our Facebook Group. and from March 2026, our brand new Box & Fiddle - Key Notes bulletin-style e:Zine.
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NAAFC Activities
NAAFC Festival
The NAAFC is responsible for organising the annual NAAFC Festival (formerly held in Musselburgh, Inchyra Grange & Grangemouth) but now taking up home in Partick Burgh Hall, Glasgow. Always held on the first Saturday in March each year.
www.naafcfestival.co.uk
NAAFC Honours Award
For many years now the NAAFC has honoured most of the great and good of our music scene. The NAAFC’s intention was to honour only living recipients, hence, with a few exceptions, they have not attempted to retrospectively honour the multitude of great names who were gone before the Association’s Honours Awards were established.
NAAFC Archive
We are proud to have the support of NAAFC Archivist Charlie Todd from Thankerton who has created a fantastic online resource of intriguing articles and photographs from back issues of the Box & Fiddle magazines from yesteryear, together with several other interesting strands with a close connection to the Scottish accordion and fiddle music scene.
NAAFC Facebook Group
Member Club reports, photographs, videos and promotional material is shared within our Facebook Group. We maintain this resource daily to ensure information is current and relevant to the Box & Fiddle world.
Jimmy Shand Scholarship
This scholarship, funded by the NAAFC, is awarded annually to a student studying for the BA in Scottish Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly known as the RSAMD) in Glasgow and can be used by the recipient to pay for tuition, music, course materials or any other expenses associated with their studies.
Sheet Music Books
Three volumes of music by the late Angus Fitchet and “The Border City Collection” – a book of Felix Burns compositions, have been published by the NAAFC, thus ensuring that the music of these long gone maestros can be preserved for enthusiasts across the globe for years to come.
Scottish Dance Band of the Year Sponsor
More recently the NAAFC has been the proud sponsor of the “Scottish Dance Band of the Year” Award at the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards since the inception of the awards in 2003.
BAFFI Awards / AGM and Celebrity Luncheon
The Box and Fiddle Fellowship Input Awards are presented in June each year. Listeners are invited to vote for their favourite Guest Artiste, Club Supporter & Club of the Year. The winners are announced at the NAAFC's AGM and Celebrity Luncheon.
NAAFC Annual Golf Day
The NAAFC Annual Golf Day began in 2011 and takes place in May each year at New Dunblane Golf Club with the golfers competing for the Billy Thom Challenge Trophy.
The NAAFC is responsible for organising the annual NAAFC Festival (formerly held in Musselburgh, Inchyra Grange & Grangemouth) but now taking up home in Partick Burgh Hall, Glasgow. Always held on the first Saturday in March each year.
www.naafcfestival.co.uk
NAAFC Honours Award
For many years now the NAAFC has honoured most of the great and good of our music scene. The NAAFC’s intention was to honour only living recipients, hence, with a few exceptions, they have not attempted to retrospectively honour the multitude of great names who were gone before the Association’s Honours Awards were established.
NAAFC Archive
We are proud to have the support of NAAFC Archivist Charlie Todd from Thankerton who has created a fantastic online resource of intriguing articles and photographs from back issues of the Box & Fiddle magazines from yesteryear, together with several other interesting strands with a close connection to the Scottish accordion and fiddle music scene.
NAAFC Facebook Group
Member Club reports, photographs, videos and promotional material is shared within our Facebook Group. We maintain this resource daily to ensure information is current and relevant to the Box & Fiddle world.
Jimmy Shand Scholarship
This scholarship, funded by the NAAFC, is awarded annually to a student studying for the BA in Scottish Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (formerly known as the RSAMD) in Glasgow and can be used by the recipient to pay for tuition, music, course materials or any other expenses associated with their studies.
Sheet Music Books
Three volumes of music by the late Angus Fitchet and “The Border City Collection” – a book of Felix Burns compositions, have been published by the NAAFC, thus ensuring that the music of these long gone maestros can be preserved for enthusiasts across the globe for years to come.
Scottish Dance Band of the Year Sponsor
More recently the NAAFC has been the proud sponsor of the “Scottish Dance Band of the Year” Award at the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards since the inception of the awards in 2003.
BAFFI Awards / AGM and Celebrity Luncheon
The Box and Fiddle Fellowship Input Awards are presented in June each year. Listeners are invited to vote for their favourite Guest Artiste, Club Supporter & Club of the Year. The winners are announced at the NAAFC's AGM and Celebrity Luncheon.
NAAFC Annual Golf Day
The NAAFC Annual Golf Day began in 2011 and takes place in May each year at New Dunblane Golf Club with the golfers competing for the Billy Thom Challenge Trophy.
