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SANDY
BRECHIN |
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Sandy Brechin grew up in Kirkliston,
West Lothian and has been playing the accordion for twenty
years. In fact, he has been playing the same accordion (albeit
with a few minor repairs) for the last twenty years! He was
taught by the late Chrissie Leatham, in Edinburgh, and also
by her son, Owen Murray, who is now Professor of Accordion
at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He has developed
his own unique approach to the art of accordion playing and
his innovative style is instantly recognisable.
"This man is going to make a big impact on the traditional
and not-so-traditional music scenes with his funky accordion,
catchy compositions and refreshing personality. Spirited powerful
playing of equally spirited and powerful tunes"
The Scots Magazine
Over the years, Sandy has played in many bands, but is probably
best known for his work with the Scottish bands, Bùrach and
Seelyhoo, with whom he has toured extensively in Europe, Canada,
the USA, and the Far East. A frequent guest on radio and television,
Sandy is also in much demand as a session musician, having
recorded on several CDs outwith his own groups' recordings.
Also known as a talented writer, some of his compositions
have been published and others recorded by bands like "The
Iron Horse". On the rare occasions when he is not touring
with the bands, he still plays for ceilidh dances with his
own hugely popular electric ceilidh band, "The Sensational
Jimi Shandrix Experience".
In February 1997, Sandy played on the National Lottery Show
Live in the final of The Great British Song Contest, the competition
run by Jonathan King to select Britain’s entry for the
Eurovision Song contest 1997, as part of the band “Do
Re Mi, with Kerry”. The song was called “Yodel
in the Canyon of Love”, and aroused a great deal of
interest at the time, because of its quirky nature! The British
public voted for the winning entry by telephone poll, and
Yodel was just pipped at the post by Katrina And The Waves,
who then went on to win Eurovision. However, Yodel was released
on the Polygram label later in 1997 and was voted favourite
album of 1997 by one of the pundits on American music magazine,
Billboard.
 In
1998, Sandy toured the Faroe Islands again, playing with the
Faroese version of “The Sandy Brechin Band”, made
several tours to the South of Spain and Sandy and Colin performed
on the Gaelic Television programme, “Tacsi”, with
members of Capercaillie, Relativity and Shooglenifty. The
Sandy Brechin Band also played a double bill with Capercaillie
in August 1998 in Guingamp Celtic Festival in Brittany, and
toured Iceland for the first time in July 1999, performing
at the Reykjavik Accordion Festival, and on Icelandic radio
and TV. In February 1999, Sandy toured the USA and Canada,
along with concertina players Alistair Anderson and Niall
Vallely, on the “Twice Upon a Squeezebox” tour.
In July 1999, Sandy played solo at Kaustinen Folk Festival
in Finland, in a series of concerts sponsored by the British
Council.
Sandy is also well known as a teacher of accordion. He has
taught at many workshops, such as the Edinburgh Feis ( a Scottish
traditional music workshop for children), “Folkworks”
music workshop in Durham, and “The Youth Gaitherin’”
workshop in Edinburgh.
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