Photo: Stephen Stoddart/Wandering River Phtography
Hastings date for Feast of Fiddles on their 30th Spring Tour
Feast of Fiddles – ““Britain’s fiddling supergroup” according to BBC Radio 2’s Mark Radcliffe – have a Hastings date at the Phoenix Arts Centre on Saturday 12 April coming up on their 30th Spring Tour. Maxine Soars explains what lies in store.
Born in Nettlebed on Valentine’s Day 1994 as a one-off special concert, Feast of Fiddles is a band of friends that puts on a show of huge dynamic range performed with passion, joy and a liberal dose of fun.
This year’s line-up of fiddlers includes Hastings’ own Garry Blakeley (Band of Two), alongside Ian Cutler (Bully Wee), Marion Fleetwood (Trad Arr, Sandy Denny Project), Tom Leary (Joe Brown), Brian McNeill (Battlefield Band), Simon Swarbrick (Merry Hell) and founding member Hugh Crabtree. Together they bring a wide range of fiddle playing styles to the rock back-line – all held together by legendary drummer Dave Mattacks.
It’s not unheard of for past alumni to make guest appearances along the way so keep an eye open for tour news on the website. This is a live music entertainment like no other on the circuit, guaranteed to be enjoyed by even the most doubting of friends dragged along!
The band has also issued its eighth recording, Live ‘24, a CD featuring two storming performances at last year’s New Forest Folk Festival and Fairport’s Cropredy Convention.
“’Well, here we are again!’ I said to my bandmates as we gathered for our first rehearsal in January,” recalls Hugh Crabtree. “It was like coming back to a familiar place with a feeling of pleasure, recognition and joy. 1994 is such a long time ago – I had no idea we’d still be doing this lovely thing all these years later.
“The explanation: the people, the music and the folk who buy the tickets. Simples!”
Feast of Fiddles Spring Tour 2025 Saturday 12 April, 7pm. Phoenix Arts Centre, Ark Alexandra, Parkstone Rd, Hastings TN34 2NT.Tickets £27.50, plus £2.80 booking fee, from WeGotTickets. More information from tel 07970 010002.
Feast of Fiddles website. Video of band playing Pirates of the Caribbean. See full listing of tour dates here.
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