Fiddle Supergroup “Childsplay” to Kick Off Farewell Tour in Friday Harbor

Childsplay: Fiddlers, Fiddles and Fiddlemaker is pleased to announce the release of their seventh album, “The Bloom of Youth.” The album is the first step in a final farewell tour for the band, many of whom have been in the band for 30 years.

Led by violin maker Robert Childs, Childsplay is made up of over 20 musicians from around the United States and Ireland, with each member of the string section playing a violin or viola handmade by Childs himself. To imagine what is unique to Childsplay, picture what a family that sings together sounds like, all the voices of the violins have a familial tone. Add in 30 years of touring, a film on PBS, and the recent release of their seventh album and you begin to get a sense of what makes this tour and album so special.

It is said, that of all the musical instruments, the violin is the most like the human voice when played soulfully. Karan Casey, one of the most innovative and celebrated voices in Irish traditional and folk music, sang on the album and will be joining Childsplay for their farewell tour.

Childsplay is made up of a cast of 12 incredible fiddlers, ranging from all-Ireland and national Scottish fiddle champions to members of the Boston Symphony, and also includes 9 all-star instrumentalists, singers and dancers who altogether create the sound that is truly Childsplay.

Childsplay will kick off their final tour dates in the Pacific Northwest, playing several shows in Washington and Oregon in November, before concluding at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA on November 20.

“Since our first gig in 1988, our band of talented musicians have strived to take fiddle music beyond mesmerizing repetition and into the realm of harmonies and counter rhythms—traditional fiddle sounds in a contemporary world,” Childs said. “We are so grateful to all of our fans for their continued support as we tune our strings for the final time, and hope to meet new fans along the way!”

A full schedule of the tour can be found below. Ticket information can be found at www.childsplay.org/concerts.

• San Juan Community Theatre
  Friday Harbor, WA
  Saturday, November 10 at 8pm
   
• Nordstrom Recital Hall/Benaroya Hall
  Seattle, WA
  Sunday, November 11 at 7pm
   
• Egyptian Theatre
  Coos Bay, WA
  Tuesday, November 13 at 7:30pm
   
• Austin Auditorium at the LaSells Stewart Center
  Corvallis, WA
  Wednesday, November 14 at 8pm
   
• Aladdin Theatre
  Portland, OR
  Thursday, November 15 at 8pm
   
• Admiral Theatre
  Bremerton, WA
  Friday, November 16 at 7:30pm
   
• Lincoln Theatre
  Mount Vernon, WA
  Saturday, November 17 at 8pm
   
• Somerville Theatre
  Somerville, MA
  Tuesday, November 20 at 8pm

Known to audiences as a celebration of spirited, innovative and exuberant music, Childsplay has performed in the United States and Europe, showcasing some of the leading virtuosos in traditional and contemporary fiddle tunes and songs.  From humble dance halls to feature performances at The Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., before world music audiences in Sweden and public radio audiences throughout the United States, Childsplay has introduced many thousands to the delights of different styles of fiddle music. For more information please visit childsplay.org.

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