Gordon first developed an interest in folk music during the folk revival of the 1960s and 1970s. From then, he became involved with the music scene, meeting enthusiasts and performers and developed a deep understanding of his national heritage of music and song.
He plays the Concertina and for many years was a member of The Whistlebinkies then the Auld Howff Band and also performed in a few duos and as a solo artist touring throughout the UK , Canada, France, Germany and Russia with appearances on television and radio.
During that time he was the Traditional Music & Song Association – TMSA -champion on five occasions and first in the Ceoltas All Britain Fleadh Ceol competition on Concertina. He is also known to give a song or two.
He has also been a director of the Falkirk Folk Festival, The Glasgow Tryst Folk Festival and Glasgow International Folk Festival.
In 1984 he began broadcasting for a number of years with ‘Hotchpotch’ on local commercial radio station Radio Clyde ‘261’ in Glasgow featuring traditional folk music. During that period he gained both a UK National Sony award and a Scottish TRICS commendation for best radio specialist music programme – the Oscars of British and Scottish radio broadcasting.
He is also a noted photographer. Since around 1990 he has collected an archive of over 100,000 images of musicians including a continuous coverage of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow since its beginning in 1994. His photographs were exhibited in a major exhibition of his work during Celtic Connections in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in 2005. His work has been used by magazines such as Metal Hammer, FRoots and Living Tradition and featured on publicity and CDs by many organisations, record companies and artists including Dougie MacLean, Phil Cunningham, Brian McNeill, Arthur Johnstone, Mick West, Adam MacNaughton, Allan Taylor, Ken Campbell Ideal Band, Archie McAllister and Ross Kennedy, Back o’ The Moon, Wendy Weatherby, Lori Watson, the TMSA and Lismore, KRL and Skipinnish records.
A selection of Gordon’s photographic work can be viewed on his website.
Broadcasting with Celtic Music Radio from its first day as a trial showcase at Celtic Connections in 2006, Gordon now presents Hotchkiss Hotchpotch featuring mainly Scottish and Irish artists and music on Wednesday at 7.00-10.00pm and also repeated at 1.00am and 12 noon on Thursday.
Gordon also presents Homeward Bound programme showcasing a wide range of music on Fridays at 3.00-6.00pm.
Another passion is his support of ‘The Bairns’ – Falkirk Football Club. A love affair full of disappointment and a source of mirth at the radio station.
