Extreme Fiddle Rock Show
Fiddlestix breaks through musical barriers and defies every stereotype with their creation of Fiddle Rock: an unprecedented musical genre that fuses electric violin with every style of music presented with a distinct rock and roll flair. Canada has fallen in love with the magnetic sound of Fiddle Rock and the group that is introducing it to the world.
Fiddlestix is inspired by North America’s most extreme electric violinist: Steve Bowen, a Yamaha endorsee practically born with a violin in his hand, playing around the world since the age of four and stunning audiences with his limitless abilities. Fiddle Rock is the clarion call to his intense style, which seamlessly blends a unique and edgy mix of soaring solos, scorching riffs and innovative melodies. The sound is so unique to Bowen that even jigs and reels come to bear the captivating “stamp” of Fiddlestix.
Flanked by Nancy Cipollone on guitars and Carly Hoffman on bass guitar, Sam Cino on drums and Jeff Blake playing keytar/tin whistle, Bowen and his team deliver a shocking concert experience complete with dancers, percussionists and more. Fiddlestix boasts a giant cult-like following, each of them devoted to the band’s tantalizing combination of playful showmanship, fiery energy and awesome talent. Followers admit that they are addicted to the sound of Fiddle Rock, cheerfully calling themselves “Fiddleheads.”
Fiddlestix has been called “the hardest working band in Canada.” They never stop performing, delivering over 250 larger-than-life performances a year to Fiddleheads across Ontario. This season alone they played at Peterborough’s Little Lake Music Fest to an audience of over 7000 (in the company of Jimmy Rankin, Carly Rae Jepsen, Kim Mitchell and Hanson), and wowed audiences at virtually every festival and fair across Ontario. This is not unusual for the band that has experienced everything from heralding the arrival of the Olympic Torch in Toronto with Gord Downie (Tragically Hip), to performing for Canadian and American ambassadors overseas.
Fiddlestix has played with Great Big Sea, The Irish Rovers, John McDermott, Johnny Logan, Leahy, Jim Cuddy, Finbar Fury and more.
The band’s inevitable rise and reputation has landed them countless television appearances, including CNN News World, and they are now veteran performers on CityTV’s Breakfast Television, having been asked to return five times.
This summer Fiddlestix released their latest EP, “Xperience,” recorded with Jim Zolis at Zolis Audio Productions, Toronto (credits include Jane Siberry, Rita MacNeil, the Northern Pikes) and produced by Paul Milner, who was inspired to work with Canada’s premier Fiddle Rock group after attending a show (credits include Eddy Grant, Queensryche and the Eric Clapton Band). The energetic, diverse and masterfully crafted “Xperience” is a perfect example of what the band delivers live. Not An Ordinary Day, a single from the “Xperience” EP is the first of this project to enjoy Canada-wide radio play, and there is more to come when Fiddlestix releases their eagerly awaited full-length CD this winter.
For now, the EP “Xperience” is aptly named. The presence and talent of Fiddlestix grabs hold of any crowd, branding the sound of Fiddle Rock into the memory of each audience member. This group is not just a “band,” and Fiddlestix is famous for delivering a concert that is more than a “show.” It is an experience.
