Teen box player tipped for top
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
HE has barely turned 16 but Brandon McPhee has already been hailed by many as one of the greatest musicians to have ever picked up a button box accordion.
The Castletown youngster however remains firmly grounded and believes he has a long way to go before he can aspire to such an accolade.
But he is firmly focused on making a living out of the instrument which has thrilled thousands of his fans.
Last weekend, he picked up the latest of a string of awards when he won the open button box championship for a second year in a row at the NAAFC Open Button Box Championship at Polmont, equalling his record score of 99 out of 100.
As well as securing the Open Button Box Championship at Perth in October, Brandon has gone on to achieve album success both in Scotland and Ireland, but he said that the best is yet to come.
"To win the open button box category twice with 99 points is something that is rarely done, but the thing I’m most proud of is that I took the title back to Caithness," he said.
"It is great feeling that I have been able to achieve so much in the last 12 months, but I am fully aware that I still have so much to learn," he said.
"I am fully committed to my music and I just hope that one day it can take me somewhere."
Brandon, of Traill Street, Castletown first took up the box in December 2006 after being influenced by his grandad Donald. Six months later, he went on to win his first competition at the Caithness Music Festival – and he has never looked back.
As well as achieving major success with his solo career, he also has his own band, the Brandon McPhee Trio, as well as being one third of Manson Grant and the Dynamos, which won the Caithness Country Club band of the year in 2011, only the second time a Scottish band has won the title.
Band member Robert Cameron has described Brandon as a phenomenon, saying that since picking up the button box at 10 years old, he has achieved more than most musicians do in a lifetime.
He believes Brandon is well on his way to securing his place among the greats of traditional music.
"Critics have already compared him to the likes of Jimmy Shand and Will Starr, with many people saying that if they were alive today, they would be shaking his hand," he said.
"He is an incredible talent, I’ve never heard a player like him anywhere in the world.
"I have not seen a musician who has been able to maintain such high a standard on a consistent basis. When he records with the band, he is so professional and a super guy to work with."
Added Mr Cameron: "People think that he is already the finished article, but he is well aware that he has more to learn and he is well aware of that.
"A previous adjudicator said to him you can’t get any better than that but Brandon said he didn’t agree with him and that he would be a better player when he turns 30."
With three albums and a DVD to his name, Brandon is preparing to shoot his next DVD with a performance live at Ackergill Tower.
Thurso High School has been supportive of his music career and set him extra homework to allow him to go on tour with Robert Cameron and Manson Grant to perform.
Caithness FM has said he is the station’s number one most requested artist by listeners and as well as a local fan base, receives fan mail from across the globe, with the majority of letters from Scotland and Ireland.
Receiving letters from his fans is the biggest satisfaction that he gets from his performances and he hopes to entertain his audience for decades to come.
"I plan to stay at school until the end of sixth year, but after that my focus is definitely on becoming a professional musician," he said.
"At my house, I have a lot of fan mail from fans saying how they have really enjoyed my music and how they are looking forward to seeing me play live. It’s a great feeling to open a letter and read how somebody really appreciates my music – its the best thing I love about performing.
"I’m glad that what I do bring so much enjoyment to people and hope that I can continue to do that for years to come."
