Shotts and Bucksburn light up fifth annual Aberdeen concert

The Grade 1 Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia and the Grade 2 and Novice Juvenile Bucksburn & District bands combined for the fifth annual North of Scotland Concert at the Music Hall in Aberdeen, Scotland, on May 2nd, with many attending saying that it was the best yet of the concert series.

Shotts called its portion of the show “Reinvented,” debuting a new competition medley comprising “The Octagon” (HP), “Strath Brora” (jig), “The Bride’s Jig,” “The Mo Ghaol Air Aird A’ Chuain” (air), “The Doune of Invernochty” (strathspey), “Miss Lily” (strathspey), “The Fox Hunter” (reel), “The Ale is Dear” (reel), and “The Los Romanes Highlanders” (reel).

The band delivered a full slate of selections, including all contest material; a series of solo piping performances from Sarah Muir, Andrew Bova, Andrew Clark, Iain Crawford; a set of hornpipes and reels (“Carradale Bay,” “Arnish Light,” “Clueless,” “Philip Greer’s Big Week,” and “Bessie McIntyre”); and a finishing march and jigs set (“The Siege of Dubrovnik,” “Carnage Drive,” “Coppermill Studio,” “The Riddler,” “The Boys of Ballymote,” and “Monymusk”).

A popular point in the show was a fanfare from the Shotts drum section . . .