In 1998, Bruce MacGregor assembled a selection of Highland and island fiddlers, spotlighting distinctive regional styles, for a one-off two-week tour, named to reflect the fiery young talents involved.
Twenty years on, Blazin’ Fiddles rank securely among Scotland’s foremost folk acts, sought-after headliners across the Celtic scene. Today’s line-up – MacGregor, still, with Jenna Reid, Rua Macmillan, Kristan Harvey, Anna Massie and Angus Lyon – retains the founding format of multiple frontline fiddles, plus powerhouse piano and guitar, and their signature incandescence. Featuring ex-Blazers Duncan Chisholm, Aidan O’Rourke, Catriona Macdonald, Iain MacFarlane, Allan Henderson, Marc Clement and Andy Thorburn, tonight’s anniversary celebrations, also toasting new ninth album The Key – promise a truly spectacular conflagration.
Sittin in the Glesga Royal Concert Hall waitin fir the stairt o Bleezin Fiddles, ma e’en wis taen by the muckle siller balloons fillit wi helium at eithir end o the still daurk stage an markit wi ’20’ an ‘BF’. This wis the Birthday concert tae celebrate twinty year o the band. Ain that, owre the years hae seen mony o Scotland’s finest fiddlers in its ranks, an ye cuid feel the buzz o excitemint buildin up amang the near sell oot twa thoosand crood.
The support fir the evenin, wis sangster, sangscriever an fiddler Laura Cortese wi the Dance Cards. Thae haed a difficult role tae fill an thae jokit thir set ‘wis naethin at aw lik Bleezin Fiddles’. Mibbe no, but thae did a rare job, fae thir bonnie openin set richt thro tae the last, a lovely entirely acoustic sang thit fillit the hall wi juist thir voices.
Bleezin’ Fiddles stairtit thir set wi the preesent line up efter front man Bruce MacGregor thankit us aw fir comin tae thir birthday pairty, an telt us hoo, backstage thae haed been ‘swappin stories an memories’ wi band members past an preesent. The set stairtit wi juist fiddle afore Angus Lyon and Anna Massie jined in tae gie a drivin, stylish accompaniment. The show cairrit on fir a while wi this line up, playin sets fae thir maist recent album. It wisnae lang afore Anna Massie’s stage patter wis stealin the show. An as onybody whae hae seen her kens, she ay manages tae keepit her anecdotes, fresh an funny. An its ay guid tae watch Jenna Reid. Her style, easy movement an aw roond stage preesence is easy tae appreciate.
They slowit things doon by playin ain o Jenna’s tunes, creatin a bit o variation an space, in whit wis betimes a raither ‘fower tae the floor’ heavy show. The stagecraft appearit tae be verra weel workit oot, an makit fir a smooth an professional luikin show. There wis e’en a puckle o Glastonbury-esque bits fae Bruce an Rua, whaur thae cam richt tae the end o the stage an shoutit oot tae the audience sae as tae engage a’body throuoot the hale room. Juist then it struck me that it taks a certain kin o showmanship tae cairry that aff in a Concert Hall.
It wisnae til aboot twa-thirds intae the set that the lang awaitit invitations tae cam tae the stage stairtit. Iain Macfarlane an Allan Henderson wir furst tae jine in a set, efter some warld-class stage banter fae Allan. The verra real freenship atween the anetime members pit me in mind o a rare time aince, seein yer Faither aroon yer Uncles at a pairty; thir wis a playfuness thit haed cam aboot fae years o growin an wirkin thegither. Suddenly ye felt transportit back tae gigs an tours o the past and the smooth professionalism we are yaised tae seein at Bleezin Fiddles gigs developit intae a verra genuine meetin o freends an fantastic musicians.
Then in ane muckle sweep, Catriona MacDonald, Duncan Chisholm, Aidan O’Rourke, Andy Thorburn and Marc Clement aw cam on stage and it wis lik ivery young fiddler’s Yuletimes haed arrivit aw at aince.
Efter ane fiddle set, the rest wir a combination o new an auld material fae albums past and preesent. The rousing tunes, encouragit the crood tae jine in. The lichtin alang wi Anna Massie’s stomp box buildin up the audience tae a spectacular finale, which haed ilka audience member on thir feet. I hae nivir seed a staundin ovation lik it!
