In 1996 at
the Tamworth Country Music Festival, as a result of a impromptu
"Jam" the Fiddlers Festival was formed, the brainchild of
Ray Schloeffel, Marcus Holden, Pixie (Jenkins), Garry Steel and Andrew
Clermont.
After 10
years of countless gigs it was decided the name needed to reflect the
changing nature of the group.
Enter FIDDLERS
FEAST!
Fiddler's
Feast not only performs but is dedicated to developing all aspects of
Australian fiddle playing through education, composition, school development
and international touring. Fiddlers involved with Fiddlers Feast under the
musical directorship of Marcus Holden have included George Washingmachine,
Mark Oats, Lindsay Martin, Andrew Clermont, Pixie, Ian Cooper, Clare O'Meara,
Ray Schloeffel, Jane Brownlee, Nigel Maclean and Mick Kerin, Jessica
Randall, Daniel Weltlinger and many more.
Fiddler's
Feast is Marcus Holden, Clare O'Meara, Mark Oats, Garry Steel, Rodney
Ford and John Coker with guests including Andrew Clermont and George
Washingmachine.
As a result
of its involvement in setting up the Hawkesbury National Fiddle Festival
(which takes place on the weekend before Easter every year attracting
fiddlers, music lovers and agents from around the country and overseas), FF
was invited to perform in Japan. A return visit took place in July 2002
after their successful trip in August 2001, with another for world
Expo in September in September 2005. Their next visit is scheduled for
September 2006 for the inaugural Japan Fiddle Festival.
The group
will travel to Europe in July 2006 to perform at Festival InterCeltique
Lorient, a festival drawing over 7000,000 people!
As regular
performers at major events and festivals around Australia including Woodford
and Port Fairy Folk Festivals, Gympie Muster and Tamworth Country Music
Festival, the Brisbane Festival, Australia Day, New Years Eve, Federation
Celebrations in Sydney and the Famous Spiegeltent, Fiddlers Feast is
recognized as Australia's premier fiddle band.