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, Accordio
Neil MacMillan - Electric Piano, Double Bass.

Tracks

1. The Call of The Pipes

2. The Military Two Step

3. The Jacky Tar Two-Step

4. The Pride of Erin Waltz

5. The Ideal Schottische

6. The Britannia Two Step

7. The Highland Schottische

8. Saint Bernard’s Waltz

9. The Flying Scotsman

10. The Eva Three Step

11. The Gay Gordons

12. The Southern Rose Waltz

13. The Canadian Barn Dance

14. Strip The Willow

"What a blessing it was to stand on stage and witness such an incredible piece of history in the making. Time moves on, but The Occasionals remain every bit as relevant today as they were when they first outgrew their nappies 40 years ago. Congratulations to this pioneering band – and here's to more continued success for the next 40!"
— Gary Innes, Presenter, BBC Radio Scotland ‘Take The Floor’
The Occasionals at 40
2026 - BONS CD 707
"What a blessing it was to stand on stage and witness such an incredible piece of history in the making. Time moves on, but The Occasionals remain every bit as relevant today as they were when they first outgrew their nappies 40 years ago. Congratulations to this pioneering band – and here's to more continued success for the next 40!"
— Gary Innes, Presenter, BBC Radio Scotland ‘Take The Floor’