Northwest Folklife Here We Come!

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!

Fiddle Camp Just ONE Month Away!!!

Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas

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!

 

 

Fiddle Club in April

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!!

Wendy MacIsaac and Mary Jane Lamond – March 16th!

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

 

Looking forward to Alasdair in April! (..memories of 2012)

 

Alasdair Fraser – last year’s workshop in January. April can’t come soon enough! Hopefully these photos will tide you over until then!

Natalie, besides being an awesome teacher, she knows how to have fun at the concert, or anywhere!

 

Calum MacKinnon, beginning fiddle instructor and NW Scottish Fiddlers music director

Calum MacKinnon, beginning fiddle instructor and NW Scottish Fiddlers music director

Auditorium A- where classes, ceilidh and concerts are held!

Auditorium A- where classes, ceilidh and concerts are held!

Class is in "session"! Really, it's too much fun to be called a class!

Class is in “session”! Really, it’s too much fun to be called a class!

High energy class with the younger crowd!

High energy class with the younger crowd!

Bev getting the Saturday night ceilidh going! Love the "grass" skirt, don't you?

Bev getting the Saturday night ceilidh going! Love the “grass” skirt, don’t you?

Hawaii Five-O at the ceilidh!

Hawaii Five-O at the ceilidh!

Guinnevere and Sami -Hawaii Five-O beauties!

Guinnevere and Sami -Hawaii Five-O beauties!

Have you ever used a fiddle case for bongos? Sam was not afraid...!!

Have you ever used a fiddle case for bongos? Sam was not afraid…!!

A little Scottish Country Dancing with our instructor, Mary.

A little Scottish Country Dancing with our instructor, Mary.

Final Concert- NW Scottish Fiddler are the warm-up act.

Final Concert- NW Scottish Fiddlers are the warm-up act.

NW Scottish Fiddlers' "wee" member.

NW Scottish Fiddlers’ “wee” member.

Grand Finale - Alasdair leades everyone on stage! What fun!

Grand Finale – Alasdair leades everyone on stage! What fun!

 

First Meeting of the Year Coming Up!

Mark your calendars folks! The first meeting of the year will be on September 9. Other dates for this year, assuming they’re approved by the church will be October 14, November 11, and December 9. Our calendar for the entire year (including the 2013) will be up and running soon.   Meetings will again be held at the Calvin Presbyterian Church, 18828 3rd Ave. NW, Shoreline, WA 98177-3066.

If you’re joining us for the first time,  go to: http://www.calvinpc.org/directions.html for directions.

See you soon!!!

Strathspey Fiddlers from Scotland Visit -Successful!

Sunday, July 22nd proved to be a very, very busy day for 22 visitors from Scotland. It was a great day that started with an informal concert at the Everett Farmer’s Market, then a concert to a standing room only crowd at the Everett Public Library, then after dinner at Scuttlebutt Brewery, one more jam in the lobby next door. New friends were quickly made with this group of talented musicians that fiddled, whistled, sang, and danced! Northwest Scottish Fiddlers were delighted to have hosted such a wonderful group!

Strathspey Fiddlers at the Everett Farmer’s Market play for the crowd as the walk by. Market shoppers were thrilled with this wonderful surprise awaiting them at the entrance of the market. They were a big hit!

At the library, the Strathspey Fiddlers invited club members to join in on a final set of reels. It was magic!

Our jam session outside the Scuttlebutt Brewery after dinner. It resembled a “flash mob” as we casually assembled, and started playing, filling the atrium with the greatest tunes and spirit. … perfect ending to not be forgotten soon!