Fergie MacDonald, owner of the Clanranald Hotel, Moidart, is a qualified physiotherapist, stalker, clay pigeon shooting marksman (a Scottish internationalist with 14 caps), a top Scottish composer and acknowledged button 'box' player of extraordinary talent. Fergie, at 59 years, has been playing traditional music since the age of ten and recorded his first album when he was 22. This is Fergie's 21st album and of course features the button 'box', which he describes as "a traditional type of accordion or melodeon used for nearly two centuries". Fergie is well known for using 'up and coming' musicians in his band and loves to see them learn their ceilidh band skills and then progress to their own bands. On this album, which was produced by good friend Phil Cunningham, Fergie has involved both young and older musicians and has finished up with a big, punchy sound and a wonderfully varied album. The musicians are:-Fergie (button 'box'); Alan MacColI (drums and button 'box'); lain MacFarlane (fiddle and whistle); David Flockhart (keyboard); Alisdair MacLeod (bass); lain MacDonald (Piob Bheag and flute); Colm O'Ruaidh (banjo) - all members of the present band -plus guest musicians David MacKay (drums - on the marches) and Charlie MacLeod (piano accordion - on the waltz's). The album was recorded at Cava Sound Workshop, Glasgow. Fergie is also a trustee of the Castle Tioram Clanranald Trust. The Castle is the seat of Clanranald and is featured on the front cover of the album. |
