Blazin' Fiddles
Blazin' Fiddles are a contemporary Scottish fiddle band from the Highlands and Islands. They formed in 1998 to showcase the Highlands and Islands' distinct regional fiddle styles. The band have a number of awards, including; the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Live Act, Album and most recently Folk Band of the Year 2013/14. Their records are released on their own indie Blazin' Records label.
History
As part of the year of Highland Culture in 1998 the band had originally come together to put on a one-off tour to showcase the various fiddle styles of the Highlands and Islands.[1] Their name makes reference to the burning of fiddles that was done by the Church in parts of Scotland in the 19th-century.[2][3] At the Scots Trad music awards they were awarded Best Live Act in 2004[4] and their Album Magnificent Seven was Album of the Year in 2005. They took part in the BBC Proms at the Albert Hall, London in August 2005.[5]
Of the original line-up, Aidan O'Rourke and Marc Clement left in 2009, then Catriona Macdonald departed from the band in autumn 2010.[6] In 2013 the band won Scottish Folk Band of the Year at the MG ALBA Scot Trad Awards.[7] They played at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. the world's largest arts festival, in August 2016.[8]
The album Six was final recording that features Iain MacFarlane and Allan Henderson, who were both founder members of Blazin' Fiddles.[9]
Blazin' Fiddles has been described as one of the world's most prolific fiddle groups.[10]
Line-up (2016)
- Bruce MacGregor from Inverness on fiddle.[8]
- Kristan Harvey from Orkney on fiddle.[8]
- Rua Macmillan from Nairn on fiddle.[8]
- Jenna Reid from Shetland on fiddle.[11][12]
- Anna Massie from Fortrose on guitar and fiddle.[8]
- Angus Lyon from Biggar on piano.[8]
Gallery
-
Bruce MacGregor
-
Kirstan Harvey & Rua Macmillan
-
Jenna Reid
-
Angus Lyon, Kirstan Harvey & Anna Massie
Past members
- Andy Thorburn from Evanton on piano[13]
- Catriona MacDonald from Shetland on fiddle.[12][13]
- Duncan Chisholm from Kirkhill on fiddle.[14]
- Aidan O'Rourke from Oban on fiddle.
- Marc Clement from Inverness on guitar.
- Allan Henderson from Mallaig on fiddle[13]
- Iain MacFarlane from Glenfinnan on fiddle[13]
Discography
- Fire On! (2002)
- The Old Style (2004)
- Magnificent Seven (2005)
- Blazin' Fiddles Live (2007)
- Thursday Night in the Caley (2011)[15]
- Six (2014)[16]
- North (2015)[14]
References
- ↑ "Blaze of glory for Trad Award winners". The Inverness Courier. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ "Scotland's songs and tunes: Instruments: Fiddle". Education Scotland. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ "Blazin' in Beauly". The Scots Magazine. October 2014.
- ↑ "Cassells pipes up for Trad Awards". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 1 December 2005. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
- ↑ "BBC Proms 2005 - Blazin' Fiddles". Scottish Arts Council. 2005. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- ↑ "Gig review: Blazin' Fiddles". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
- ↑ "Scots Trad Awards 2013 winners announced". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Blazin' Fiddles". What's On. The Queen's Hall. Retrieved 2016-08-11.
- ↑ Adams, Rob (9 February 2014). "Blazin' Fiddles, Six (Blazin' Fiddles)". Sunday Herald. Newsquest. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ "Scots folksters have Led in their pencils". Henley on Thames News. 2016-06-20. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- ↑ "Fiddle Frenzy 2014 Opening Concert". Mareel. Shetland Arts Development Agency. 2014-08-03. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
- 1 2 "Article - Blazing Fiddles". Blazin-fiddles.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "Blazin' Fiddles". The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh. 2009-08-19. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- 1 2 McFadyen, Neil (2015-11-20). "Blazin' Fiddles - North". Folk Radio. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
- ↑ "Blazin' Fiddles". www.footstompin.com. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
- ↑ Wilkinson, Allan (2015). "Blazin' Fiddles - Six (Proper)". Northern Sky Magazine. Retrieved 2016-08-19.
External links
- Manager and agent
- Official website
- Youtube
- Bruce MacGregor
- Jenna Reid
- Rua Macmillan
- Anna Massie
- Blazin' Fiddles; Sage Gateshead