Scots Fiddle Festival Fiddle 2008
November 21-23
Edinburgh Assembly Rooms
Fiddle 2008 - Programme Announcement
Kevin Burke, Jock Tamson's Bairns,
The Chair, The Jenna Reid Band
The 12th annual fiddle festival will take place from 21 to 23 November 2008
at Edinburgh Assembly Rooms in George Street.
This year, the programme has been put together by a substantially reformed
committee, following the (semi) retiral of several hard-working stalwarts.
The new chair of the Fiddle Festival, Mike Kinch, says of this year's
programme:
"It is an absolute delight to showcase new, young and very innovative talent
in this years event, alongside established, benchmark musicians who have
kept Scottish Music in its pole position, for so long."
This media release contains information about the main concerts on Friday 21
and Saturday 22 November. A more detailed release will follow in September
when tickets go on sale.
Friday night (Heat the Hoose) features two of the best contemporary Scottish
bands, The Jenna Reid Band and The Chair.
Saturday night (Grand Concert) brings together, in one amazing event, two
sets from artistes that are the best in their class, Jock Tamson's Bairns
and Kevin Burke, and innovative young Scots band, MAK.
Friday 21 November in the Music Hall
"Heat the Hoose" at 8.00pm
The Chair
Gavin Firth (guitar), Fionn McArthur (fiddle), Bob Gibbon (accordion), Brian
Cromarty (banjo & Vocals), Chas Milne (bass guitar), Erik Laughton (drums),
Douglas Montgomery (fiddle & mandolin), Robbie Thomson (percussion)
Put together for the Orkney Folk Festival in 2004, the Chair have gone from
strength to strength, bringing their high energy "stomp" music to the dance
floors of the Northern Isles and Mainland Scotland ever since. They have set
the floor alight wherever they have appeared, winning a "Danny" award at the
2007 Celtic Connections Festival.
good-time music with that Celtic edge, perfect for long winter nights or
cold summer days Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine
The Jenna Reid Band
Jenna Reid (fiddle and vocals), Bethany Reid (piano, fiddle & vocals), Kevin
Mackenzie (guitar), Duncan Lyall (double bass), James Thomson (flute) and
Iain Sandilands (percussion)
Prize-winning fiddler Jenna has appeared all over the world with Shetland
fiddling sensations Filska, Scottish super group Deaf Shepherd and Dochas.
Nominated as Best Instrumentalist at the 2007 Scots Trad Awards, Jenna is
undoubtedly one of the finest fiddle players to grace the traditional music
scene.
Young, gorgeous and inordinately talented, utterly captivated the audience
from start to finish The Scotsman
the leading fiddler of her generation in Scotland .expect sparks to fly -
and a good greet when she puts her heart and soul into the sad tunes The
Herald
Saturday 22 November in the Music Hall
"Grand Concert" at 7.30pm
Kevin Burke
According to the New York Times, one of the greatest Celtic fiddlers alive,
Kevin Burke's sparkling, lyrical playing is thoughtful, measured and
expressive, seeking to bring out (in his own words) "the element of joy
underlying even the most plaintive melody."
Raised in London, Kevin Burke came to prominence as a member of the Bothy
Band and later collaborated with performers such as Kate Bush, Arlo Guthrie
and Christy Moore. Long since settled in the United States, a member of
bands such as Patrick Street and Celtic Fiddle Festival, he received a
National Heritage Fellowship Award in 2002, that country's highest honour in
the traditional arts. In 2005, he was named one of Irish America's Top 100
by Irish America Magazine.
Jock Tamson's Bairns
Norman Chalmers (concertina, whistles), John Croall (vocals), Derek Hoy
(fiddle), Rod Paterson (vocals, guitar) and Anna-Wendy Stevenson (fiddle)
For thirty years, Jock Tamson's Bairns have been Scotland's leading players
of inventive acoustic music on authentic instruments. Eschewing
synthesizers, sequencers or didgeridoos, their whistles, squeeze boxes, jaw
harps, moothie, guitar and bodhran provide a refined accompaniment to Scots
songs and ballads, and exciting arrangements of intricate, fast dance tunes.
Members of the Bairns have contributed hugely to the Fiddle Festival
throughout its life; we are delighted to have them on the main stage this
year.
a benchmark of taste, sensitivity and quietly authoritative
musicianship...brimful of sparkle and finesse...as good as you'll hear
anywhere Sunday Herald.
MAK
Mhairi Hawksworth (fiddle, piano), Amy Corfield (fiddle, banjo), Keegan
Gordon (piano, Clarinet)
MAK play an exciting mix of traditional and new Scottish tunes with a
distinctive classical and jazz-influenced piano accompaniment. Already
well-known on the festival circuit, they were semi-finalists in the Radio 2
Young Folk Award.
MAK play with sensitivity, energy and creativity that belies their age, but
most importantly they just love playing Kirsty Cotter, RSAMD
And Lots More (full details in September Press Release or at
www.scotsfiddlefestival.com )
There will be a full programme of daytime recitals, workshops, talks,
ceilidhs, late-night cabaret, open stage.
Workshops feature tuition of fiddle from all over Europe (Scots of course,
Irish, Danish, Finish and Asturian), Mandolin, Mixed Instruments, Viola,
Cello, Playing with Pipes, Fiddling for Classical Musicians, which also
gives some indication of the range of day-time recitals on Saturday 22 and
Sunday 23.
In addition to our popular programme of Talking Fiddles, there will be a
Fiddle Walk around Edinburgh (new this year).
And always food, drink, company, sessions, atmosphere and ambiance in the
place that is the real star of the show, the Assembly Rooms at its very
best.
Please visit the website for more details, pictures, etc.
How to Book Tickets
Booking opens 1st October
Phone 0131 473 2000
Open Mon-Fri 10am - 5pm
In Person before the Festival
Hub Tickets, The Hub, Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NE
Open Mon -Fri 10am - 5pm
In Person during the Festival
Tickets on sale at venue
The Assembly Rooms, 54 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 2LR
Friday 21st 2-8pm
Saturday 22nd 9.30am - 8pm
Sunday 18th 10am-6pm
By Post
Brochure (phone or email to request copy) contains a booking
form
Online
Day tickets, Concert tickets, Late Event tickets may be purchased at
www.scotsfiddlefestival.com
Further Queries about Ticketing
Helpline 0131 555 7669
[email protected]
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