Fiddlers’ Bid
EventsWebsite: www.fiddlersbid.com‘Fiddlers’ Bid’ are one of the most dynamic, exciting and successful musical acts ever to come out of Shetland ~ a group of islands long famed for its fiddle and wider musical tradition.
Since forming in 1991 ‘Fiddlers’ Bid’ have taken that tradition in many new and exhilarating directions, releasing a string of internationally acclaimed albums along the way. Their music also effortlessly blends the traditional culture of their homeland with wider musical influences, drawn from other traditions much further afield – Scandinavia in particular. Reels, jigs and polkas are all delivered with amazing power, dexterity and, in particular, precision, while their waltzes and slow airs will quite simply tear at your heart strings and fill your tear ducts – a skill that prompted one Australian newspaper to comment “They play like angels and devils all at once”. A very apt observation!!
Fiddlers’ Bid are fronted by no less than four of Shetland’s most renowned and vibrant fiddle players (Chris Stout, Kevin Henderson, Andrew Gifford and Maurice Henderson) who link together musically with almost telepathic precision. The band also sports an ‘engine room’ rhythm section of bass, piano and guitar to fully compliment this, not to mention probably Scotland’s finest and most dynamic harp player into the bargain – Catriona McKay. All-in-all ‘Fiddlers’ Bid are a hugely innovative and quite amazing musical package.
They have toured to all corners of the globe including the USA, Canada, Scandinavia, Europe, Japan and Australia (including a performance at the Sydney Opera House no less) and, as such, are now an internationally established and renowned act in every sense of the word.
Their most recent album ‘All Dressed in Yellow’ (released in 2009) was hugely acclaimed throughout the music media and went on to win the award ‘Album of the Year’ at the 2009 Scottish Traditional Music Awards, together with ‘Instrumental Album of the Year’ on the influential ‘Spiral Earth’ folk music website.
2011 is a very important year for the band as they celebrate their 20th anniversary – even though they themselves are all still in their mid-30’s!!! As part of these celebrations look out for a new live CD and DVD package later this year – with concert footage recorded at their 2010 Shetland Folk Festival headlining appearance.
Fiddlers’ Bid are quite simply one band featuring a whole myriad of musical styles and experiences who genuinely have to be seen and heard to be believed!