Blazin' Fiddles

Blazin' Fiddles are a contemporary Scottish fiddle band from the Highlands and Islands. They formed in 1998 to showcase Scotland’s 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.

Blazin' Fiddles band performing at the Queen's Hall at the Edinburgh Festival 2016

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 2016[8] and 2019.[9]

The album Six was final recording that features Iain MacFarlane and Allan Henderson, who were both founder members of Blazin' Fiddles.[10]

Blazin' Fiddles has been described as one of the world's most prolific fiddle groups.[11]

Line-up (2019)

Blazin’ in Beauly
  • Blazin’ in Beauly is an annual event which takes place in a village in the highlands called Beauly. It is in the October holidays, and participants enjoy one week of fiddle workshops, masterclasses, concerts, sessions, singing and more. It is open to anyone of any age or level, and you can bring along fiddles, guitars, keyboards just to name a few! Tickets are available to book online at the Blazin, in Beauly website or Facebook page.
  • Bruce MacGregor
  • Kristan Harvey & Rua Macmillan
  • Jenna Reid
  • Angus Lyon, Kristan Harvey & Anna Massie

Past members

Discography
  • Fire On! (2002)
  • The Old Style (2004)
  • Magnificent Seven (2005)
  • Blazin' Fiddles Live (2007)
  • Thursday Night in the Caley (2011)[16]
  • Six (2014)[17]
  • North (2015)[15]
  • ’’The Key’’ (2017)

References
  1. "Blaze of glory for Trad Award winners". The Inverness Courier. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  2. "Scotland's songs and tunes: Instruments: Fiddle". Education Scotland. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  3. "Blazin' in Beauly". The Scots Magazine. October 2014.
  4. "Cassells pipes up for Trad Awards". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. 1 December 2005. Retrieved 24 January 2015.
  5. "BBC Proms 2005 - Blazin' Fiddles". Scottish Arts Council. 2005. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  6. "Gig review: Blazin' Fiddles". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  7. "Scots Trad Awards 2013 winners announced". BBC News. BBC. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
  8. "Blazin' Fiddles". What's On. The Queen's Hall. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 11 August 2016.
  9. Gilchrist, Jim (19 August 2019). "Music Review: Blazin' Fiddles with Emily Smith, Queen's Hall (Venue 72), Edinburgh". The Scotsman. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  10. Adams, Rob (9 February 2014). "Blazin' Fiddles, Six (Blazin' Fiddles)". Sunday Herald. Newsquest. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  11. "Scots folksters have Led in their pencils". Henley on Thames News. 20 June 2016. Archived from the original on 23 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  12. "Fiddle Frenzy 2014 Opening Concert". Mareel. Shetland Arts Development Agency. 3 August 2014. Archived from the original on 17 June 2016. Retrieved 26 May 2016.
  13. "Article - Blazing Fiddles". Blazin-fiddles.co.uk. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
  14. "Blazin' Fiddles". The Queen's Hall, Edinburgh. 19 August 2009. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  15. McFadyen, Neil (20 November 2015). "Blazin' Fiddles - North". Folk Radio. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  16. "Blazin' Fiddles". www.footstompin.com. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  17. Wilkinson, Allan (2015). "Blazin' Fiddles - Six (Proper)". Northern Sky Magazine. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
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