Media Release: 20 years of fiddling

catriona-macdonald-fiddle-16

Scots Fiddle Festival – Fiddle 2016

Featuring over 40 musicians and 50 events in one weekend in Edinburgh

Scotland’s largest fiddle festival is celebrating its 20th year

FIDDLE 2016 features many top fiddlers who have performed at the festival in the past as well as new and upcoming talent.

Artistic director, Eilidh Steel, a busy fiddler herself, said: “I’m pleased we’ve been able to present another packed programme for fiddle lovers of concerts, ceilidhs, recitals, talks and workshops.

“Also that we’ve been able to celebrate our 20th year with our Saturday night concert bringing together some of the top fiddlers that we’ve featured in previous festivals.

“And alongside will be some people to look out for in the future, with a performance from our Outreach Project. I’m really looking forward to it all.”

The Friday night concert kicks off Fiddle 2016 proceedings with exciting American brother and sister duo, Haley and Dylan Richardson, and the Duncan Chisholm trio.

The celebratory Saturday night concert includes Aonghas Grant Snr, Aidan O’Rourke, Catriona Macdonald, Chris Stout, Liz Docherty and Paul Anderson joined by Allan MacDonald and Mhairi Hall.

Finishing off the festival on Sunday night is Adam Sutherland and friends with the Strathspey and Surreal Society.

All the concerts are taking place at The Queen’s Hall.

You can also dance the evening away on the Friday with the Pentlands Ceilidh Band or Saturday with Hotscotch Ceilidh Band, then follow onto the Festival Club or late night session.

During the days, there are workshops for all levels (including specifically for young people) covering fiddle and mixed instrument options  from many top artists, recitals, talks, come and try sessions – ideal for those who have never played but want to try a fiddle, a slow session and stalls – all based at Summerhall.

Before the weekend, representatives of the festival visit local primary schools to share our passion for Scottish music and provide information packs for the teaching staff.

Taking place 18-20th November, tickets and more details about the Fiddle 2016 programme and performers are available from: www.scotsfiddlefestival.com or from The Queen’s Hall Box Office, 85-89 Clerk St, Edinburgh, EH8 9JG, tel: 0131 668 2019.

A number of activities are free during the festival and paid for event prices start from £5, with special prices for under 16s, and weekend tickets are on offer so you can see more for your money.

Organised by the Scots Fiddle Festival, Fiddle 2016 is made possible by funding from the City of Edinburgh Council, Foyle Foundation, Hugh Fraser Foundation and Ernest Cook Trust plus donations from the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra and Eskmills; and partners – Glasgow Fiddle Workshop, Stringers and Fèis Dhùn Èideann as well as all the volunteers and supporters who help the festival run each year.

ENDS

For further press information contact:

Fiona Campbell / Allan MacDonald

Email: press@scotsfiddlefestival.com Phone: 0795 191 8366

Photos are available by request or soon up on the www.scotsfiddlefestival.com Press Page

Notes to editors:

The Scots Fiddle Festival originally started in 1996 with the aim to promote and sustain traditional fiddle music and 20 years on this is still our aim.

Throughout the years, the amount of events at the festival has tripled. It brings people together from all over the world, both performers and audience members and continues to inspire thousands of people to enjoy and take part in traditional music, either as players, learners, listeners or dancers.

Our all-volunteer committee spends the whole year organising the festival and is helped, at the weekend itself, by a further army of enthusiastic volunteers.

The Scots Fiddle Festival Outreach Project has been running for four years with a new group of young fiddle players aged 12-18 in the run up to the festival who then perform at the Saturday night concert at the festival.

Participants work with professional musicians to build repertoire, develop skills, confidence and gain experience.

Also each year the Scots Fiddle Festival visit a number of schools in and around Edinburgh to talk about the festival, to educate and share our passion for Scottish music, providing an information pack for teachers with resources to use with their pupils.

For more details about the festival, visit www.scotsfiddlefestival.com or contact: info@scotsfiddlefestival.com.

Listings information – Fiddle 2016 – Scots Fiddle Festival

Featuring: Aonghas Grant, Katriona Macdonald, Aidan O’Rourke, Liz Doherty, Paul Anderson, Chris Stout, Duncan Chisholm, Adam Sutherland, The Strathspey & Surreal Society, Hayley and Dylan Richardson, and many more.

