Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas with special guests The Shamrockers March 4, 2011

The musical partnership between Fraser, long regarded as Scotland’s premier fiddle ambassador, and sizzlingly talented young California cellist Haas may not seem to be an obvious one. But this partnership fulfills a long-standing musical dream for Fraser, whose cutting-edge musical explorations took him full circle to find a cellist who could help him return the cello to its historical role at the rhythmic heart of Scottish dance music. As a follow-up to their award winning 2004 release Fire & Grace, Fraser and Haas are releasing a new album in March titled Highlander’s Farewell.

The Shamrockers--Clay Buckner (fiddle), Jack Herrick (whistles, mandolin, bouzouki) and Chris Frank (accordion, guitar)--will kick off the night, playing their own renditions of traditional and modern tunes, original compositions and tunes drawn from European and American sources. Better known as members of The Red Clay Ramblers, these musicians have been "Shamrocking" in one form or another since about 1980, when they first jammed as the "Irish Babies" at the legendary He's Not Here in Chapel Hill.

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