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Fiddle fans should mark February 2 in their
diary. That’s when renowned East Coast fiddler Richard
Wood visits the Gravenhurst
Opera House for an evening of music and entertainment,
including tunes from his recently released disc, Fire Dance.
Wood's high-energy shows are a combination of fiddling
virtuosity and showmanship, and display an innovative approach
to traditional Celtic jigs, reels, airs and polkas.
“It’s
definitely high energy music," says Wood of the new
material. "The medleys consist of some of my own
compositions, as well as some from a variety of outstanding
fiddlers.” Although he says the tunes are predominantly
traditional, Wood – who hails from Prince Edward Island –
acknowledges influences as diverse as rock, disco, Irish and
blues. But for Wood, the new release and cross-Canada tour is
confirmation that the fiddle is now widely accepted as “a
universal instrument.”
Despite his young age
(he’s in his early 30s), Wood has won numerous awards and
played with some of Canada’s most successful recording
stars. Winner of the East Coast Music Awards Instrumental
Artist and Roots/Traditional Instrument category in 1998, Wood
has also won countless championships as a step dancer and
fiddler.
Wood’s guest appearances
read like a “who’s who” of the entertainment world.
He’s accompanied Shania Twain on David Letterman and Good
Morning America; he performed on the hit show Rita MacNeil and Friends; he also starred in The Celtic Electric CBC special with Jean Butler of River Dance and
many top artists from around the world. He also recently
appeared with the Chieftains at Carnegie Hall.
Wood has travelled
extensively with his fiddle, thrilling audiences at the Wolf
Trap Theater in Washington D.C., the Canadian High Commission
in London, England, and at many of the world’s top folk
music festivals.
Wood’s Feb. 2 performance
at The Gravenhurst Opera House begins at 8 p.m., and tickets
-- $24.50 for adults, $22.50 for seniors and $20.50 for youth
– are now on sale.
www.gravenhurst.net/theop/performances.htm
to order). For further details about Richard Wood, visit his
website at www.peisland.com/richardwood
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