Fiddlers 2 in Ep 36
“Let’s do a round,” Holly says with enthusiasm to her partner, Vanessa. And the dozens of fans who have gathered to hear them clap with enthusiasm. The two launch into an energetic round launching two talented fiddlers into a concert that goes until they just have to stop for an intermission. It looks like it could be exhausting, yet you can see on their faces that they are on their own journey performing and just bringing their audience along with them.
Fiddlers 2 playing a home concert in Reno.
Vanessa and Holly have been professional musicians for years, but recently combined their efforts to form a duo called Fiddlers 2. And in a matter of months they have written arrangements, recorded an album and begun a string of house tours and performances to get their love of Scottish fiddling out there to the masses.
We came across Scottish Fiddling at a world music camp a year ago, loved it and began practicing together,” Vanessa says. “And after a while we realized we sounded pretty good,” Holly says with a laugh. “And so we decided to put an album together,” Vanessa adds.
They have thrown themselves into the culture, making a whirlwind trip through the Scottish Highlands, playing in sessions and listening as they went. And they are now ready to share it..
“The music has such strong roots, and it’s so energetic and there’s just something about it that seems to draw people in,” Holly says.
“We’ve found such support!” Vanessa adds. “So we are doing house concerts, which is great because it’s friends, family and people we know want to hear us play, in small intimate surroundings. Now we’re branching out to play at other venues and next summer we are planning a house concert tour through the Midwest, where I now people, and through the Northwest where Holly knows people and through California.” They finish each other’s thoughts, musically and have a clear grasp of the music they have fallen in love with and how they want to share it. You can find them on Facebook, Instagram and on their own website, Fiddlers2.com. They even have a newsletter to keep you up to date on where you can hear them in person. And you can find their first cd there too. It’s called Mirrors of Elsewhere….Scotland.
