Marcus Holden began studying the violin at the age of eight in Canberra where his parents
had moved to from Melbourne. His formative years where spent playing classical music as a
member of the Canberra Youth Orchestra. From the age of 11 he toured and recorded with
choirs, groups and the CYO culminating in a tour of
Europe. 
In his late teens his interest in rock, jazz and blues was sparked by the newly amplified
violin and his career as a soloist began. Moving to Sydney in 1979 to study jazz at the NSW
Con, Marcus quickly became the city's premier fiddle session player, recording well over
400 award winning records, films and jingles working with such luminaries as Jimmy Barnes,
Ross Wilson, Diesel, Mark Hunter, Ross Ryan, John Williamson, Richard Clapton, Daryl
Braithwaite etc! 

As his experience increased he began to pick up the skills as a composer, producer and
recording engineer along the way. Feeling the need to develop other skills besides the
supporting role most often offered to him, Marcus along with 3 other legendary fiddlers (Ray
Schloeffel, Pixie Jenkins, and Andrew Clermont) formed a loose group of lunatics which
eventually became known as the Fiddlers Festival. 

From these humble beginnings (really just glorified jam session) at the 1996 Tamworth CMF,
under his guidance the FF is now the most widely recognized fiddle band in Australia.
Several tours to Japan as well as high profile appearances back home have inspired a whole
new generation of aspiring fiddlers and groups (like the Hawkesbury National Fiddle Festival 
www.fiddlefestival.com
and the Golden Fiddle Awards www.goldenfiddleawards.org.au) dedicated to the
promotion of the fiddle as an alternative to the classical stream of tuition and
performance. Marcus also runs a successful recording studio (Bloody Dog Studios) where he
produces much of his most recent work including the Fiddlers Festival's CDs. 

In the past 12 months, the Fiddlers Festival have toured with the support of the Federal
government for the Playing Australia Touring Program, NARPACA and Queenslan Arts Council
Touring program, have been guests of the Brisbane City council for their 150 year
celebrations and were invited to perform at Expo in Nagoya, Japan by DFAT.

Marcus also writes for several magazines , is completing a book of Ray Schleoffel's
tunes, arranges and writes music for school orchestras and has appearances scheduled as a
solo violinist with the ASO, TSO and QO for 2006. 
Production Credits 
National Junk Band- Tin Can Alley 
Jim Haynes- It's Not Cricket 
Jim Haynes- Nothing Serious 
Bernard Bolan - Upon Sober Reflection 
Warren Fahey- Classic Bush Yarns 
Swing masters- Undrummed 
Frank Daniels- Chuckin' Rocks 
Fiddlers Festival- Live, Feast Of Fiddlers, Strung Out, Get Reel 
Greg Bryce- Helium Heart 
Merilyn Steel This Passion
A Little Night Music
Damian Coen
Gilligan's Ireland
Quadraphonic 

Arrangement Credits 
Colin Buchanan- Measure of a Man
Alan Caswell- Different Eyes 
Jimmy Barnes- Flesh and Wood, Settle For Me 
Diesel (Mark Lizotte)- Solid State Rhyme
Australia Day Fireworks- 1997/98
John Williamson- Mulga To Mangoes
Brent Parlane-Two Story House