Scott Woods and his travelling roadshow stop in various cities and towns for about 150 performances a year. Yet the fiddler extraordinaire has never taken the stage in Prince George. So this year, he decided to make a special point of it and he makes that debut tonight at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church.
Woods has a theme for this tour, and it is a favourite for his national audience - a tribute to the late fiddling legend Don Messer. Messer and His Islanders became one of Canada's first hit television sensations and decades later an audience still gathers for that iconic old-time fiddle sound.
"They were the rock stars of the day," said Woods. "When Don Messer's bus pulled up in these Canadian towns, you couldn't have gotten more people out for autographs than if Elvis or the Beatles were there. I knew Don Messer's name because I was a fiddler, and dad and mom had all the books and albums. He was the gold standard for us fiddlers. The bar was set pretty high. There's not a fiddler in North America that wasn't somehow influenced by Don Messer."
The Scott Woods Old Time Jubilee has become so acclaimed in its own rite that many of Messer's family members and those of his band and regular TV guests will come to the show. Sometimes, fans of Messer will bring memorabilia and stories to share.
Woods doesn't do a carbon copy of the Messer show, however. It's been 45 years since the program was last seen on black-and-white CBC, and Woods is the product of modern entertainment times despite his affinity for traditional Canadianna. Woods is the multiple winner of the Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship, and no other name has appeared more often in the Top 3 of the Canadian Grand Masters Fiddling Competition than his (12 times, twice the champion) in its 23-year history. That took musical skill and showmanship that built on the examples of the instrument's pioneers.
"I walk on a barrel now, I play behind my back and under my leg," he said, and his trademark is a running summersault while playing - without dropping a note or missing a beat. His family was concerned he'd damage the instrument when he first announced he was going to attempt the feat, especially since it was a spontaneous choice in the heat of competition, without rehearsals.
"The first time I did it, I was only 11. I was in Bobcaygeon [Ontario, northeast of Toronto] at a competition," he said. "Those fiddle competitions can be quite serious. All us fiddlers were great friends off-stage, but during the competition we hated each other until it was all over. At Shelburne [Ontario, perennial site of the Canadian Open], the stress is heavy. I think that's why they created a category for trick acts or novelty acts - to help break the tension. I tried it, I landed it, I won, so I've been doing it ever since."
No tension these days, only performance novelty and music skill at a Scott Woods show. He and his band will present instruments, step dancing, comedy, stories and all-ages family entertainment. Usually, there is a thick layer of charity as well. Most of his appearances are fundraisers by church groups, community associations, schools, or worthy causes. None in Prince George have contacted him for these co-productions, so he is here on his own to introduce himself, and a little Don Messer as well.
For ticket information call toll free 1-855-726-8896.
