WELCOME

Learn to play the fiddle today with Riddell Fiddles. See "The Team" page for more details. The group is run by Sheila Sapkota and Karen Hendry (Administrator).

Riddell Fiddles aims to allow anybody to learn the fiddle, by providing inexpensive fun-filled lessons for young and old alike. It is an ongoing teaching programme run on a termly basis. Anyone wishing to visit or attend any of the sessions or workshops should contact the organisers first.

Originally a fiddle group Riddell Fiddles has now branched out to include performances, and guitar accompaniment, run by Donald Knox. A double bass player (Tony Manning) accompanies most classes. The emphasis is on performing with musicians working together and listening to each other.

Fiddle Lessons and Guitar Accompaniment Classes are now held in the Argus Centre, Selkirk, in the Scottish Borders, on Sundays, see diary dates for details.

Each lesson consists of groups and will last approximately 50 minutes. This includes time for a short break/snack (provided) and will let us learn a few exercises to untangle / loosen wrists and shoulders as well as to listen to different types of music. Parents are welcome to stay during a child's lesson (most end up playing the fiddle themselves). Coffee and biscuits are provided.

Amys Class
The Argus Centre, Selkirk
Argus Centre, Selkirk
Tuition is provided by a bank of local tutors, but visiting musicians are called on to give a workshop if they are playing locally. Recently Bruce Molsky, Bruce MacGregor and Jenna Reid have all given up their time to travel here and teach us.

These are the people who run Riddell Fiddles!

What's On

Busking Dates


Performances

  • Saturday 27th March - Hawick Reivers Festival Performance
  • Friday 18th May Midlem Hall. Concert with Stateof Undress, Bogie's Close Stompers, Riddell Fiddles & Ewan Ross (Peebles) - Fundraiser for Plattling
  • Sunday 18th July - Youth Group Performance, Rock Festival near Duns - More details to follow

Other Events

  • Plattling Visit - the dates will be from the 22nd to the 27th July

 

News (see also Newsletter 1)

The BEG Fundraising Concert on Satyrday 27th at Midlem was well supported. The audience was treated to a nice variety of acts including the Riddell Fiddles Youth Group, Donald Knox, Sheila Sapkota & Don Cameron, Rod Ward and Second Wind.

Quote of the year 2009 - "Aly you are only tuning up because Riddell Fiddles are here!" Phil Cunningham at Melrose Concert

Well done everyone on yet another fantastic year. No more performances for a few weeks. Well done on the hardy souls who braved Melrose busking on Sunday 20th & got a bit chilled. The church concert in the evening at Lilliesleaf was a success with everyone playing so well. Great sound! The Bogie's Close Stompers were outstanding as were the Bedlam Ceilidh Band.

Plattling Visit

The dates will be from the 22nd to the 26th or 27th July. These will be confirmed once we have booked flights. A meeting & fundraising will begin in earnest in the new Year. It would be good to take as many folk as possible and our trusty allies the Bogie's Close Stompers will be there too. Fundraising suggestions so far have included busking and selling one kidney each!! Not too sure about the latter!

 


Trad Awards ceremony

November 2009 –

Riddell Fiddles was nominated for the Trad Music Awards under the ‘Best Community Project Category’ – One of only four selected throughout Scotland.

Unfortunately we were beaten on the night by the Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail.


Melrose - Busking

Melrose Busking

Half way through an other busy Sunday, a band of intrepid souls busk in the freezing cold of Melrose Square. There were very few people around, but those that were watching showed their appreciation (or was that just keeping their hands warm?).

Then it was off to Midlem for a great end of term party.


Scott's Selkirk

Well done for a frenetic, fiddle packed weekend at Scott's Selkirk on 4th,5th & 6th December. Members of the group performed in Edwardian costume five times (in the freezing cold), played for a ghost walk, became the Sworddancers' Band which included a pub tour, played at the school concert at Connections, led the town dancing in the square - with dancing and music and then whizzed down to Melrose to open a packed 'Phil & Aly Concert'. The group were well received.


Grade 1 Traditional Music Exams - click here for more details


The book of images from our trip to Vancouver in the Summer has now been published. You can preview it from the link below, and it is available on-line from Blurb.

Fiddle Camp and a lot more...
By Ian Oliver

There is also a 43 minute slide show on DVD available from the trip as well for £6.00. Just e-mail Ian for details.


There is now an Intermediate Ceilidh Band tunes list on the Ceilidh Band page

Riddell Fiddles players, in various combinations, managed to play with the Traditional Young Musicians from Skye, play at a concert (Fantoosh), entertain guests at the Grand Hall at Edinburgh castle, play for a ceilidh, participate in Hawick Reivers festival (one hour outdoor performance), play in Catriona Macdonalds concert and then take in Shona Mooney's session at the Beanscene - all within the space of 11 days. Whew!

The endurance medals go to Caitlin Gowans and Kim Hendry who managed to be in almost everything.

Final Fling 1 Final Fling 2 Final Fling 3 Castle 1 Castle 2 Castle 3


Edinburgh Castle 4

Our new business sponsor is our well kent photographer / film man / web designer etc. Ian Oliver. The group have received a grant from Arts and Business Scotland, due to his sponsorship of the group. This grant will pay for our administrator. Thank you Ian.

 

Jimmy's Sessions at Lilliesleaf have unfortunately come to an end. Tunes from last term are still available from the Sessions page. Borders Fiddle group and Shetland Fiddle group provide an alternative. Details at www.bordersfiddlegroup.org.uk.

Traditional music sessions are also held at

  • Town Arms, Selkirk - last Friday of every month
  • Gordon Arms Hotel, Yarrow - 4th Friday of every month (01750 82222)
  • Denholm Folk Club, every second Thursday (www.denholmfolk.co.uk)
  • Peebles Folk Club, every second Thursday

Fiddles are welcome at all the above venues, but please be sensitive about when you accompany singers.

 


 

 

montage

 

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