2025, and Feast of Fiddles set out on their Spring Tour once again. Two storming performances at the New Forest Folk Festival and Fairport’s Cropredy Convention in 2024 promoted what has become their eighth recording and another live offering. Born in Nettlebed on Valentine’s Day 1994 as a one-off special concert, Feast of Fiddles is a band of friends that puts on a show of huge dynamic range performed with passion, joy and a liberal dose of fun. This year fiddlers Garry Blakeley (Band of Two), Ian Cutler (Bully Wee), Marion Fleetwood (Sandy Denny Project), Tom Leary (Joe Brown), Brian McNeill (Battlefield Band) and Simon Swarbrick (Merry Hell) bring a large range of fiddle-playing styles to the rock back-line – all held together by legendary drummer Dave Mattacks. It’s not unheard of for past alumni to make guest appearances along the way, so keep an eye open for tour news on the website. This is a live music entertainment like no other on the circuit which is guaranteed to be enjoyed by even the most doubting of friends dragged along! 

Stephen Stoddart, Wandering River Photography
Feast of Fiddles 2024

“‘Well here we are again!’ I saidto my bandmates as we gathered for our first rehearsal in January. It was like coming back to a familiar place with a feeling of pleasure, recognition and joy. 1994 is such a long time ago – I had no idea we’d still be doing this lovely thing all these years later. The explanation: the people, the music and the folk who buy the tickets. Simples!” – Hugh Crabtree

Feast of Fiddles will play at Phoenix Arts Centre, Parkstone Road, on 12 April. Phone 07970 010002 or go to wegottickets.com/event/635275 You tube: youtu.be/Eu2rCv6KGsU  Facebook    facebook.com/feastoffiddles  Contact: Maxine Soars: [email protected] 07871 181641


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https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ARTSFeastofFiddlespic-1024x629.jpghttps://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/ARTSFeastofFiddlespic-150x150.jpgHIPArtsMusicBrian McNeill (Battlefield Band),Fairport’s Cropredy Convention,Garry Blakeley (Band of Two),Ian Cutler (Bully Wee),Marion Fleetwood (Sandy Denny Project),New Forest Folk Festival,Simon Swarbrick (Merry Hell),Tom Leary (Joe Brown)2025, and Feast of Fiddles set out on their Spring Tour once again. Two storming performances at the New Forest Folk Festival and Fairport’s Cropredy Convention in 2024 promoted what has become their eighth recording and another live offering. Born in Nettlebed on Valentine’s Day 1994 as a one-off...The Hastings & St Leonards non-profit community newspaper