Louise Bichan, USA-based Scottish Fiddler/Photographer In Concert

Old South Church Concert Series presents Louise Bichan, USA-based Scottish fiddler and photographer in concert on Thursday, July 18 at 7pm. Doors open at 6:30pm. FMI call 207-491-5919. As space allows tickets will be available at the door. Admission: Students (12 y/o +)/Seniors (65+) $20, Adult (under 65) $25. Old South First Congregational Church, UCC is located at 235 Main Street in Farmington. The 235 Main Street entrance is handicapped accessible.

Bichan continues her unique musical and sentimental journey, between her native northern Scottish isles and coast-to-coast Canada, in the footsteps of her late paternal grandmother Margaret, née Tait (1925-2008). With a dilemma of the heart to solve, Tait, herself a beautiful singer, spent six months in Canada in 1950, before returning to Orkney to wed. Growing up in the remote but culturally rich Orkney islands, a place where creativity abounds and playing music has been a part of the social fabric for centuries, gave Louise a solid grounding in music. She started playing fiddle at the age of 7 after witnessing the magic of live music: “I remember the butterflies in the tummy feeling when watching concerts at the Orkney Folk Fest as a kid, wanting to be a part of it all.” The sense of community and belonging it gave her was infectious; she pestered her parents to let her learn.

In the years since, she has honed her craft, first amongst the cream of Scottish folk at Glasgow’s renowned session scene and performances with talent like Orkney group Fara and award-winning singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni, before a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, Boston, where she developed her style further. Bichan uses both her musicianship and photography to tell stories blending traditional and classical arrangements, her music is thoughtful, and complex, curious and playful. She composes in response to her roots and the world around her; weaving through stories of connection, to people, nature, the past and the possibility of the future.

Bichon says “Since the release[first record] “Out of My Own Light”, I have completed a degree in performance at Berklee College of Music, studying with the likes of Bruce Molsky, Darol Anger, Matt Glaser and Joe Walsh. I’ve had the opportunity to travel and perform around the States with Corner House and more, met and played music with so many inspiring people and broadened my musical horizons. I felt it was high time I took all of these new experiences and inspiration and created a new record.”

On “The Lost Summer” Bichan explores new settings for old compositions, as heard in “Adam and Eric’s”; once a fast reel, she was “inspired to slow it down to a lopey strathspey one late-evening, red-wine-fueled jam and recording session in the Scottish Highlands, with my friends Jennifer Austin and Rachel Seramanni, and now I can’t go back.”

Bichan says “I’m always so interested in the ways that music travels and changes. On more than one occasion in lessons at Berklee, Bruce Molsky would start playing a tune and I’d immediately be reminded of one from back home.” Shetland tune “Deltingside” was happened upon during the pandemic, Setiawan suggested American old-time tune “Squirrel Hunters” as another with a similar feel and the two traditional tunes from each side of the Atlantic were put together. “I had a lot of fun with this track and was delighted to feature two of my favourite instruments, played by two of the best; Simon Chrisman on hammered-dulcimer and Brad Kolodner on claw-hammer banjo.” Bichan remarks.

The title track was composed in 2020, while Bichan was missing home and her family. “I was being melodramatic, all certainly was not lost, despite everything 2020 threw at us, it was a great summer.” After buying an old Volvo, Bichan embarked on a cross-country road trip, taking in the sights of National Parks such as Badlands, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, Olympic, and Bryce Canyon. “I was blown away and totally inspired by the dramatic, ever-changing landscapes.” Taking along her fiddle, Bichan played and filmed videos under her Fiddlecam moniker, at many beautiful viewpoints, creating videos for “Deltingside” and “Rhena’s 80th.”

She takes to the road with Conor Hearn playing guitar, Brendan Hearn on cello, and Ethan Setiawan on mandolins, to present an evening of lively fiddle tunes from Scotland and beyond, weaving through stories of connection, to people, nature, the past and the possibility of the future.

To learn more about Louise Bichan visit www.louisebichan.co.uk