The Occasionals at 40

‘As relevant today as they were forty years ago’ says Gary Innes, Presenter of BBC Radio Scotland’s ‘Take The Floor’ programme, and The Occasionals mark this 40-year milestone with these recordings from a special ‘Take The Floor’ programme from Glasgow’s Celtic Connections in January 2026. They’ve pulled out all the stops with a 9-piece band and dance music to match.

The Occasionals members encompass a vast array of experience right across the Scottish folk and dance band worlds, and included in these cv’s are Runrig, The Wallochmor Ceilidh Band, The Battlefield Band, Silly Wizard, The Ghillies, and almost every Scottish dance band of note in the last fifty years. So they really should know what they’re doing! And just to make sure that they do it right they’ve invited one of the great figures of Northumbrian music, Jimmy Little, to join them for one track.

It was some party and here it is.

The Occasionals are -

Alison Smith - Fiddle.
Angie MacEachern - Fiddle.
Duncan MacGillivray - Pipes, Whistle, Harmonica.
Freeland Barbour - Accordion.
Kevin Macleod - Tenor Banjo, Mandolin.
Gus Millar - Drums.
Mairi Campbell - Fiddle, Viola.
Malcolm Jones - Guitar, Accordion
Neil MacMillan - Electric Piano, Double Bass.

Tracks

01 The Call of The Pipes 2:39

• The 51st Highland Division — Donald MacLeod

• The Thistle of Scotland — John McKay

02 The Military Two Step 2:33

• Ronald Cooper — Frank Jamieson

03 The Jacky Tar Two-Step 3:19

• Ian Hardie’s Welcome — Duncan MacGillivray

• Campbell’s Heels — Freeland Barbour

04 The Pride of Erin Waltz 3:55

• Cille Mhoire — Freeland Barbour

• Tràigh Orasaigh — Freeland Barbour

05 The Ideal Schottische 3:32

• Jimmy Little of Christon Bank — Freeland Barbour

Featuring Jimmy Little on harmonica

06 The Britannia Two Step 3:38

• Oh Joe the boat’s a’goin’ over — John Read

• Salute to The Church Barn Squeezers — Freeland Barbour

• Salute to John Kirkpatrick — Freeland Barbour

07 The Highland Schottische 3:08

• O Théid Mí Fhin Le Mo Ghaol (I will go myself with my love) — Iain MacLeod

• Càit Am Bi Na Maraichean? (Where will the sailors be?) — Trad.

• ’S I Mòrag (It was Morag) — Trad.

• Mòr A’ Cheannaich (Morag the grocer’s daughter) — Trad.

• Domhnall Magaidh (Donald Maggie) — Trad.

All arranged by Malcolm Jones

08 Saint Bernard’s Waltz 3:04

• Uibhist Mo Ghràidh (Uist My Love) — Alasdair Matheson

• Am Falbh Thu Leam A Ribhinn Òg (Will you come with me young lady) — Alexander Sinclair

• Balaich An Iasgaich (Lads of the fishing) — Donald Morrison

• Eilean Beag Donn A’ Chuain (Little brown isle of the sea) — Donald Morrison

• Muile Na Mòr Bheann (Mull of the high mountains) — Duncan Livingstone

All arranged by Malcolm Jones

09 The Flying Scotsman 4:43

• Quindaro — Trad., arr. Freeland Barbour

• The Chorus Jig — Trad., arr. Freeland Barbour

• Sarah’s Reel — Freeland Barbour

• Sam’s Reel — Freeland Barbour

10 The Eva Three Step 2:35

• ‘B’ Company, 1st Battalion Queen’s Own Highlanders

• Farewell to North Arm — G. Thow

• Finlay Turnbull’s 30th Welcome — Freeland Barbour

11 The Gay Gordons 3:40

• The Lads o’ Brims (Fifty Years On) — Freeland Barbour

12 The Southern Rose Waltz 3:12

• The Collector — Freeland Barbour

13 The Canadian Barn Dance 3:21

• Donald MacLean’s Farewell to Oban — Archie MacNeill

• The Balkan Hills — J. Gillan

14 Strip The Willow 4:20

• Cork Hill — Trad.

• The Jig of Slurs — G.S. McLennan

• The Leg of a Duck — Trad. / 3rd & 4th parts by D. MacLeod

• Allan MacPherson of Mosspark — Angus MacDonald