It has become a tradition for the Friends of Fiddler's Green to visit each September at the Cuckoo's Nest Folk Club. The current Friends include Ian Bell on banjo, guitar, concertina, pipes, trombone and bass; Alistair Brown on concertina, button accordion and harmonica; Grit Laskin on guitar, mandolin and bones; Jeff McClintock on piano; Ian Robb on several kinds of concertinas; and James Stephens who plays a multitude of stringed instruments with an emphasis on fiddling. Most also sing lead vocals occasionally and all sing harmonies and choruses.
The "Friends" boast six versatile musicians, five fine singers, three songwriters, brilliant joke tellers, the occasional fiery dragon, one Order of Canada, one Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal and one of the longest track records in Canadian Folk Music - now celebrating 55 years together. The Friends were recipients of the 2003 Estelle Klein Award, given by the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals (FMO) for service to folk music in Ontario. Nobody, not even the Friends themselves, can predict what might happen during one of their concerts, but it always includes humour, powerful vocal harmony, great musicianship, social commentary and an irresistible urge to tap your feet or sing along.
Doors open: 6 PM, show: 7:30 PM.
