On Friday, December 7th, the Bozeman Folklore Society once again joins forces with Bozeman Parks and Recreation to present a unique and entertaining evening of acoustic music in the elegant and historic Story Mansion as part of its “Pickin’ in the Park” music series at 7:30pm. The Bozeman Folklore Society has its enthusiastic and vibrant fiddle community to thank as it presents Scottish fiddle master Alasdair Fraser in a rare solo performance.
Doors will open at 7pm, with the show to follow. Advance tickets are $17 and available at Cactus Records or www.cactusrecords.net. Any remaining tickets will be available for $20 at the door. Current BFS members may enjoy a three-dollar discount at the door as well. Seating is limited and these tickets are going quickly, so purchase early! The Story Mansion is located at 811 S Willson Ave.
Alasdair Fraser is one of the greatest carriers of the Scottish fiddle music tradition, a fiddler whose warmly expressive playing, mastery of his instrument and deep understanding of his native music as a venerable and continually evolving art is an inspiration to generations of musicians on both sides of the Atlantic.
As a fiddler equally capable of playing haunting Gaelic airs and rumbustious dance tunes and improvising endless variations on traditional themes, Fraser has worked in a variety of successful partnerships, including his duos with pianist Paul Machlis and guitarist Tony McManus and his acclaimed band Skyedance. He has also guested with The Chieftains, The Waterboys, Itzhak Perlman and Los Angeles Master Chorale, appeared on innumerable broadcasts including A Prairie Home Companion and CBS TV’s Kennedy Center Honors and performed on film soundtracks including The Last of the Mohicans and Titanic. His compositions have featured in works by the Richmond (Virginia) Ballet and Shiftworks Dance Ensemble and his commissions include Fettercairn Suite.
Since 2003 Fraser has featured in a duo with cellist Natalie Haas, restoring the wee fiddle and big fiddle partnership that flourished in eighteenth century Scotland to contemporary prominence at the cutting edge of tradition-rooted creativity. Their debut album, Fire and Grace, was voted Album of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2004, adding to Fraser’s North American Independent Record Distributors award for his Dawn Dance album in 1996, and they continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.
Bozeman Folklore Society is an all-volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, enjoying, and sharing the music, dance, arts, crafts, and skills of traditional cultures. There’s always a need for volunteers! For further event details or to pledge your support, call Rik James at (406) 586-4123. Please visit www.bozemanfolklore.org for all upcoming BFS concert and dance information.