Aw thegither, the nicht haed eneugh reels in it tae last a lifetime, an the sets we ken weel as the trademark Blazin Fiddles beat drap, wi mony whoops an cheers fae the band reddin up the energy leevels thro’oot the hale night. Anent the joyfuness o the gig, thir wis still a poignancy though, seein the auld members jine the current line up, and shewin hoo the band has evolvit owre the twinty years. Whit struck me wis the freenship that underpinnit the muisic. The patter, the banter, the easy wey o communicatin ane wi anither that wis sae plain tae see. Fir young muisicians fae ma ain generation wi Bleezin Fiddles, thir benchmark o traditional fiddlin, it wis fascinatin tae watch baith fiddlers an accompanists spikken tae eachither whiles thae wir playin an yaisin the hale stage in the process.
The concert felt lik a muckle celebration o freenship, muisic an longevity. An the balloons wir a guid touch tae.
As I took my seat Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall for the Blazin’ Fiddles 20th Birthday Concert as part of Celtic Connections, there was a hum of excitement and anticipation as we walked into the venue and saw the celebratory balloons at either end of the dimly lit stage. The near sold out event had a huge silver helium balloons spelling out ‘20’ and ‘BF’ bookending the stage, reminding us that the evening was not only a concert with some of our best known fiddle players, but also a birthday party.
Laura Cortese and the Dance Cards were the support act, which proved to be a difficult role to fill as over 2,000 people watched on with Laura joking that her set is ‘nothing like Blazin Fiddles at all’. As their set went on they opened the evening beautifully, ending their set with an entirely acoustic song, filling the entire Concert Hall with just their voices.
Blazin’ Fiddles started their set with the current line up after front man Bruce MacGregor thanked us all for attending their birthday party, describing how backstage they had been ‘swapping stories and memories’ with members past and present. The set started on unaccompanied fiddle before Angus Lyon and Anna Massie joined them, providing a driven and stylish accompaniment. The show carried on with this line up for some time, playing sets from the newest album. It wasn’t far into the set before Anna Massie’s stage talk stole the show, somehow managing to tell anecdotes I have heard her tell at previous Blazin’ Fiddles gigs but managed to keep them fresh and funny as ever. Jenna Reid’s stage presence was magnetic to the eye, her ease and movement on stage and instantly recognisable style of playing was quite encompassing for the audience to watch. They slowed down their set by playing one of Jenna’s tunes, creating some variation and space, in which at times was quite ‘four to the floor’ heavy show. The stagecraft appeared to be very choreographed, and made a very slick and professional looking show. There was even a few Glastonbury-esque moments from Bruce and Rua, where they came right to the end of the stage and called out to the audience, engaging the audience to the very corner of the room. It occurred to me then that it takes a very certain kind of showmanship to be able to pull off that level of showbiz at the Concert Hall.
It was not until about two-thirds into the set that the much anticipated invitations to the stage started. Iain Macfarlane and Allan Henderson joined the current line up for a set after some world-class stage banter from Allan Henderson. The genuine friendship between the previous members and Bruce reminded me of the unique moment of seeing your Dad around your Uncles at a party, there was a playfulness and on stage; suddenly you felt transported back to gigs and tours of the past and the slick professionalism we are used to seeing at Blazin Fiddles gigs developed into a very genuine meeting of friends and fantastic musicians. Then in one big sweep, Catriona MacDonald, Duncan Chisholm, Aidan O’Rourke, Andy Thorburn and Marc Clement all came on stage and it was like every young fiddler’s Christmases had come at once.
After a fiddle only set, the rest of the sets were a combination of new and old material from albums past and present. The rousing tunes, encouraged audience participation, lighting and Anna Massie’s stomp box eventually built up the audience to a spectacular finale, which had every audience member on their feet. I have never seen a standing ovation like it.
The night overall had enough reels in it to last anyone a lifetime, and the sets had what we recognise as the trademark Blazin Fiddles beat drop, with many whoops and cheers from the band as the energy steadily inclined throughout the whole night. There was an undertone of poignancy though as you saw the old members join the current line up, and seeing how the band has evolved over an incredible length of time. What struck me was the friendship that underpinned the music, which came out in the second to none stage patter and communication on stage; all the fiddlers and accompanists had dialogue whilst playing, using every foot of the stage to communicate with each other. It was particularly significant for young musicians from my generation, as we have grown up listening to Blazin Fiddles as a benchmark for traditional fiddle music as well as contemporary tunes. The concert really felt like a huge celebration of friendship, music and longevity. And the balloons were a great touch.