The F
iddle CD will be launched at “Notes Live” venue in Enmore, Sydney on Friday the 4th of November. The night will feature Mike Kerin on fiddle, Ian Simpson on banjo, John Kane on guitar , and Michael Vidale on bass with special guests Genni Kane, Anne Kirkpatrick and more.
The Fiddle is the follow-up to last years very successful award-winning ABC album The Banjo from Ian Simpson and John Kane. This time they have shifted focus to the fiddle and brought renowned Australian fiddler Mike Kerin to centre stage. The album features the greatest hits of the Devil’s Instrument from the wild ride of Orange Blossom Special to well-known fiddle tunes like Arkansas Traveller to the gentle lament of Ashokan Farewell (as featured in Ken Burns Civil War series) and the country swing of Bob Wills.
Mike, Ian and John spent many years together as The Flying Emus and who better to invite along to help to celebrate the release of The Fiddle album than ex Flying Emu cohorts Michael Vidale and of course Genni Kane in a rare live performance. Also along for the ride will be long time friend and musical collaborator Anne Kirkpatrick. It will be a night of fiddle tunes interspersed with some classic bluegrass and Australian songs from some of the country’s finest players and singers.
Between them these artists represent a very large slice of Australian bluegrass, country and folk music history:
Mike Kerin is a consummate fiddler. Apart from nearly 10 years with The Flying Emus, he was Slim Dusty’s fiddler for more than 20 years. He has toured as a soloist with Richard Tognetti and the Australian Chamber Orchestra and produced and recorded albums for many artists including Anne Kirkpatrick. He now performs with Anne and premier Australian Celtic Folk band Wheelers and Dealers.
Ian Simpson is Australia’s leading bluegrass banjo player. His impeccable playing has graced recordings and live performances of a who’s who of world-renowned artists including Paul Kelly, Keith Urban, and Slim Dusty. He is a stalwart of the Perth music scene where he now lives and works producing recordings, playing sessions, and performing with Jane Germain.
John Kane is regarded as one of the pioneers of bluegrass flat picking guitar and mandolin in Australia. These days he is a well-respected record producer and screen composer having worked with the likes of Judith Durham, Ted Egan, Anne Kirkpatrick, The Bushwackers, Jay Laga’aia and Georgie Parker; and composing music for TV programs as diverse as ABC’s Good Game and the 2008 Paralympics Games television broadcast theme.
Michael Vidale has played bass both live and in the studio with Don Walker, The Whitlams, Anne Kirkpatrick, Slim Dusty, The Bushwackers… The list goes on.
Add to this the legendary singing of Genni Kane and Anne Kirkpatrick, plus a few surprises and it promises to be a memorable night at “Notes Live” in Enmore, Sydney on Friday the 4th of November.
