NAFCo 2006: the biggest names in fiddle music |
AS STUDENTS pack their bags for the long vacation, Aberdeen University is preparing itself for its summer intake: fiddle players, dozens of them – including some of the world’s finest exponents of traditional music.
The second North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) follows the great success of the first NAFCo in 2001, also hosted by Aberdeen University. The convention brings together many of the biggest names in fiddle music from both sides of the Atlantic, with musicians and dancers from Canada and the US, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Ireland, and all over the UK. NAFCo is one of the largest events of its kind in the world and takes place over five days from July 26 – 30 at the University of Aberdeen and northeast arts venues.
NAFCo 2006 had its official launch at the end of June, with a concert by the legendary fiddler Aly Bain, accompanied by the pianist Violet Tulloch. The concert also featured a guest performance by the fiddler Paul Anderson, who is currently undertaking a three-year research project, comparing traditional fiddle styles and those of modern fiddle players. Anderson’s research is based at Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute, dedicated to the study of traditions in the north and the northeast of Scotland.
Launching the festival, Dr Ian Russell, Director of NAFCo, said: “the convention is for everyone who enjoys the sound of the fiddle, whether audience or player, young or old. It will be an unrivalled opportunity to experience the best in live traditional fiddle music and dance.”
NAFCo runs from Wednesday, July 26, until Sunday, July 30, 2006, featuring big international names and the cream of local talent in a packed programme of concerts, ceilidhs, and workshops. Performers include: |
