The Laggan were a great band.

Arthur Johnstone, as MC/figurehead of the Star Club in Glasgow, contributed massively to my folk education by booking such a diverse range of artists, albeit strongly slanted to the traditional.

But the band was more than just Arthur, I recall John McDermott turning up one day at the Inveroran Hotel where I was working as a student and handing me a cassette to play saying "what do you think o that great playing?" Of course it was the Laggan and John himself on banjo. And it was great.

Another memory is of sitting at Girvan festival campsite one evening with John McDermott and Jack Eaglesham (folk icons and luminaries both sadly gone), sharing a few songs and listening to the affectionate but biting sarcasm between the pair.

The Laggan were a great band. Arthur remains a great singer.