| Friends of Fiddler's Green | |
|---|---|
| Genres | Celtic, Folk, and Roots music |
| Years active | late 1960s to present |
| Labels | Fallen Angle Music |
| Associated acts | English Mummers Plays, Morris Dancing or Scottish country dancing |
| Website | www.finestkind.ca |
| Members | |
| Grit Laskin, Tam Kearney, Ian Robb, Laurence Stevenson, Alistair Brown, Ian Bell and Cherie Whelan | |
| Past members | |
| Jeff McClintock, David Parry, Jim Strickland, Ian Clark | |
Friends of Fiddler's Green is a Canadian folk music group based in Toronto. The original members of the group for its first recording, The Road to Mandalay, were Grit Laskin, Tam Kearney, Ian Robb, Laurence Stevenson, David Parry, Alistair Brown and Jeff McClintock on keyboards. Jeff McClintock was later replaced by Cherie Whalen.
The name of the group is derived from Fiddler's Green, a mythical place of dancing and happiness. Founding member Tam Kearney emigrated from Scotland to Toronto in the late 1960s. Jim Strickland (also from Scotland) and Tam founded Fiddler's Green Folk Club on Eglinton Avenue, behind the YMCA. Gradually a nucleus of musicians developed, initially doing warm-ups at the club, and performing as a group. Ian Robb arrived from England, in the 1980s. The arrival of other singers gave the group a distinctly Scottish flavor. David Parry[1] was an enthusiast for mumming and brought a dragon's costume to the mix. At festival performances, the members may present English Mummers Plays, Morris Dancing or Scottish country dancing. The Vancouver Folk Music Festival documented a reviewer who claimed that Friends of Fiddler's Green were among the best British bands touring North America[2]
Although they are not typically a touring band, they have also performed in the United States.
In the folklore of folk music, they are known as the inspiration for the Stan Rogers' song, Barrett's Privateers.[3] In 2003 they were given the "Estelle Klein Achievement Award" at the Ontario Council of Folk Festivals.[4]
| “ | The award recognizes individuals who have made a significant contribution to the folk music community in Ontario through their work as an artist, academic, organizer, or presenter.[5] | ” |
A former keyboardist for the group, Jeff McClintock, was arrested by the religious police in Saudi Arabia, probably in connection with his work with an otherwise all-female fiddle ensemble, the Frillyknickers.