Audiences at this year鈥檚 North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) will be treated to a performance by one of the world鈥檚 most unique fiddlers who will travel to Scotland from Canada to take part in next week鈥檚 festival.
The performance by Lawrence 鈥楾eddy Boy鈥� Houle is one of the main highlights of this year鈥檚 diverse programme which includes a host of the world鈥檚 biggest names in the fiddle and dance scene.
Inspired by a unique culture and style of fiddling dating back to the early days of European settlement, when men from the Orkneys signed on to work for the mighty Hudson鈥檚 Bay Company of Adventurers, Lawrence鈥檚 style is influenced by the M茅tis (mixed aboriginal, French and Scottish) communities of Manitoba, Canada. Such a significance of the journey back to the roots of his music that Lawrence Houle鈥檚 visit is being documented by a Canadian film company.
Film-maker Mark Laycock of Zojomedia, explained: 鈥淗is participation and travelling to the festival represents the passage of a lineage of traditional M茅tis music, a journey through lands and time. On its path within Lawrence鈥檚 family, the music has grown and evolved in a unique and interdependent fashion over many generations, but seeded in the Scottish land and her people.
鈥淭hrough this festival, we are able to experience the divergence and repatriation of the fiddle music. Lawrence鈥檚 style is a reflection not only of himself as a M茅tis man, but also of a family and beyond that, a community.
鈥淭hese interpretations have developed into a deep sense of culture. His renditions are synonymous with the conviction that culture is a living breathing thing not to be relegated to museums, as often is the case with western definitions and interpretations, but in the aboriginal world view, passionately vibrant.鈥�
Combined with vigorous foot rhythms, the music is a unique expression 鈥� Scottish at base but delivered in the dialect of the French and Native peoples of Canada. In 1985, Lawrence and recording partner Anne Lederman created a four-album set of cds, which were hailed as 鈥榯he most important collection of M茅tis music ever published鈥�.
Dr Ian Russell, Director of the Elphinstone Institute, and co-organiser of NAFCo 2006, said: 鈥淟awrence and Anne have performed together at a number of prominent Canadian festivals and we are honoured to have them join us.
鈥淣AFCo is one of the world鈥檚 most exciting traditional music and dance festivals and is a landmark cultural event for the City of Aberdeen.鈥�
The line-up for NAFCo 2006 is the most international to date with musicians and dancers participating from as far afield as Canada and the US, to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Lithuania, Ireland, and all over the UK. NAFCo is one of the world鈥檚 biggest events of its kind and takes place over five days from July 26 鈥� 30 at the 黑料网 and other arts venues around the city and beyond.
This year, big international names in traditional music and the cream of local talent will be participating in a packed programme of concerts, ceilidhs, fiddle and dance workshops, and musical sessions. There will also be a series of talks, busking tours, and visits to local hospitals and businesses to bring the spirit of NAFCo all over the city and North-East.
NAFCo is organised by the 黑料网鈥檚 Elphinstone Institute, in partnership with SCaT (Scottish Culture and Traditions Association). NAFCo will link up with a number of local, national and international arts and cultural organisations and has received the support of the City of Aberdeen, Scottish Arts Council, MacRobert Trust and Scottish Enterprise Grampian. The arts venue the Lemon Tree will be the official NAFCo Festival Club where concerts, workshops and dance events will be held every day of the festival.
Tickets for NAFCo 2006 are now on sale and are available by contacting The Elphinstone Institute on +44 (0) 1224 272996 or email@ NAFCo@abdn.ac.uk or visit: