Tunes galore in prolific Spencie’s new album

UNST fiddle great Steven Spence returns to the spotlight this weekend with the launch of a new album to be followed soon by an illustrated book of the tunes. Spencie’s Tunes Volume 2 showcases 36 tunes composed by Steven in recent years, mostly stemming from his thriving music business through which people all over the country and beyond commission him to write tunes to mark special occasions.

The tunes include works composed in honour of his late friend Sandy Macaulay, one for actor Martin Clunes, Cooper’s Rant for SIC councillor Alastair Cooper and a tune written for the gold medal-winning Shetland football team at the Island Games.

Steven, who played with Hom Bru during the ’80s and early ’90s, has teamed up with Jonathan Ritch (guitar/bass) and Alice Mullay (piano/flute) for his recordings which were done in an old house in his native Uyeasound. The album is due to be launched tomorrow afternoon at The Final Checkout at Hagdale in Unst, if the discs arrive from south in time. The tune book will follow once it is printed. Both are laced with Steven’s healthy dose of wit and good humour.

The new volume is a follow-up to 2004’s successful album and book Spencie’s Tunes which brought together tunes Steven had written over the course of nearly 30 years. He said this week he had already composed enough commissioned tunes to do another album next year. As well as his composing he has an internet business Uyea Instruments which sells mainly fiddles.