The 25+2 Collection CD: played by the Scots Fiddle Festival Band

Who are the Scots Fiddle Festival Band?

We were indeed fortunate to be able to persuade some of Scotland’s top traditional musicians to be in the SFF Band.

Jenna Reid - fiddle, Graham Mackenzie - fiddle, Anna Massie - Guitar, Brian McAlpine - Keyboard, and James Lindsay - came together to create a sort of dream team. Adding in Adam Sutherland, (who contributed on fiddle on some tracks), as producer and we were quietly confident of creating something special.

The 25+2 Collection CD

We were not disappointed. Thanks to the talent of those involved; arranging and playing a load of cracking tunes - and having a blast doing so - this CD is truly outstanding. A great listen; with a sort of “Blazin A9” feel, the band - (plus Adam) - have done us and the Collection proud.

Worth buying just to listen to, and a worthy companion to The 25+2 Collection Tune Book.

The Tunes and Sets

These are the tunes and sets from the 25+2 Collection.

The tracks follow the same order they are printed in, so you can open the book, open your fiddle case, tune up and play along - or just sit and listen and enjoy the music.

Track No.

1 The Ox set - The Ox (Bruce MacGregor) / Ben Bowie (Eilidh Steel) / Good Days (Sally Simpson)

2 Evie’s Waltz set - Evie’s Waltz (Amy Geddes) / Donald MacDougall; Sgoinneal Balach (Eilidh Shaw)

3 Findhorn Bay set - Findhorn Bay (Jenna Reid) / A Boy on a Headland (Gordon Gunn)

4 Bruichladdich set - Bruichladdich (Charlie McKerron) / The Peterhead Quine (Duncan Chisholm & Hamish Napier) / Springa like Marit (Patsy Reid)

5 Garwick Bay set - Garwick Bay (Jonny Hardie) / The CMT Reel (Kevin Henderson)

6 The Handfasting set - Iona (Paul Anderson) / The Handfasting (Sarah-Jane Summers) / Stan’s Reel (Marie Fielding)

7 The Melbourne set - The Melbourne Scottish Fiddle Club’s Trip to Shetland (Ross Couper) / Press Pause (Anna Massie) / Patti Fahey’s Slide (Liz Carroll)

8 Cala na Sìth - Emma Tomlinson

9 Still, Skye - Lauren MacColl

10 Hamnataing set - Hamnataing (Chris Stout) / Hame-trowe (Catriona Macdonald) / Toria’s 50th (Laura Wilkie)

11 The Giant Ship set - McLaughlin’s Strathspey (Alasdair Fraser) / The Howe Hornpipe (Douglas Montgomery) / The Otter Pool (Gavin Marwick) / The Giant Ship (Mike Vass)

This recording was recorded and mixed by Andrea Gobbi at Gloworm Recording, and mastered (again by Andrea), at Carrier Waves Mastering. Grateful thanks from the SFF to Alison Smith for guiding us through the PPL/MCPS minefield; ensuring all artists and composers have their rights registered and respected. Special thanks as well to our long-suffering graphics person, Helen Wyllie, at www.wylliecat.co.uk

CD Only price £12.00, - CD + Book (normally £27.00) pack - £25.00

Enjoy the sample track below - Track 7 - The Melbourne set