Hello all you great folks that might have made it to this weekend’s Scottish Fiddle extravaganza on Whidbey Island, with Alasdair Frasier and Natalie Haas! Do you have picture you’d like to share? Maybe even a short video or two? If you post them, send a link to “m.thumma@mac.com”. I’ll see what I can do to help you share them! Meanwhile, here’s a video submitted by a wonderful chaperone- it’s the first time we went through the performance set, on Sunday morning…

Here’s a photo that might make you grin…. one of the many outstanding cielidh acts on Saturday night!

Sea Kelp quartet?
Steve Showell on Sea Kelp and his daughter Kendra assists. Alasdair Fraser on Fiddle and Bev Heising on “percussion”

First off! Thank you again, Alasdair, and Natalie for a truly memorable weekend. A treasure for all!

Thank you to the entire organizing committee for your unending and enthusiastic support to make this weekend go so well!!

We will post pictures and videos in the very near future, for all to see.

MEANWHILE— LOST AND FOUND: IF you may have left something behind this weekend, you may all Ft. Casey and speak with Robyn or Debbie at 360-378-5050, or 866-661-6604 to alert them to your dilemma. Robyn informs me they have quite a collection currently, so it’s worth a call!

Do you want for tickets to the Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas concert, but you aren’t signed up for the workshop?? No problem! You can still get tickets for this amazing concert at the conclusion of our weekend workshop, on April 14th!!

Try Brown Paper Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com

If you live on Whidbey Island, go to Concerts on the Cove’s website- (Look under schedule, the poster has information on how to buy tickets) http://www.concertsonthecove.org.

If all else fails, come to the concert, and buy tickets at the door!

Hope to see you there!!!

I have a fiddle that is getting excited.. it’s starting to leave all kinds of little hints that Alasdair Frasier and Natalie Haas will be keeping it very happy and very busy just TWO weeks from now!

This past Sunday, I had the extreme pleasure of attending Flora Cummings’s (our youngest fiddler) recital. It was amazing to see how all her hard work paid off. She played beautifully- and played a variety of pieces ranging from Twinkle, Twinkle, to Humoresque, to Minuet in G and Two Grenadiers. After about 40 minutes of playing and a brief intermission, she, her mother Judith, and father, Dale really wowed the audience with their Scottish sets! Her grande finale was, “Be Our Guest!” from Beauty and the Beast. Job very well done, my young friend!!!!! Hats off to Judith and Dale who have also provided her with so much support!!

Just a quick shout out to everyone- put Monday, May 27th on your calendar for our club’s appearance at Folklife! We’ll be playing at 11:30 in the Mural Amphitheatre! Details to come! Gotta get through the amazing Alasdair and Natalie workshop first, then the Everett Public Library Gig on May 5th….. Then, we’ll be heading your way, Seattle!

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas

You can feel the excitement building at club meetings, and the  board is working hard because Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas’s Fifth annual Scottish Workshop is just ONE month away now!!

It’s looking like we could have a great turn out -as of March 10th, we have 54 fiddlers, 8 cellists, 2 bass players and at least one guitar player signed up! We’ve opened up a second building to house everyone- so there’s even more room to invite a friend if you hurry!

Reminder: if you have only partially paid for your workshop, final payments are due. If you have questions on how to go about paying that remaining bill, information is available on our “register” page, or you may contact our registrar, at weekend@nwscottishfiddlers.org .

So, be gathering up your sunscreen and sunglasses, your bug spray, and anything else that might allow you to enjoy some outdoor activities when you aren’t busy learning a tune, jamming, or otherwise fiddling away.

We are truly looking forward to seeing everyone in just one short month!

Just a reminder to all of you regular members, our monthly club meeting will be held a week earlier than normal in April, on Sunday, April 7th!!! “Why?” you might ask? On the following Sunday, when we usually meet, we’ll be fiddling away at Alasdiar and Natalie’s camp on Whidbey Island on the 14th!!!

Please note:  This will be an important meeting for us, too, as we’ll be deciding on our sets to play the following weekend, and rehearsing them !  Rosin up that bow!!

We’ve just received word that Wendy MacIsaac and Mary Jane Lamond will be in Seattle on March 16th for a workshop and evening concert!  Concert details:

March 16, 2013        Opening for Dervish at the Neptune Theatre(Seattle, WA)   21+ show

Start Time: 8:00 P M          Price: $28.50

Workshop:  Slighe nan Gaidheal has booked them both for some teaching work earlier that day. Mary Jane will be doing a standard song workshop. They’re trying something a little different with Wendy and offering 1/2 hour private lessons with her. There are six available (10:00am -> 1:00pm). Anyone who might be interested should act quickly. Sign ups are through the Gaelic Music Committee on www.slighe.com here: http://slighe.com/message_gateway.php?committee_id=5&page_title=Workshops%20and%20Private%20Lessons%20with%20Mary%20Jane%20Lamond%20and%20Wendy%20MacIsaac

Don’t get out of that Scottish groove that you’ll fully launch on April 12 -14 with Alasdair and Natalie Workshop!! Make plans to attend this  absolutely amazing house concert on April 27th, with Ed and Neil Pearlman!!! Click on the link for complete information!

Ed & Neil Pearlman House Concert