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Despite their geographic and artistic diversity, the musicians featured in this awesome international gathering are united not only by its signature instrument, but their virtuosity in harnessing tradition with innovation. US star Darol Anger, appearing in his longtime duo with multi-instrumentalist Mike Marshall, has taken string-band music into frequently uncharted genre territory, forging new common ground with jazz, classical, avant-garde and world music. Both the proud past and dynamic present of Scottish fiddling are represented by the great Alasdair Fraser and Shetland’s Chris Stout, partnered respectively with cello prodigy Natalie Haas and groundbreaking harpist Catriona McKay, while Swedish trio Väsen revitalise their rich native traditions with an equal wealth of rhythmic and harmonic invention. The Irish fiddle’s pure-drop rural roots and contemporary evolution are equally at work in the sublime playing of Clare-born Martin Hayes, accompanied by guitarist Dennis Cahill, and Irish-American fiddle master Liz Carroll and Irish guitar powerhouse John Doyle.

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