April Verch, Canadian Fiddler January 16, 2009

The fiddle playing of April Verch is as beguiling as a fresh breeze blowing in from the Canadian traditional music scene, and her step dancing rocks the house! As a youthful prodigy, April won numerous contests—including the Canadian Grand Masters Championships—but her playing has grown beyond pure virtuosity to ever-greater depths of personal expression. Her roots in the rich, distinctive music of her native Ottawa Valley nourish a diverse repertoire of traditional and contemporary tunes ranging from French Canadian to Appalachian, from bluegrass to Celtic, from Brazilian to old time, not to mention her own colorful compositions. EnRoute magazine says, "April's strings burn with energy, whether she's playing waltzes, airs, reels, or polkas. This is the hottest old time music of the year."

Tonight April spotlights selections from her recent CD, Steal the Blue (Rounder), which marks her continued growth as a confident singer with a sweet, winsome voice. Bassist Cody Walters, guitarist Lincoln Meyers, and percussionist Marc Bru join her for the performance.

Official Website: http://www.thefreight.org/2009/0901-january/info_090116.html