Shetland-Music.com

Da Fustra began when Douglas Johnstone and Cecil Hughson, then studying in Edinburgh, got together to play their native Shetland Music. Forty years later the impetus is stronger than ever, and DA FUSTRA maintains the momentum and style that is the Shetland country dance, the equivalent of the Scottish ceilidh.

Da Fustra, ("The rock in the foaming sea"), played it's first dance on 17th October 1969 in the Zetland Hall, Pilrig Street, Edinburgh. The first band was based in Edinburgh but also played regularly in Shetland.

Da Fustra normally play music suitable for a typical Shetland dance including two-steps, waltzes, marches, reels and jigs. It can also cope with ballroom, old-time and Scottish country-dances. The tunes used are mostly Shetland or Scottish in origin. Novelty two-steps such as "Chinatown, my Chinatown", and "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" say much about the bands light-hearted approach to its music. The aim is to play music, which can be enjoyed, by listeners and dancers alike.

On Saturday 3rd October 2009 the band did a 'Take the Floor" broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland with Robbie Shepherd which was recorded before a live audience at Sandwick Junior High School.

Saturday 17th October 2009 saw the band play a charity dance to mark their 40th "birthday". Original members Cecil Hughson, Douglas Johnstone and Maurice Smith cut the birthday cake and £850 was raised for the British Heart Foundation. The line up was James Leask, Linda Irvine, Brian Morrison, Cecil Hughson and Kevin Gifford. Colin Sutherland was away so Graeme Garrick kindly deputised on 2nd Accordion.

Line up

In February 2009 the youngest member of the band, James Leask, became the leader:

James Leask - Lead Accordion. James has become quite well known as an accordionist in the Edinburgh area while studying there and has played with Iain MacPhail and on BBC Scotland's "Take the Floor" with Nicol McLaren and Sandy Legget.

Colin Sutherland - 2nd Accordion.

Linda Irvine - Fiddle.

Cecil Hughson - Bass. Cecil founded Da Fustra while a student in Edinburgh. He was, for many years, treasurer of the Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Club

Brian Morrison - Piano

Kevin Gifford - Drums

The band have five albums and a live DVD available so if you can't get along to one of their famous dances (they are stalwarts at Shetland's annual Accordion and Fiddle Festival) then taking home some of their recordings is the next best thing. Party anyone?

Contact

Email
Telephone - Cecil Hughson 01950 431388
Write to - Cecil Hughson, Glen Mavis, Sandwick, Shetland, ZE2 9HW

Links

• www.puffinmusic.co.uk
• Da Fustra on Footstompin
• www.highlandermusic.com