For Release

Tommy Peoples and Jerry Holland in concert
Sunday, April 29, 2007 7:00pm at The Unitarian Church in Montpelier, Vermont

Two legends of fiddling will perform together in a special concert on Sunday, April 29 at the Unitarian Church in Montpelier. Tommy Peoples, a revered figure in the world of traditional Irish music, will be joined by Jerry Holland, the master Cape Breton fiddler who has become familiar to many Vermonters through his frequent visits to our area to teach and perform. This concert is of particular interest because both fiddlers play music in traditions that have been influenced by the music of Scotland: Peoples was raised in Ireland's County Donegal, an area whose musical style and repertoire were shaped by close economic ties to Scotland, and the music of Cape Breton reflects the island's history of immigration from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.

Tommy Peoples' influence in Irish music is unsurpassed. He first came to wide attention during his years with The Bothy Band, the most prominant group in Irish music's 1970's renaissance. His solo recordings and collaborations with other eminences such as Matt Molloy and Paul Brady established his reputation for fiery, intricate playing, distinctive rhythm, and an unmistakably individual sound. In recent years, his solo recordings have shown an unexpected sweetness along with the undiminished power of his playing.

Jerry Holland heard the greats of Cape Breton fiddling from the time he was a child, and was performing himself by the age of six. He is renowned as a performer, teacher, and composer of new tunes in the Cape Breton tradition, many of which have become popular mainstays in the repertoire. His numerous recordings are a trove of traditional and original tunes. The beauty of his tone is a topic of discussion among fiddlers: is it the fiddle? the strings? Or, in the words of one Canadian fiddler, is Jerry magic? His many trips to Vermont have helped to create a local cadre of fiddlers devoted to the Cape Breton style.

The concert will take place at 7:00 on Sunday, April 29 at The Unitarian Church in Montpelier. Tickets will be $18 in advance, $20 on the day of the show. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Vermont Violins in Montpelier, or by sending a check to Beth Telford at 1060 Bent Hill Rd. Braintree VT 05060. For more information, call Beth at 728-6351 or email Sarah Blair at vtblair@sover.net.