MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016: The Peter Wood Shetland Dance Band

Congratulations to The Peter Wood Shetland Dance Band who have been nominated in Dance band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2016. Vote now!

We asked Peter Wood of The Peter Wood Shetland Dance Band the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
The Peter Wood Shetland Dance Band comprises, Graham Jamieson on drums, Maggie Adamson on fiddle, Brian Nicholson on Guitar, Arthur Nicholson on bass guitar and myself on accordion.
Over the past three years we have enjoyed entertaining at concerts, dances, weddings and social gatherings both throughout Shetland and on the Scottish Mainland.
As a band we took great pleasure in recording and releasing our first CD- “Out of the Shadows” in 2015. The tunes include traditional Shetland, Scottish, Irish, Scandinavian, Continental and contemporary coupled with original tunes I have composed.
The band members come from varied musical backgrounds and have many years of individual experience, which when together provides the musical entertainment that appears popular with dancers, listeners and fellow musicians alike. As a band we have great respect for the knowledge, commitment and experience given by each individual. The collective sound we produce and audience responses give us great pleasure and enjoyment which we feel is reflected in our playing.

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
From the age of seven I have been involved with Scottish music, firstly learning to play the bagpipes with Biggar pipe band then playing with Coalburn, Scottish Gas Caledonia and Stromness bands. For a short period I was Pipe Major of the Lerwick band.
Accordion came along when I was twelve and by the age of seventeen I had my own Scottish Dance Band and a year later did our first Broadcast for the BBC, s Take the Floor Radio programme.
The music scene in Shetland is thriving and is very important to the island communities, culture and heritage and is where I have made my home for the last twenty years.
Having always enjoyed listening, playing and composing all types of Scottish music, securing the opportunity to teach accordion in Shetland schools for the last ten years has been a privilege and gives me the pleasure of helping to retain, promote and facilitate the music and tunes through passing on my knowledge to many students of varying ages throughout the islands.

Any particular career highlights?
I have had many highlights over the years where I have had the opportunity to play in venues far and wide including venues as diverse as the Vienna Concert Hall and an orphanage in Bangladesh.
My most recent highlight came this year when the band won CD of Year promoted by The National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, I was very honored and proud to accept the award on behalf of the band.

What are your plans for the future?
My plans for the future are to continue to play with the band at every opportunity.
To continue composing and releasing our new CD in December.
Explore possibilities for a possible tour on the Scottish mainland.
To continue promoting Scottish and traditional music.
To sum up using a recent quote – “we only ever borrow the music for a short time in our lifetime so we have to look after it”.

If you would like to come along to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Dundee’s Caird Hall call the Caird Hall box office on (01382) 434940 or buy online.