at the Merville Hall with Jeremy Rusu
Friday, October 20th, the Big Yellow Merville Hall will be full of the music of Fiddle Fee-nomenon, Calvin Vollrath. As one of Canada’s leading traditional fiddlers, Calvin Vollrath’s ability knows no bounds and he covers all styles, from North America (Metis, Québecois, Cape Breton, American Swing, Appalachian) to Europe (Irish, Scottish, Scandinavian) and beyond. He has toured throughout Canada, the USA, Europe and the UK and has shared the stage with dozens of internationally renowned colleagues in the traditional music scene.
Calvin is on a roll and his induction into the North American Fiddlers Hall of Fame follows a long line of credits and awards. He has more than 50 recordings and 400 compositions to his name and he composed “Fiddle Nation” to showcase Canada’s regional styles in a single medley at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics Opening Ceremony.
He regularly plays at sell out concerts where he stuns audiences with his incredible expertise and total command of the instrument. Typically, fiddlers in the audience are reduced to a state of shock, while others often threaten to burn their beloved instruments, such is the impression he makes.
Accompanying Calvin will be Jeremy Rusu, a totally blind musician who plays jazz piano, drums, country lead guitar, bluegrass mandolin and accordion. Rusu is right at home on a stage as long as he’s making music. His techniques are so unique that you will be amazed at his wonderful flair and special musical twists as he accentuates Calvin’s expressive violin.
So, on Friday, October 20th, make your way to the Big Yellow Merville hall. Doors open at 7:00pm for a 7:30 show. Tickets are $25/$10 (youth) at Long & McQuade, Courtenay; Blue Heron, Comox; and the Music Plant, Campbell River. Tickets may be at the door, too. You won’t be disappointed. FMI Craig 250-339-4249.