Fiddle champ Calvin Vollrath has a reputation for sell-out concerts, sometimes weeks in advance.
He has a way of getting both young and old all fired up with a fairly eclectic repertoire of waltzes, jigs, swings, reels, ballads and melodies that blend European inspired and Métis forms.
Just try not tapping your toes or snappin’ your fingers at a fiery Vollrath concert. It’s next to impossible.
Fortunately for string fans, the St. Paul resident returns to his old stomping grounds at the Morinville Community Cultural Centre from May 24 to 26 to launch his 20th anniversary CD release party.
Adding an extra layer of that down-home feel is backup band Country Swing reuniting Mark Sullivan (fiddle), Alfie Myhre (fiddle), Darryl Campbell (steel guitar), Richard Cherniski (lead guitar), Les Vincent (bass guitar), Ron Danyluk (drums) and Trent Bruner (piano).
At this three-day landmark party, Vollrath wanted to offer fans an extra spice and invited East Coast fiddling sensation Natalie MacMaster as his special guest.
Originally MacMaster had booked a tour in the United States. But after Vollrath’s invitation, she re-jigged her schedule detouring to Morinville.
“She made room for me on her calendar. She really wants to be here and I’m thrilled to have her,” Vollrath said.
The two fiddlers first connected through Peter Gzowski’s CBC radio show Morningside. She was in Halifax. He was in Edmonton and together they played with instantaneous rapport across the airwaves.
“We finally met in 1989 and I’ve been a fan ever since,” Vollrath smiled.
Living on opposite ends of the country, this is a rare opportunity for a get-together. Although MacMaster styles her fiddling with a lilting Scottish groove while Vollrath carries a torch for the Don Messer tradition, there’s a genuine heartfelt respect and affection on both sides.
“She’s a real person. She’s about as big as you can get in the fiddling world, in the music world. She plays all the big theatres, but she remains true to her Cape Breton roots. And when she’s on stage, she talks to everybody like we’re in her kitchen.”
The three-day celebration combines Friday’s Old Tyme Fiddle Dinner and Dance, Saturday’s CD Release Party and Dance, and Sunday’s Fiddle Gala.
MacMaster will perform on both Friday and Saturday with long-time friend and technically superb piano man Mac Morin.
On Saturday, Vollrath releases two new albums Unmistakable and Super’CaliFiddle’istic. A prolific composer, Vollrath has released over 500 original tunes. These two albums are numbers 57 and 58.
“Both albums are filled with new tunes. There’s 80 minutes of new music. That’s about 30 tunes – 15 on each.”
Since string players from across the country are checking out the Sunday Fiddle Gala, Vollrath is highlighting two musicians – teen fiddler Amber Gordon from Buffalo Lake and fiddle champion Dennis Harrington from Renfrew, Ontario.
“If you were to close your eyes and listen to Dennis, you’d swear you were listening to Don Messer.”
For Vollrath, this May weekend is one of the highlights of his year.
“I look forward to a wonderful weekend. There’s quite a buzz going on in Morinville. It’s a big event for them and I look forward to sharing good music with them.”
Friday night Dinner and Dance is $30. Cocktails are at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m. and dance at 8 p.m.
The Saturday night concert is sold out and the Sunday Fiddle Gala is at 2 p.m. Tickets for all events are at 780-420-1757 or go online to: www.tixonthesquare.ca
Preview
Calvin Vollrath with Country Swing<br />Special guest Natalie MacMaster<br />May 24 to 26<br />Morinville Community Cultural Centre<br />Tickets: $30-$40. Call 780-420-1757 or purchase online at tixonthesquare.ca
