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Blazin' Fiddles
At A Glance
Fiddle based folk band from the Highlands
Members
- Bruce MacGregor: fiddle
- Jenna Reid: fiddle
- Rua Macmillan: fiddle
- Kristan Harvey: fiddle
- Anna Massie: fiddle/guitar
- Angus Lyon: piano[1]
Past Members
Blazin' Fiddles are a multi-award winning folk band fronted by multiple fiddles from the Highlands[3]. Originally formed by Bruce MacGregor in 1998 as part of the Year of Highland Culture[4] for a four concert project[5], their sound has been described as "exhilarating sets of strathspeys and reels"[6]. The band frequently tour with a guest vocalist - in the past, this role has fallen to Emily Smith[7], Karen Matheson[8], and Hannah Rarity[9] They organise the yearly festival Blazin' in Beauly and in 2022, they launched Blazin' in Biggar, a similar event featuring workshops and masterclasses[10].
Videos
Blazin' Fiddles - Johnstone Town Hall
Awards
Blazin' Fiddles have won and been nominated for many Scots Trad Music Awards, including:
- Trad Video of the Year (2021)[11]
- Folk Band of the Year (2019 - winner)[12] [13], (2013 - winner)[14] [15], (2004)[16]
- Album of the Year (2018)[17], (2015)[18]
- Community Project of the Year (for Blazin' in Beauly) (2019)[19] (2011 - winner)[20]
- Live Act of the Year (2016)[21], (2005 - winner)[22], (2004 - winner)[23], (2003)[24]
- Event of the Year (for Blazin' in Beauly) (2005 - winner)[25],
Reception
Seasoned musicians all... it doesn’t take long for them to get into their formidable stride, deploying full pelt jigs and reels as if there were no tomorrow. - The Scotsman
Four fiddles front this true all-star band, with an occasional fifth. Backed by guitar and keyboards, together they deliver smoking hot dance tunes and delightful slow airs - The Living Tradition
It’s the work of wizardry to see the fast, dynamic way these musicians play their instruments... I’m seeing the magic happen right in front of my eyes, but I’ve no idea quite how they’re doing it. - One Play More
Scotland’s most celebrated fiddle band - Aberdeen Performing Arts
Local boy Rua MacMillan seems to do things with a bow that are physically (and rhythmically) impossible, but the strength of the band relies not on individual skill, but on the palpable joy of playing together, a sort of feeding frenzy of reels and jigs - The Wee Review
Blazin’ Fiddles manage to combine everything there is to enjoy in Scottish fiddle music. Gently soothing melodies and the stirring, glorious sound of multiple fiddles in harmony. There are fascinating and wonderful contemporary arrangements of traditional fiddle and pipe tunes from Scotland and beyond. Most of all, though, there’s that infectious, enlivening and irresistible euphoria that comes about from a passion for the music and a longing to share it - Folk Radio
Discography
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Fire On! | Album |
| 2010 | Live | Album |
| 2010 | Magnificent Seven | Album |
| 2010 | The Old Style | Album |
| 2011 | Thursday Night in the Caley | Album |
| 2013 | Six | Album |
| 2015 | North | Album |
| 2017 | The Key | Album |
| 2022 | Doddie's Dream | Single |
References
- ↑ Blazin' Fiddles. 'Band'. https://www.blazinfiddles.com/band.
- ↑ Folk Radio. 'Blazin’ Fiddles – North'. https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2015/11/blazin-fiddles-north/.
- ↑ Blazin' Fiddles. 'Facebook'. https://www.facebook.com/blazinfiddles.
- ↑ Folk Radio. 'Blazin’ Fiddles: North'. https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2015/11/blazin-fiddles-north/
- ↑ Aberdeen Performing Arts. 'Blazin’ Fiddles with Hannah Rarity'. https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/blazin-fiddles-with-hannah-rarity/
- ↑ The Reviews Hub. 'Blazin’ Fiddles – Howard Assembly Room, Leeds'. https://www.thereviewshub.com/blazin-fiddles-howard-assembly-room-leeds/
- ↑ The Scotsman. 'Music Review: Blazin’ Fiddles with Emily Smith, Queen’s Hall (Venue 72), Edinburgh'. https://www.scotsman.com/arts-and-culture/edinburgh-festivals/music-review-blazin-fiddles-emily-smith-queens-hall-venue-72-edinburgh-1410103.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'Blazin’ Fiddles Celebrate Their 20th Year With Summer Tour And Special Guest Vocalist Karen Matheson'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/handsupfortrad/blazin-fiddles-celebrate-their-20th-year-with-summer-tour-and-special-guest-vocalist-karen-matheson/.
- ↑ Aberdeen Performing Arts. 'Blazin’ Fiddles with Hannah Rarity'. https://www.aberdeenperformingarts.com/whats-on/blazin-fiddles-with-hannah-rarity/.
- ↑ Blazin' Fiddles. 'Blazin' in Biggar'. https://www.blazinfiddles.com/blazin-in-biggar.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2021: Blazin Fiddles with Scottish folk orchestra'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2021-blazin-fiddles-with-scottish-folk-orchestra/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2019: Blazin’ Fiddles'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2019-blazin-fiddles/.
- ↑ Folk Radio. 'Winners of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2019'. https://www.folkradio.co.uk/2019/12/winners-scots-trad-music-awards-2019/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'SCOTS TRAD AWARDS RETURNS FOR 11TH YEAR'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/scots-trad-awards-returns-for-11th-year/.
- ↑ BBC News. 'SCOTS Scots Trad Awards 2013 winners announced'. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-25304458.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'Scots Trad Music Awards 2004'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/scots-trad-music-awards-2004/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2018: Blazin' Fiddles'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2018-blazin-fiddles/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards: North by Blazin’ Fiddles'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-north-by-blazin-fiddles/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2019: Blazin’ in Beauly'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2019-blazin-in-beauly/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2011'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2011/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'MG ALBA SCOTS TRAD MUSIC AWARDS 2016 SHORTLIST UNVEILED'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-2016-shortlist-unveiled/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'Scots Trad Music Awards 2005'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/scots-trad-music-awards-2005/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'Scots Trad Music Awards 2004'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/scots-trad-music-awards-2004/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'The Inaugural Scottish Trad Music Awards 2003'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/the-inaugural-scottish-trad-music-awards/.
- ↑ Hands Up For Trad. 'Scots Trad Music Awards 2005'. https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/scots-trad-music-awards-2005/.
