Scott Woods will be bringing his ‘Twin Fiddle Express’ show to Yorkton for a performance this evening at St. Andrew’s United Church.
“This year’s show is a brand new show - different tunes, different costumes, different jokes,” Woods explained of the event which will take the stage at 7 p.m.
The show “features myself and my sister Kendra Norris on twin fiddles,” he explained. “We play lots of old time tunes and back up some vocal numbers with the fiddle too.
“Kendra also plays piano and does a Minnie Pearl comedy routine.”
Woods said his band is a highly professional group of musicians.
“Steve Piticco plays guitar and is absolutely amazing - he sounds like there are three or four players - he covers rhythm, fills, lead and even sounds like a pedal steel at times,” he said.
“Bill Carruthers plays drums and has toured with Michelle Wright, Ronnie Profit, Kitty Wells.
“Patrick Linton is our bass player and also sings Johnny Cash tunes. But his real claim to fame is that he is a champion step dancer.”
Woods said while individually talented they meld well on stage.
“We combine instrumentals, vocals, comedy, dance and the show moves along very quickly,” he said. “We have inspirational moments and lots of laughs along the way - like a Branson, Missouri - style variety show.
“And of course I will be doing my trick fiddling - playing behind my back, under my leg, doing a backwards somersault, walking on a barrel and a front-running flip all while playing - they call me the ‘Flippin’ Fiddler’.
On the road it almost a family affair.
“We all travel in a 45 tour bus and my Golden Retriever (named Melody) travels with us,” said Woods. “We have a very unique life on the road but we love the music, and we help so many communities with fundraising efforts along the way as well.
Woods, who was born and raised and still lives in Fergus, Ontario - a little Scottish farming community about an hour west and north of Toronto, said he was basically born into music.
“My dad was a fiddler and my mom plays the piano,” he said. “In fact, my dad started our family band when he was only12 years old - it was 1944. In 1956 his band needed a new piano player and he hired a young teen to play piano - that’s how mom and dad met. They got married four years later and then four kids came along.
“I’m the youngest of the kids and we all took up both fiddle like dad and piano like mom. We studied classical music but dad taught us fiddle tune because they were fun to play! When we were about four years old we all started lessons and at about age 7 we joined mom and dad and the rest of the family - playing old time dances, concerts, festivals. Over the years we have played on many stages large and small.”
Woods said while he can play a range of styles, his heart belongs to one.
“Although I am well versed at many styles of music - classical, jazz, Irish, Scottish, French, modern country, bluegrass (but) I guess I love the old time Don Messer-style music the best,” he said. “He took the old Scottish and Irish tunes and simplified the melodies to its root then made them sing in a lyrical style - almost like a human voice. The energy came from his band - the guitar, bass, piano and drums. I would describe my style of fiddling as Don Messer. But our show does include some traditional country, western swing, gospel music as well. I have a strong love for big band music as well and its influence can be heard in certain tunes we play.”
Woods does admit he is more player than creator in terms of the music he performed.
“I am not prolific at writing music, but have written some fiddle tunes - about 40 or so,” he said. “I never sit and try to write music, but if it comes, I will engage and try to come up with a melody. We record a new CD every year and have 21 CDs under my name. I did another eight or so with a show that I was band leader and musical director for called Memories of Don Messer’s Jubilee.”
Woods said he enjoys the process of going into the recording studio. But he is most at-home on the stage.
“I really like recording from the perspective of the building process - it’s almost like Legos - you start with just a couple pieces and don’t necessarily know what the end result will be until you keep adding pieces,” he related. “I also like the perfection -- although my OCD makes it difficult to finally say that’s enough.
“Live playing on the other hand is the adrenaline rush that the interaction with the band and the audience gives a performer. The perfection is not as high sometimes, but the energy and emotion can come easier. I truly love being on stage - it’s my comfort zone.”
The combination of annual CDs and love of the stage have allowed Woods to carve out a busy career on the road.
“We have played all across Canada and the USA for many years,” he said. “I started touring outside Ontario in 1986 at age 15. Since that time I have toured Western Canada about 40 times and Eastern Canada about 30 times. We just finished a three-week tour in the mid-west USA in May and have toured many parts of the US in the past. We have been to Holland and this year will be touring Germany in September.”
The touring stops in Yorkton tonight. Tickets to Twin Fiddle Express may be purchased at St. Andrew’s United Church Office, or by calling 306-783-4157.
Check out Scott Woods at www.scottwoods.ca
