John Turner, 10-time National Scottish Fiddling Champion, recording artist, composer and educator, founded The Jink & Diddle School of Scottish Fiddling in 1984. He is a versatile entertainer who has performed throughout the United States, Canada and the British Isles, offering, wherever he goes, workshops in fiddling from the golden era of Scottish traditional music - the 18th century. Dr Turner is President of Fiddletree Music, Inc. which produces his recordings and publishes his compositions, for he is a prolific composer of melodies in the Scottish style. Turner also takes a keen interest in the history of the music and of the period and his classes are invariably peppered with a variety of historical facts and anecdotes.
Made up of musicians at all levels, all walks of life, and playing many instruments (though mostly fiddle), the Potomac Valley Scottish Fiddle Club is a great place to learn about and share the traditional fiddle music of Scotland. For nearly 30 years, the club has met once a month from October to May, enjoying a workshop taught by Music Director Elke Baker, followed by a potluck dinner and a jam session. The club performs locally at several events each year, and the Virginia Scottish Games is pleased to be one of these. The club also puts on Scottish Country Dances and dance demonstrations with the Northern Virginia branch of the RSCDS. Many of the other musicians you will hear in the Fiddle Tent are members!
Cat & Banjo
Cat and Banjo is a 2-piece tradional music band from Blacksburg, Virginia, United States. The group formed in 2019 when two lovers met at a local Irish music jam session. Catherine is an award-winning fiddler, while Monty (aka Banjo) is a multi-instrumentalist, who plays several different banjos, several different mandolins, and the occasional Irish whistle. Their unique brand of entertainment fuses multiple genres of traditional and folk music, focusing on Scottish and Irish traditions, and using the banjo all the time, especially when they shouldn't. With their lively instrumental performances, the occasional song, and repeated switching of different kinds of banjos, their energetic music will have you tapping your foot and clapping along while enjoying a pint or two.
1995 U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion, combines lyrical melodies with driving dance rhythms in her energetic fiddling. Elke plays Scottish, Celtic, and American fiddle music for concerts, festivals, dances, and parties across America and abroad. Elke frequently plays solo at concerts and festivals and occasionally for dances. She also plays in a number of bands. As a soloist, she has played at a great range of venues including the Kennedy Center, Hawaii Academy of Arts, Institute of Musical Traditions, Maryland Early Music Festival, Cambridge Concert Series, and the legendary Eagle Tavern in New York. Elke also plays with a wide range of talented collaborators and accompanists for concerts, festivals, and private events. Elke has played with Robin Bullock, Alasdair Fraser, Hesperus, Muriel Johnstone, Seamus Kennedy, Ken Kolodner, Zan MacLeod, Chris Norman, Sue Richards, Terry Traub, Larry Unger, and many others.
Tweedsyde presents early Scottish music on period instruments and sung in English, Scots, and Gaelic. Peter Walker performs on pipes, fiddle, harp and vocals with Jim Stimson on lutes, bandora, guitar and viola da gamba.
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There is a keen magic when Glencoe Lads take to the stage in their kilts and fiddles. National Champion Fiddlers Seán Heely and Colin McGlynn perform lively dance music from Scotland, Cape Breton, and Ireland to modern day tunes in the American tradition. From elegant, haunting slow airs, mighty pipe marches, and the wild strathspeys and reels. The duo also is multi-instrumental featuring: Gaelic song, mandocello, Celtic harp, and shruti box! The Glencoe Lads have a charismatic stage presence and an unforgettably electrifying collaboration that is sure to get every toe tapping! They have performed at such venues as The Kennedy Center in Washington D.C, Alasdair Fraser’s Fiddle camp in the Isle of Skye, Scotland, Virginia Scottish Games, The Acadia Trad School of Music and Arts in Bar Harbor, ME, and The Niel Gow Festival in Dunkeld Scotland.
