Favorite Fiddle Players??

Martin Hayes, Kevin Burke, James Kelly are my favorites for Irish music.
For the Scottish, Hanneke of course ! James Scott Skinner : i could talk about him for hours. I made a lot of researches on the database of Aberdeen’s University (they have all his archives).
I’m a big fan of all the fiddlers of Cape Breton : especially Natalie Mc Master and Donnell Leahy. But also Dwayne Cote (his performance of Tullochgorum is just breathtaking…), Jerry Holland, Brenda Stubbert…

I just love Nova Scotia’s music !!

By the way, i recently discovered a great book, maybe you know it : “Traditional Scottish fiddling- a player’s guide : encompassing music from the West Coast, East Coast, Shetland, Orkney and the Borders of Scotland” “, by Christine Martin.

S.

Hi All,
Nice to see this discussion thread started up on Fav Fiddlers. Thanks for the scholarly info on Scottish fiddling masters and history Sabrina.

How about some more comments and favorite fiddlers from our FV fiddlers ?? Thanks, R

ive only been into it for a year now but so far its kenny baker, johnny gimble, jay ungar

For Scottish fiddling: Hanneke Cassel!!! Bruce McGregor, Harald Haugaard (a compatriot! 🙂 e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yt-ijxuBwI&list=PL2wOgcUXkKfQElJ1be3edaqhnJHcaSDdG )

For Swedish fiddling: Marin & Marin (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eASpnw9MX2M ), Mats Edén (e.g. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is9g3QTJd9I).

Right now I’m listening to Appalachian old time. Off the top I guess Bruce Molsky, Tricia Spencer and Howard Reins, and Emily Schaad. But the spark to my interest in fiddling came from the playing of Alison Krauss, a onetime child fiddle prodigy who won the Illinois State fiddle contest at age 12. I don’t think she plays much anymore, unfortunately.

Hi fan6,

Nice to hear of your interest in Oldtime Fiddling. I love Allison Krauss too, and she does play but it appears to accompany her own tunes with her Band. I bet she still picks it up and plays oldtime tunes once in a while as they are imbedded once you learn them. Keep up that fiddling and thanks for posting in the forum. Roland

For me, my current favorites are Andy Leftwich and Michael Cleveland. I grew up on old western style like Randy Pollard, Wes Nivens, Amber Randall, etc.

In no particular order:
Athena Tergis
Liz Carroll
Kevin Burke
Tommie Potts
John and James Kelly
Martin Hayes
Aly Bain
and on and on ….

I’ll mention that I am a mandolin player not a fiddler. Concentrating on Trad Irish tunes.

Scots Fiddle:
Iain MacFarlane https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/gallop-to-callop/1073982384
Andrea Beaton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QacpHUd_a4
Hanneke Cassel

Irish Fiddle:
Kevin Burke

Québécois Fiddle:
Eric Favreau https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQDsvxUknao
Pascal Gemme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ723Hv5_ow

Others:
Eden MacAdam-Somer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mk8FqmynrPc

My favorite fiddle player is Casey Willis, of course! His playing is fantastic, but I especially love that he has made this wonderful website we can all learn from and enjoy. I also love Luke Price, Alex Hargreaves, and Daniel Carwile; I have taken a few lessons from each of them and they have been so nice and inspiring to learn from. I am also constantly wowed by the talent and versatility of Mark O’Connor. Hopefully one day each of these fabulous musicians will teach lessons on fiddlevideo.com.

I have sooooo many favourites! André Brunet is one…I’ve recently been listening to some Kenny Baker. Mike Cleveland, Graham Townsend, Randy Howard, Dick Barrett….lots!

Patti Kusturok, of course! Plays the songs I grew up with!

For Western swing, As a long time, die hard fan of Asleep at the Wheel, I’ve got to give a nod to Katie Shore and Jason Roberts (and of course Johnnie Gimble).

Wow great comments on this thread considering it started in 2016.

I’m inspired by so many fiddlers & Violinists that I can’t name them all. All genres of music are in my sights and I can appreciate the genius in each master fiddlers style and techniques. Thanks for all the posts and keep them coming. Roland Forum Moderator

Hanneke Cassell 🙂

And:
Evan Garr (Rock/Jazz)…he is simply Whoa!
Cedric Watson (Creole)

I’ve been playing bass and writing songs for 35 years now so I grew to hate solos. I have been drawn to various online teachers. Lauren Douglas and Mitch Reed are good as are all the instructors on here but Niall Murphy and André Brunet are punk as hell. I hope this site helps me become the Johnny Ramone Of rhythm fiddle.

Going back a little ways, I would say Chubby Wise was one of the greatest. My other favorites are Richard Greene, Stuart Duncan and as of late, Patrick McAvinue. Also love Peter Ostroushko–he came to our little town and played a concert, and when I heard East Texas Waltz I decided to pick up my mother’s violin of which I knew nothing. That was 15 years ago. I try to practice every single day.

Favourite players – Patti Kusturok
Shane Cook
Louis Schryer
Mark Sullivan
Scott Woods
Natalie MacMaster
No particular order after Patti! ❤️
They are great teachers too!

I’m an Irish fiddler, but I think Jay Ungar is one of my favorites (pass my admiration to him if possible). I think Kevin is another one. I’ve been laughing too “If The Cap Fits” a lot lately (heck, I even bought it on vinyl just today). I also really like Niall, I just wish he had more of the stuff he does here on Spotify. Those are my top three fiddlers, besides my old teacher Clint.

I meant to say listening, not laughing.

To quote the famous North Carolina fiddler Thomas Jefferson Jarrell , ” I am the only fiddle player in the world that can play just the way I want to hear it”.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Martin Brown.
• This reply was modified 2 years, 7 months ago by Martin Brown.

Think a big shout out to Josephine Keegan for her wonderful Irish trad playing. Loving Kevin Burke’s effortless style,,,very inspirational!

When I bought my first violin, my mum gave me two cassettes: If the Cap Fits by Kevin Burke and Traditional Music of Ireland by Kathleen Collins. I won’t say that these two are my favourites, as there so many brilliant players, but the influence of these two players in particular on what I play, and how I try to play, is huge.

Tim,
Fortunately for you, Kevin Burke is a favorite here on the site.
It’s always been hard for me to wrap my head around the fact he lives in Portland Oregon.
I’ve been able to see him a bunch of times. He’s a gentle soul.
George
Moderator

Scotty Stoneman
Bobby Hicks
Byron Berline
Stuart Duncan
Kenny Baker
Natalie MacMaster
Michael Cleveland
Rickie Simpkins
Johnny Gimble
& countless others