Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival returns to Chelsea for four days of music and dance

Tashi Farmilo

The Gatineau Hills Fiddle Festival is set to return to Chelsea, Quebec, for its seventh annual edition from October 24 to 27. The four-day event will feature a lineup of concerts, workshops, and community activities that have made it a beloved tradition among folk music enthusiasts.

The festival, hosted at La Fab sur Mill Arts Centre, promises an array of performances by some of the most acclaimed musicians in the fiddle and traditional music scene. Among those headlining the event are Brittany Haas and Natalie Haas, Daniel Lapp and Quinn Bachand, Nathan Gourley and Laura Feddersen, Kimberley Fraser and Margie Beaton, as well as Laura Risk, Nicholas Williams, and Rachel Aucoin. These artists represent a wide spectrum of styles, from American Old-Time and Cape Breton to Irish and Quebecois fiddle traditions, ensuring a rich musical experience for attendees.

Workshops will play a key role in the festival, offering opportunities for both intermediate and advanced musicians to hone their skills in various fiddle styles, piano accompaniment, and guitar. Highlights include sessions on Cape Breton fiddle by Kimberley Fraser, American Old-Time fiddle by Brittany Haas, and Quebec fiddle by Laura Risk. Natalie Haas will lead workshops on Swedish tunes, while Daniel Lapp will offer insights into British Columbia’s unique fiddle repertoire. The festival also promotes youth participation, with several performances showcasing scholarship recipients and young musicians who have benefited from the festival’s educational initiatives.

Concerts are scheduled across the four days, with performances beginning on Friday night and continuing through to Sunday afternoon. In addition to concerts, there will be a community dance on Thursday evening, and jamming sessions will take place late into the night after the Saturday concert.

For those looking for detailed information on the festival’s schedule, tickets, and lineup, more details can be found on the official website at gatineauhillsfiddlefest.ca.