MUSIC has been a therapy for top Scots fiddle maestro Paul Anderson in his fight against cancer – and now his celebrity friends are tuning up to support him on his road to recovery.
Those taking to the stage at a musical variety show taking place at Aberdeen’s Music Hall on Friday May 3, will include Hollywood actor Kevin McKidd, filmmaker Richard Jobson and River City actor Iain Robertson.
Also performing will be Capercaillie’s Karen Matheson and Donald Shaw, Bruce McGregor from Blazin’ Fiddles and Scots singer and Anderson’s wife, Bothy Ballad champion of champions, Shona Donaldson.
The event will raise funds for Friends of the Anchor Unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, a charity that helps the leading cancer treatment centre that has supported Anderson as he battles the disease,
Anderson was diagnosed with high-grade Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in September last year.
While the main aim of the show is to raise funds as a thank you to the unit where Andreson has been having his treatment, the planning of the event has proved a welcome distraction for the musician.
He said: “When I was diagnosed last September I had to cancel some of my plans and it really bothered me letting people down, although everyone was brilliant, and really supportive.
“After that, I said I wanted to carry on regardless and that’s what I’ve done. I could not have been happier with the treatment and the attitudes of staff at the Anchor unit, so I decided to organise a concert as a way of thanking them. What I didn’t want to do was dwell on being ill. I have felt tired, and sometimes the last thing I have felt like doing is going and playing a concert, but once I start it gives me a noticeable lift."
Anderson, who lives in Tarland in Aberdeenshire, with his wife and two children, and is regarded as one of the finest fiddlers of his generation. A commissioned study of him hanging in Scotland’s National Portrait Gallery.
Tickets for the fundraiser, Stars of Music (Anchor Charity Concert), are priced £22.50 and are available from www.aberdeenperformingarts.com.
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