Venues: Summerhall and The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh

Dates: Friday 18 – Sunday 20 November 2016

More information and tickets now on sale from: www.scotsfiddlefestival.com

Headline concerts at The Queen’s Hall, 85-89 Clerk Street, Edinburgh EH8 9JG:

Friday 18 November: (7.30pm – 10pm)

American sister and brother duo, Haley and Dylan Richardson, and the Duncan Chisholm Trio from Scotland.

Scots Fiddle Festival 20th Anniversary Concert – Saturday 19 November: (7.30pm-10pm)

Fiddling greats, Aonghas Grant, Katriona Macdonald, Aidan O’Rourke, Liz Doherty, Paul Anderson, Chris Stout joined by percussionist, Allan MacDonald, and pianist, Mhairi Hall.

With support from this year’s Scots Fiddle Festival Outreach Project.

Sunday 22nd November: (7.30pm-10pm)

Highland fiddler, Adam Sutherland and friends, with The Strathspey and Surreal Society – who first debuted at Celtic Connections this year.

Other evening events at Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL

Friday Night Ceilidh – Pentlands Ceilidh Band, Summerhall 7.30pm

Saturday Night Ceilidh - Hotscotch ceilidh Band, Summerhall 7.30pm

Festival Club Dissection Room Friday and Saturday 11pm -1am    

Late night session Summerhall Cafe Friday and Saturday 10pm – 1am  

Daytime events – all take place at Summerhall, 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL

Recitals – Every hour between 12-4pm

Saturday:

12.00pm Robbie Greig

1.00pm Sarah Naylor and Felix

2.00pm Seonaid Atkin

3.00pm Southside Fiddlers

4.00pm The Wildings

Sunday:

12.00pm Neil & Luc

1.00pm Gavin Marwick

2.00pm Hannah MacRae

3.00pm Gregor Borland with Bob Turner

4.00pm Clare Mann and Aaron Jones

Workshops – 90 minutes of great learning – check the website for the level of each workshop

Saturday:

10.00 – 11.30am

Duncan Chisholm – Slow Air Technique

​Aonghas Grant – Highland Tunes

12 – 1.30pm

Chris Stout – Contemporary Shetland Tunes

​​Aidan O’Rourke – Trad Fiddle with a twist

2 – 3.30pm

Mhairi Hall – Mixed Instrument

Sunday:

10.00 – 11.30am

Liz Doherty – Irish Fiddle Tunes and Technique

Mhairi MacKinnon – Beginner Fiddle

12 – 1.30pm

Adam Sutherland – Tunes from the Errogie Collection

Patsy Reid – Fiddle Technique

2 – 3.30pm

Catriona Macdonald – Shetland Fiddle

Laura Jane Wilkie – developing your playing

Paul Anderson – North East fiddle tunes

Youth workshops

Saturday:

10.00 – 11.30am Lucy MacRae -​ Fun tunes for beginners in association with Fèis Dhun Eideann

12 – 1.30pm Pàdruig Morrison – Mixed Instrument workshop in association with Fèis Dhun Eideann

Sunday:

10.00 – 11.30am Daniel Thorpe – Tips and tricks to aid more accurate and faster playing

12 – 1.30pm Lori Watson – Contemporary fiddling

Talks

Saturday:

1.30pm and 3.30pm Fiona Scott reading of ‘Fiddlers in Fairyland’

2.30pm Steve Burnett – fiddle maintenance

Sunday:

12.30pm Angus Grant – Fiddle tales

1.30pm Marie Fielding – Alternative teaching ideas

2.30pm Mark Neal – Some sound advice

3.30pm Sara Watkin – Musicians health

Special / free events and activities

StallsSaturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm

Live fiddle making – Matthew Hannafin Saturday and Sunday

Book launch and signing – Adam Sutherland Saturday 11.30am

Fiddle playing clinic – Marie Fielding Sunday 3-5pm

Session Saturday and Sunday​ 10am – 5pm

Slow session Saturday and Sunday 10am – 5pm – led by tutors 11am – 12pm and 1pm – 2pm. In association with Glasgow Fiddle Workshop

Come and try fiddle with Isla Ferguson Saturday and Sunday 1pm – 2pm. Many thanks to Stringers Violin Shop for supplying instruments for this workshop​

Open Stage Saturday 5pm – 6.30pm

Come and try Gaelic with Eilidh Munro Sunday 3pm – 4pm 

Final stramash One of the biggest sessions you’ll ever play in Sunday 5pm

ENDS

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