The annual Niel Gow Festival is taking place in Scotland this weekend. To mark the occasion, I thought we'd enjoy the sounds of some great fiddling from Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, and North America. Through the years, every time we featured an hour of fiddle music on The Thistle & Shamrock, it was all about tapping into the sense of community and shared heritage that a gathering of fiddlers always generates. This week's show aired in March 2010.
The Niel Gow Festival started off in 2004 and is named for the legendary fiddler who lived from 1727–1807. Each March, the festival brings together musicians, dancers, and music lovers to honour Niel Gow’s legacy and the timeless tradition he helped shape. The festival was created and led for many years, by Pete Clark (pictured above at the Niel Gow statue) whose fiddling is included in the show. The aim of the festival is to help maintain and promote traditional Scottish music across all ages and abilities. Find out more about it all here, and plan your visit for next year!: https://www.nielgowfestival.co.uk/