WHEN musicians Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham played to a packed Eastgate Theatre last month, one member of the audience was particularly impressed.

Thirteen-year-old accordionist Jamie Webster enjoyed the concert as a guest, after he had been invited backstage to chat and share a tune with Phil.

Jamie, an S3 pupil at Peebles High School, has been playing the accordion for a little over four years.

Although he has played with Peebles Youth Orchestra and Peebles and Biggar Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, he usually plays solo.

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He first came to the attention of the Eastgate in 2019 when he won the Callants’ Annual Busking Competition during the Creative Peebles Festival.

One of the tunes Jamie plays is one of Cunningham’s songs called Miss Rowan Davies and he first saw the duo play at the Eastgate three years ago.

Jamie said: “It was amazing to be able to meet Phil Cunningham and chat to and play for him.

“He was really nice and gave me some good tips. The best bit was when he had a shot of my accordion – I’ve never heard it sound so good.

“I feel really privileged that Phil Cunningham has played my accordion.

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“Watching both Phil and Aly playing up close too was so good – I can’t believe how fast their hands work, and really inspires me to keep on learning.

“I’d like to thank the Eastgate Theatre for inviting me to come along to meet Phil and Aly, and I would also like to thank everyone who donated when I was busking this year.

“I managed to raise £165.40 for My Name’5 Doddie Foundation.”

To complete what turned out to be a fantastic evening, Cunningham offered Jamie a free accordion lesson on Zoom.