Scotland's Blazin' Fiddles at Skye

REGION -- New England Celtic Arts, in partnership with Crossroads International Celtic Festival and Saltwater Celtic Music Festival, will host Scotland's Premier fiddle Ensemble, Blazin' Fiddles at Skye Theatre in So. Carthage on Wednesday, October 24; and at UCCPA in Unity on Thursday, October 25.

Curtain at Skye is 7 p.m. and at Unity is 7:30 p.m. Reservation for both shows required.

Take a group of the hottest contemporary fiddle players from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland and you've got the award winning Blazin' Fiddles on your hands. In the past decade no other band has quite captured the excitement,passion and the sensitivity of Scottish music as Blazin' Fiddles. Having grown from a showcase tour of individual fiddlers highlighting the distinctive flavours of Highlands and Islands fiddle music.

During a performance, the audience has the opportunity to hear pieces featuring the regional styles of each fiddler followed by all hands jumping in for a wonderful explosion of music. Fiddles and bows blaze away with guitar and piano for one of the most exciting and memorable fiddle ensembles ever to take the stage.

European festival appearances have included The Cambridge Folk Festival, The Sidmouth International Music Festival, Lorient, Tønder Festival, the Falun Festival and Scotland's premier event Celtic Connections.

Past performances have included their own project With Strings Attached debuted at Celtic Connections 05 featuring singer songwriters Eddi Reader, Justin Currie (Del Amitri) and Colin MacIntyre (Mull Historical Society). In 2005 they made a welcomed return to Cambridge Folk Festival and also played the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall following the release of their last album Like rare single malts, each member of Blazin' Fiddles draws the distinct flavour of music from their part of the highlands and islands. From solo to ensemble sets, they all come together in a fiery blend that raises the roof. Fiddlers Jenna Reid, Bruce Macgregor, Allan Henderson and Iain Macfarlane are joined by Anna Massie on guitar/fiddle and Andy Thorburn on keyboard to form one of the best live acts today.

Skye Theater is located three miles west of East Dixfield village at 2 Highland Dr. off Winter Hill Road and Rt. 2 in South Carthage. UCCPA is at 42 Depot St. in Unity. Ticket price is $15 at the door at all locations. For reservations call Skye Theatre at 562-4445 or UCCPA at 948-7469. Reservations are strongly suggested at both venues.