Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The fried green tomato sandwich comes on jalapeño cornbread toast.
Café Reconcile
Everything at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe is served in takeout containers.
Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe
BBQ shrimp braised in beer are a popular menu item.
High Hat Cafe
The pastries at Lagniappe Bakehouse are worth waking up for.
Lagniappe Bakehouse
Peter Vazquez has been quietly making a name for himself for years.
The Appetite Repair Shop
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the United Kingdom Scotland Auchtermuchty Jimmy Shand Statue

Jimmy Shand Statue

A small Scottish town's larger-than-life tribute to the celebrated accordion player.

Auchtermuchty, Scotland

Added By
Gavin
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Jimmy Shand Statue.   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Jimmy Shand Statue.   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
Jimmy Shand Statue.   Gavin / Atlas Obscura User
  SEANETTA / Atlas Obscura User
Detail on the accordion   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Auchtermuchty’s most famous son was Sir Jimmy Shand, the highly respected accordion player and band leader. He traveled throughout Scotland and beyond, delighting crowds with his traditional Scottish dance music.

Shand wasn’t born in Auchtermuchty, though his family moved there when he was a boy. It’s where he grew up, working in the mines as a teenager and discovering his love of playing music.

One day, while visiting Dundee, Shand popped into a music shop to try his hand at playing the accordion. The rest was history. The store owner offered him a job as a traveling salesman, hiring him to drive across the country with instruments in tow. Shand got his first recording contract in 1935 with Beltona records, thanks to the contacts he made from the job.

His career took off from there, and Shand went on to compose more than 300 tunes. In the 1950s, he released "The Bluebell Polka," which became his signature song (it was even produced by George Martin). Though he went into semi-retirement in the early ‘70s due to poor health, he continued playing, captivating audiences with his energetic jigs and reels.

After Shand died in 2000, Auchtermuchty erected this larger-than-life statue of in his honor.

Related Tags

Statues Music History Music
Atlas Obscura Adventures

Flavors of Scotland: Beyond the Haggis

Smoked seafood, single malt whisky, and warm hospitality.

Book Now

Community Contributors

Added By

Gavin

Edited By

SEANETTA, katielou106

  • SEANETTA
  • katielou106

Published

July 10, 2018

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Shand
  • http://www.tannochbrae.com/sir-jimmy-shand/
  • https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/news/sir-jimmy-shand-s-legend-lives-on-1-149733
Jimmy Shand Statue
47 Upper Greens
Auchtermuchty, Scotland
United Kingdom
56.29438, -3.235138
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Abernethy Round Tower

Abernethy, Scotland

miles away

Lindores Abbey Distillery

Newburgh, Scotland

miles away

Bunnet Stane

Gateside, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 739
Stories 49

Nearby Places

Abernethy Round Tower

Abernethy, Scotland

miles away

Lindores Abbey Distillery

Newburgh, Scotland

miles away

Bunnet Stane

Gateside, Scotland

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Scotland

Scotland

United Kingdom

Places 739
Stories 49

Related Places

  • Kent, England

    The Glimmer Twins

    Two members of the Rolling Stones frozen forever in bronze.

  • James Brown Statue in James Brown Plaza

    Augusta, Georgia

    James Brown Plaza

    A towering tribute to the Godfather of Soul.

  • Meridian, Mississippi

    Jimmie Rodgers Museum

    This small museum showcases the Singing Brakeman's yodeling prowess, railroad roots, and country music stardom.

  • Austin, Texas

    Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue

    A tribute to a great Texas blues musician.

  • Edna Nicole commands the room.

    Clarksdale, Mississippi

    Red’s

    Pay your respects at this juke joint founded by a blues legend of the Mississippi Delta.

  • This intersection played a critical role in blues history.

    Moorhead, Mississippi

    Where the Southern Cross the Dog

    W.C. Handy, sometimes known as the Father of the Blues, drew inspiration for one of his biggest hits from this spot.

  • Instruments on display in the church.

    Bologna, Italy

    Museo San Colombano – Collezione Tagliavini

    Historic harpsichords, clavichords, organs, pianos, and more inside a deconsecrated church.

  • Toronto hip-hop history on display at Friar’s Music Museum.

    Toronto, Ontario

    Friar’s Music Museum

    A free museum of Toronto’s untold music history hidden inside a drugstore.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.