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Scotland\u2019s most celebrated fiddle band Blazin\u2019 Fiddles<\/strong> will join together with the remarkable vocalist Karen Matheson<\/strong> for a special one-off Scottish tour.<\/p>\n Blazin’ Fiddles celebrate 20 years of touring and recording and are delighted to honour this birthday with a string of special performances throughout Scotland with special guest singer Karen Matheson.<\/p>\n Having performed their premiere 20th anniversary gig at Celtic Connections in January, Blazin\u2019 Fiddles can\u2019t wait to take to the road to continue the celebrations during the late summer months. They will be taking this special show to the Queens Hall in Edinburgh, Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, Beach Ballroom in Aberdeen, Albert Halls in Stirling, Perth Concert Hall and finishing with an Old Fruitmarket gig in Glasgow.<\/p>\n Each member of Blazin\u2019 Fiddles draws the distinct flavour of music from their part of the Highlands and Islands.\u00a0 Blending solo and ensemble sets, ages with the occasional insightful tale, they come together in a fiery blend to excite your senses.\u00a0 From remote village halls to the BBC Proms at the Royal Albert Hall, fiddlers Jenna Reid<\/strong>, Bruce MacGregor<\/strong>, Rua Macmillan <\/strong>and Kristan Harvey<\/strong> are joined by Anna Massie <\/strong>on guitar\/fiddle and Angus Lyon<\/strong> on piano to deliver a musically intoxicating evening for all.<\/p>\n Bruce MacGregor, founder of Blazin\u2019 Fiddles, said:<\/em><\/strong> \u201cI still pinch myself that we\u2019re at 20 years! It was only meant to last for four concerts back in 1998 but here we are 20 years later still going strong. I can\u2019t wait to take this special show on the road later this year and to have Karen Matheson perform alongside us will be fantastic.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen the band started in 1998 it was born out of a desire to showcase the Scottish fiddle, in all its guises. We drew on influences from all of the fiddle playing regions of Scotland and put these together in one band; this is why for us, in our 20th year, it is so important to tour Scotland and bring our music to as many areas of the country as we can. We hope to see you there!\u201d<\/p>\n As a solo performer, Karen Matheson has been involved in various projects of collaboration worldwide including the award winning BBC series Transatlantic Sessions, where over the last decade she has filmed tracks with artists like James Taylor, Emmylou Harris, The McGarrigle Sisters, Nanci Griffith, and a host of respected Scottish musicians. Her many collaborations include Algerian singer Idir, Breton guitarist Dan Ar Braz and Portuguese star Dulce Pontes.\u00a0 She has produced four acclaimed \u2018solo albums \u2013 \u2018The Dreaming Sea\u2019, \u2018Time to Fall\u2019, \u2018Downriver\u2019, and most recently \u2018Urram\u2019, with a collection of timeless Gaelic songs that evoke the character and atmosphere of Island life.<\/p>\n Karen has enjoyed a stellar career with Capercaillie who have sold more than a million albums, performed in over thirty countries and written and starred in the blockbuster movie ‘Rob Roy’, with Liam Neeson and Jessica Lange, in which Karen performed a solo rendition of a Gaelic lament.<\/p>\n Karen can\u2019t wait to join the Blazin\u2019 Fiddles on their 20th anniversary tour later this year<\/strong>: \u201cThe Blazin\u2019 Fiddles are a national treasure; it\u2019s an absolute honour to be going on the road with them! I was so delighted when Bruce asked me, especially as I love playing every one of these venues! Look forward to seeing as many faces as possible later this year!\u201d<\/p>\n The Blazin\u2019 Fiddles were established in 1998 when Bruce grew concerned about the growing perception that Scottish fiddle music was on the decline. Through his own experience Bruce knew of many great players his own age who were playing an array of Scottish styles that they had grown up with so, along with Alastair MacDonald who was running the Highland Festival at the time, Bruce got in touch with a few tradition bearers of various fiddle styles to come together for a fiddle showcase. Alongside Bruce, the original line-up included Catriona Macdonald, Duncan Chisholm, Aidan O\u2019Rourke, Iain Macfarlane and Allan Henderson, with Marc Clement as accompanist. They had originally only planned to play four concerts but after the fourth and final one the demand was so high the band didn\u2019t feel they could just stop there so they put the band on the road and the rest, as they say, is history.<\/p>\n Their special 20th celebration shows, with special guest singer Karen Matheson, include:<\/p>\n \u2022 Queens Hall, Edinburgh – 24th & 25th August<\/p>\n \u2022 Eden Court Theatre, Inverness – 29th August<\/p>\n \u2022 Beach Ballroom, Aberdeen – 30th August<\/p>\n \u2022 Albert Halls, Stirling – 31st August<\/p>\n \u2022 Concert Hall, Perth – 1st September<\/p>\n \u2022 Old Fruitmarket, Glasgow – 2nd September<\/p>\n – Ends \u2013<\/p>\n For more information on Blazin\u2019 Fiddles please go to: <\/strong>www.blazinf<\/a>iddles.com<\/u><\/p>\n For more information, interview requests or review tickets please contact Hannah Innes Communications:<\/strong><\/p>\n – E: hannah@hannahinnes.co.uk<\/a><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n