Friends of Fiddler's Green

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Friends of Fiddler's Green


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Years_active = late 1960s to presently
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Associated_acts = English Mummers Plays, Morris Dancing or Scottish country dancing
URL = http://www.finestkind.ca/fofg.html
Current_members = Grit Laskin, Tam Kearney, Ian Robb, Laurence Stevenson, David Parry, Alistair Brown and v
Past_members = Grit Laskin, Tam Kearney, Ian Robb, Laurence Stevenson, David Parry, Alistair Brown and Jeff McClintock

Friends of Fiddler's Green is a Canadian folk music group based in Toronto. The original members of the group for its first recording, "The Road to Mandalay", were Grit Laskin, Tam Kearney, Ian Robb, Laurence Stevenson, David Parry, Alistair Brown and Jeff McClintock on keyboards. Jeff McClintock was later replaced by Cherie Whalen.

The name of the group is derived from Fiddler's Green, a mythical place of dancing and happiness. Founding member Tam Kearney emigrated from Scotland to Toronto in the late 1960s. Jim Strickland (also from Scotland) and Tam founded Fiddler's Green Folk Club on Eglinton Avenue, behind the YMCA. Gradually a nucleus of musicians developed, initially doing warm-ups at the club, and performing as a group. Ian Robb arrived from England, in the 1980s. The arrival of other singers gave the group a distinctly Scottish flavor. The late David Parry [cite web |last=Robb |first=Ian |title= David Parry 1942-1995 |url=http://www.finestkind.ca/david.html |format=Obituary in Sing Out! |accessdate=2008-02-03] was an enthusiast for mumming and brought a dragon's costume to the mix. At festival performances, the members may present English Mummers Plays, Morris Dancing or Scottish country dancing. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival documented a reviewer who claimed that Friends of Fiddler's Green were among the best British bands touring North Americacite web
last =
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title = Vancouver Folk Music Festival Performer Archives
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url = http://www.thefestival.bc.ca/archive/index.php?perID=930
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accessdate =2008-03-24]

Although they are not typically a touring band, they have also performed in the United States.

In the folklore of folk music, they are known as the inspiration for the Stan Rogers' song, Barrett's Privateers. [cite web |last=Brown |first=Alistair |title=Friends of Fiddler's Green |url=http://www.folkmusic.net/htmfiles/inart655.htm |format=article in the Scottish magazine "The Living Tradition" |accessdate=2008-02-03] In 2003 they were given the "Estelle Klein Achievement Award" at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals. [cite web |title=Estelle Klein Award |url=http://www.ocff.ca/awardsshowcasing_estellekleinaward_main.cfm |Accessdate=Februrary 3, 2008] cquote|The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the folk music community in Ontario through their work as an artist, academic, organizer, or presenter.cite web
last = McGregor
first = Arthur
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Estelle Klein
work = Ontario Council of Folk Festivals Folkprints
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url = http://www.ocff.ca/folkprints/2004summer_folkprints.pdf
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accessdate = 2008-03-24] A former keyboardist for the group, Jeff McClintock, was arrested by the religious police in Saudi Arabia, probably in connection with his work with an otherwise all-female Scots fiddle ensemble, the "Frillyknickers".

CDs

* 1994 "Road to Mandalay"
* 1997 "This Side of the Ocean"

References

External links

* [http://www.finestkind.ca/fofg.html Friends of Fiddler's Green (an explanation)]
* [http://www.finestkind.ca/famoverseas.html Discography]