Thursday, March 13
Fiddle Tunes from Ireland, Scotland, & France
Celtic Fiddle Festival
LAXSON AUDITORIUM | 7:30 p.m.$25 Premium | $20 Adult
$18 Senior | $16 Student/Child
"Three of the finest folk violinists anywhere." — The Washington Post
Three of the world's finest Celtic fiddlers join forces in the Celtic Fiddle Festival. Kevin Burke (from Ireland), Christian Lemaitre (from Brittany), and André Brunet (French-Canadian) are each masters of their respective styles, played with dexterity and passion. When they come together, a spirit of spontaneous fun emerges, and the jigs, reels, and fiddle tunes heat up. Trading stories as well, these performers create an evening of winning hilarity and unforgettable musical thrills.
In concert each fiddler will play a solo set, showcasing their regional musical styles (Kevin from Ireland, Christian from Brittany, and André plays French-Canadian.) These individual sets will be followed by a collaborative set featuring all the musicians. Together, these musicians play with such relentless precision and fire that transcends all cultural and geographical barriers, leaving the audience with a memorable musical experience. A spirit of spontaneous fun ties the sets together, as the musicians' trade hilarious jokes and commentaries.
The great Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, who has played with The Bothy Band, Christy Moore, Jackie Daly and is currently a member of Patrick Street, is one of the most celebrated fiddlers of our time. Burke specializes in ornamented Irish reels, slip jigs and slow airs all played in his silkily graceful, soulful signature style.
Christian Lemaitre's fiddle playing represents the exotic, rich cadences of the Brenton tradition, as well as including influences from Southern and Eastern Europe. Lemairtre honed his remarkable skills as a fiddler playing for festounoz (festive night dances) throughout Brittany in northwestern France. He is known for unerring control and propulsive energy on the hypnotically rhythmic Brenton dance tunes.
André Brunet is a young fiddle player from the French-Canadian band La Bottine Souriante. He performs a unique blend of folk music originating from France, England, Ireland, and Scotland, imbued over time with a color and rhythm particular to various regions of Québec. André is a warm, dynamic performer, with a vast repertoire of French-Canadian jigs and reels.
Ged Foley is the accompanying guitar member of the Celtic Fiddle Festival lineup. Ged is well known in Celtic circles for his work with Battlefield Band, his leadership of the House Band, and his recent membership in Patrick Street. A gifted singer, record producer and instrumentalist, Ged provides a solid and creative approach to rhythm guitar, and pushes the fiddlers to new heights of expression.
Gilles Apap, also appearing on violin, has been hailed as "The violinist of the twenty-first century" by the late Yehudi Menuhin. Apap is embraced worldwide for his distinct talent of incorporating several styles of music, including American bluegrass, Gypsy and classical standards.
If you enjoy this performance, you might also enjoy:
Tomáseen Foley's A Celtic Christmas
Leahy
Ladies of the Slack Key Guitar
Jake Shimabukuro with Joe Craven
Hills of Home: Doc Watson & David Holt with Richard Watson
Woven Harmony with Robert & Rebecca Bluestone
Assad Brothers Brazilian Guitar Festival