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.
![](../I/m/Blazin'_Fiddles_at_Edinburgh_Festival_2016.jpg)
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