Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Canadian Fiddler Entertainer of the Year Scott Woods will return to Napanee’s Trinity United Church on May 7 for a fundraising concert starting at 7 p.m.
Titled Fiddlin’ Around, the two-hour family friendly event will feature upbeat fiddle numbers in the style of Don Messer, as well as country and gospel tunes.
“It’s a show built those who aren’t fiddle fans or not country music fans,” said Woods. “They just want a couple of hours of entertainment.”
Hosted in a variety show format, Woods will be joined on stage by Naomi Bristow, known as Canada’s Yodelling Cowgirl.
“She’s just an absolute sweetheart,” Woods said of Bristow. “A fantastic singer, her pipes are great. Her intonation and feel for traditional country music is comparable to somebody with many more years experience.”
“She has recorded with people like Vince Gill, Jim Ed Brown and Bill Anderson, the big guys in Nashville,” added Woods.
Those familiar with the show will recognize Leo ‘Spaghetti Legs’ Stock, who has won national awards for his style of step dancing, which can trace its roots back to Canada’s early logging days.
“Years ago French-Canadian men would go up north for the winter,” Woods says of the origin of Stock’s dancing style. “There was no alcohol, there were no women. So they would bring their button accordions or fiddle, guitar maybe and they would take out a plank of wood and put on hard-soled shoes and try to keep time with the music.”
The result was a mix of Irish step-dancing and clogging.
Along with the gift of dance Stock is also musically inclined and will play drums and fiddle in the show.
On guitar will be Steve Piticco, who has toured across Europe and recorded with the likes of Merle Haggard.
Rounding out the band is Scott’s sister Kendra Woods Norris who plays fiddle, clarinet, piano, bass and is quick with a joke as well.
“Between the instrumentals, guitar solos, dancing, singing and yodelling, it’s a real true variety show,” said Woods. “It’s called Fiddlin’ Around and that’s really what we’re doing, we’re taking the music, we’re fiddling around with it and we’re having lots of fun.”
Of course it wouldn’t be a proper Woods show if he didn’t close it out with his signature move-a summersault performed while playing the fiddle. He’ll also perform a special rendition of Roll Out The Barrel, doing so while literally playing fiddle as he rolls across stage on a barrel.
“Everybody wants to see the trick fiddling,” said Woods. “I’ve been doing (the summersault) for, I don’t know, probably 35 years now. To be honest if I practiced it or worried about it I would probably crash and fall right off the stage. I think it’s just a reaction to try and protect the fiddle.”
Proceeds from the show will support Trinity United Church’s capital projects.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for children age six to 12 and free to kids under five. Tickets are available at Gray’s IDA Drug Store, Marie’s Place or by calling 613-354-3539. Trinity United Church is located at 25 Bridge Street E in Napanee.