Caithness musician Brandon McPhee set to tour after Covid lockdown
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
BRANDON McPhee has already achieved quite a lot in his young life. The 25-year-old Caithness musician has played before royalty, made television appearances in Britain, Ireland and the USA and is an established recording artiste.
Now, he is about he embark on a tour to help promote his new single – released at the start of the month – and his latest CD which comes out on Monday.
The single, called Christmas Ceilidh was written by the late Stewart Ross from Inverness who penned many well-known Scottish and country songs which have been performed by singers such as Daniel O’Donnell and Callum Kennedy.
“It was written in the 1970s but I have put my own arrangement on it and tried to give it an up-to-date feel. It is an uplifting and fun Christmas song and we have been delighted with the response so far,” said Brandon, who comes from Castletown.
The CD Heedrum Hodrum features Scottish folk songs and tunes in a contemporary style and includes two of Brandon’s own compositions – Donald’s Jig written for his grandad Donald McPhee and Loch Shin, both of which are instrumentals.
He has been composing music since he was 16 and has written 25 different tunes on the accordion.
Brandon said: “Some of the songs will not be so well known but others are crowd favourites. I have chosen a variety of songs and given my own arrangements to them and to the accordion tunes, to give it that modern feel.
“The idea for the title of the album came from being at concerts over the years, and some of the audience saying I just love your Heedrum Hodrum music. That always made me laugh, it’s actually catchy I thought. It was great fun recording the CD, “said Brandon who pointed out that it also features musicians such as Robert Cameron, Manson Grant and Phil Anderson who is from Orkney but now lives in Nashville in the USA.
Brandon hopes the single and CD are well received by the public. “We did a lot of recording during the (coronavirus) pandemic and hope people will listen to the album and enjoy it. You take time to do it but never know if people will like it or not. If they do that’s a bonus,” he said. The single is not on the CD.
To promote the recordings, Brandon, is undertaking a tour next month which starts in Caithness and is looking forward to getting on the road again after the Covid restrictions.
He will be playing in the Royal British Legion in Thurso on December 7 and at Mackay’s Hotel in Wick the following night before heading to Dingwall, Portree, Aboyne and Oldmeldrem.
In Februrary next year, he will be performing at concerts in Musselburgh, Stirling, Langholm, Brechin, Eden Court in Inverness and Aberdeen.
Brandon has toured all over the UK and Ireland with The Brandon McPhee Band which features highly regarded and successful musicians who have many years of experience in the industry.
His music is played in various parts of the globe, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA .
He would like to play in these countries. “I would love to tour these places. It is an ambition of mine. We have been in touch with agents in Canada but the pandemic has caused so many problems with travelling,” he said.
Brandon is no stranger to royalty, however, and has played in front of Prince Charles on a number of occasions, including at Birkhall, Dumfries House, the Castle of Mey and Buckingham Palace.
“The first time I played in front of him I could not believe it was happening. It is always nerve-wracking but is a great feeling. He asks about the music and seems to enjoy what I do. He loves Scottish music,” said Brandon.
The Prince was clearly impressed by the talented accordionist and on one occasion said to him: “I feel terrible dragging you down from Caithness but I hear you can play a good tune on the accordion.”
Another time, after hearing him play at Buckingham Palace, Prince Charles, said: “I don’t know how you move your fingers so fast. It’s quite incredible.”
Brandon has also performed at The Scottish Parliament.
Asked about his plans for the future, he replied: “I want to keep trying to build a career and keep recording and playing at different venues and hope some day to tour the world and keep Scottish culture and the Caithness accent alive.”
It is just over fifteen years since Brandon played his first notes on the button box sitting on his grandad Donald’s knee.
A good listener and keen pupil, he was soon playing The Dark Island, a waltz which remains one of his favourites, and globally one of his most requested tunes.
Within a year of taking up the button accordion, Brandon began winning competition trophies, starting at the 2007 Caithness Music Festival and followed by a variety of junior, then senior national successes, culminating in winning the All Scotland Senior Traditional Accordion Solo Championship in 2014.
Since then Brandon has focussed on developing his recording and performing career and has achieved huge success as a champion accordionist and country vocalist. He has a large and growing international following.
He has also been successful with his recordings and has Brandon has a catalogue of traditional Scottish and Country music albums on the Pan Record label.
His cover of the Billy Ray Cyrus song Stand reached No.22 in the European Country Music Chart.
He has had numerous television appearances and presents a weekly show, Caithness Music TV on Sky, Freesat and regionally on Freeview.
Brandon’s success is testament to his talent but also to his dedication. He rehearses at least five hours daily (that’s over 200,000 hours of practice so far). His goal – simply, to entertain and to be the best he can be.
Brandon was born in Wick but grew up in Castletown and has lived in Wick since he left school.
