A wee back story

Years ago, Scottish Settlers & sailors introduced the button accordions to the local people of the Bahamas who in turn, developed their local folklore on the instruments, playing & singing traditional Bahemian Songs, along side the goat skin drum and the Saw & Screwdriver. 

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This music is known as "Scrape & Rake".​​​​​

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Over the years there has been a decline in the amount of young people taking up the instruments through lack of teachers, instruments & opportunity.  

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Diana Hamilton, a local university lecturer, has invited Graeme & Magdalena Mackay to Nassau, to teach a group of young locals how to play the instrument better, along with understanding music, theory & all the things that go with being a musician.  While there, they will meet the elders who have been carrying the tradition for generations, hear their stories and find out more about the fascinating history of music in the area.

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The biggest problem we face is the cost of the trip.  We are happy to work alongside Diana in seeking the funding required to cover the costs of this trip.  With your help, we can make this become a reality.

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We would like to raise at least the cost of our flights & Expenses for the duration of the trip.  The more we raise will enable to make more use of the trip, visit various islands and spread out knowledge further than we did in 2024.

The Bahamas accordion revival is a not for profit organisation.  They have 12 Hohner instruments and we are working on getting more, but these instruments will help the students get a good start in learning how to play. 

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If you are in a position to help us today, please click on the fundraising opportunities to get involved.  This can be for our whisky & tune commission prize draws, or simply a donation through our gofundme.

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We will also be running several ceilidhs & events over the course of the year to raise more funds.

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Feel free to click on our 2024 sponsors links below, we are eternally grateful for all the support we have received so far.  If you can sponsor the project & would like your logo here, please get in touch at graeme@mackaymusic.co.uk

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