Album Notes

The Peninsula Scottish Fiddlers play acoustic music in the tradition of the "strathspay and reel societies" (community-based amateur fiddle clubs) that abound in Scottish cities and villages. Founded in 1990 by Colin Gordon from Ayr, Scotland, the group usually numbers about 20 and includes fiddles, flute, recorder, accordion, guitars, cello, bass, bodhran, and piano. The Fiddlers perform around the San Francisco Bay area at concerts, highland games, festivals, clan dinners, ceilidhs, weddings and Scottish country dances.

The album was recorded at a concert on April 29, 2000 in Felton, during the group's tour of Scotland from September 16-30, 2000, and back at home in Montara in spring 2001. Although their repertoire book comprised hundreds of Scottish, Irish, and Welsh traditional tunes, the Fiddlers added some traditional American old-time, bluegrass, and Cajun tunes for the tour, not wanting to "carry coals to Newcastle." Bay area guitarist-singer-songwriter David Elias joined the tour, as did San Diego Cajun fiddler Spence Pickett and members of the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra of Los Angeles.