Cupar couple use music to brighten up the lives of those self-isolating

Alan Small and Gemma Donald are two-thirds of the Lomond Ceilidh Band, based in Cupar, and who are self-isolating due to Covid-19.

Realising that they weren’t alone in being stuck at home, they hit on the unique idea of hosting an online ceilidh.

Following the first one, demand was so high as hundreds from around the world tuned in live and made requests, that both Alan and Gemma realised they couldn’t stop at one ceilidh.

The duo now play a foot-tapping, hand-clapping good old Scottish ceilidh every evening at 8pm midweek for one-and-a-half hours, while at weekends, they ramp it up a notch and play for an extra hour.

The band, due to restrictions now in place to coronavirus, found all their bookings cancelled overnight, along with the income they would have generated.

Alan, who formed the Lomond Ceilidh Band at the age of fourteen started playing the accordion at seven years old and and is delighted to be celebrating its 30th birthday this year.

Alan said: “The more people who know we’re doing nightly concerts, the better as they can join in either at the time or for any who aren’t on Facebook can tune in afterwards on the replays which we leave up for everyone to enjoy. I was completely gobsmacked to learn that some of the ceilidhs are getting more than 8,000 views!

“It’s keeping our spirits up while we’re stuck in the house and unable to go out to play so why not give back to those who have supported us over the years.

“We’d play all day if we could but we’d burn ourselves out so a short concert each night through the week and extended concerts on the weekends will keep us being able to do it longer term!

“Who knows how long this isolation may have to go on, the least we can do is try to brighten even one person’s day for a wee while.

All of the concerts are completely free, but anyone who wishes to contribute can do so using the links on the videos.

Commenting further, Alan said: “The donations we have received from some of our supporters are very generous and overwhelming for us so we wanted to offer something exclusive to everyone who’s contributed so we came up with the idea to give 30 per cent off all of our merchandise, since it’s our 30th anniversary.

“It really warms our hearts to be making a difference to the folk tuning in and long may that continue especially when we learnt that some nursing homes were tuning in.”

The videos are public so can be seen by anyone on or off Facebook at: www.facebook.com/LomondCeilidhBand.

Tune in and get set for a Gay Gordons, Strip the Willow or even a wee waltz later tonight.