Blazin’ Fiddles

Easily amongst Scotland’s most renowned and celebrated folk groups, Blazin’ Fiddles formed for a one-off tour of the Scottish Highlands in 1999, and are still raising roofs far and wide in their 25th year on the road.

Multiple winners of Scotland’s Folk Band of the Year, the six-piece have long been one of country’s foremost and most recognisable traditional outfits, touring far beyond their deep northern roots.

Encompassing a rare and virtuosic selection of the fiddle’s diverse Highland and island voices, in
their 25 years the Blazers have undoubtedly become one of the world’s most prolific fiddle ensembles.

With group and solo-led sets both backed by powerhouse guitar and piano, the band’s four-fiddle frontline of Inverness’ Bruce MacGregor, Shetlander Jenna Reid, Nairn’s Rua Macmillan, and Orkney’s Kristan Harvey ignites atop second-to-none accompaniment from Anna Massie and Angus Lyon. Like rare single malts, each member draws upon the distinct musical flavours from their rich traditional heritages, collectively packing all the power, passion and sensitivity of Scotland’s music, into a single show.

Blazin’ Fiddles celebrate their quarter-century on the road in 2023, with the hotly-anticipated release of their tenth album, XXV.

Whatever the hall – whether of the Highland village or Royal Albert variety – they’ll turn it into the liveliest and warmest of hootenannies, setting the hearts of their audience alight.  They certainly lit the flame on the WemsFest stage when they made their fiddles heard above the downpour outside St James Church in November 2022!  We are thrilled to have them back (and hope they have less ‘Scottish’ weather when they return to Emsworth)

‘The band’s passion is gloriously infectious…a much-loved staple on the Scots traditional scene for the past 20 years’ – Songlines

‘An ensemble of class and distinction’ – Fatea

‘Infectious, enlivening, and irresistible euphoria’ – Folk Radio UK

‘Music like this is a reminder why Hogmanay celebrations are such fun’ – London Evening Standard

‘Bursting with joie de vivre and personality’ – Songlines

‘The Led Zeppelin of the folk world’ – The Scotsman

Doors open 7.30 for an 8pm start

Licensed bar helps support WemsFest

Please don’t try to park on Church Path or other local roads – there is plenty of free car parking in local car parks.

If you require special assistance or have mobility difficulties, please contact us in advance and we will do our very best to accommodate you so that you are comfortable.