I am an experienced Irish fiddle player based in Bristol.
Are you looking to hire a fiddle player to perform at your event? If you would like live Irish or Scottish traditional music at your wedding, birthday, or garden party I am available for performances. I play can play solo fiddle, or as a duo (with guitar, uillean pipes, flute, banjo or bouzouki!) for all kinds of events.
I can adapt the style of fiddle music you would like to suit your event. I can play more slow airs and waltzes for a relaxed atmosphere, or or more uptempo reels if you would like more energy.
I have a very extensive repertoire of Irish / Scottish / Celtic fiddle music, and can take requests if there are particular tunes or melodies you would like. If I don’t already know them, I can learn particular songs or tunes by arrangement.
If you would like to hire me as a fiddle player for a full ceilidh with dancing, I can be booked with my ceilidh band Shanvaghera. We can work as 3, 4 or 5 musicians plus a dance caller, to suit your requirements.
Please contact me regarding all performances.
About me
I am an experienced performer of Irish, Scottish and English folk music. I began performing on the fiddle as a child, and have been playing publicly ever since.
I can always be seen playing Irish fiddle around Bristol, and am a well known player on the traditional session scene in Bristol, London and beyond. I have spent time travelling, living and playing in Ireland and Scotland, as well as in Europe.
I am an in-demand fiddle player for ceilidhs, playing with my own ceilidh band – Shanvaghera – as well as working with a number of well-known ceilidh bands across the UK.
As Shangavhera, I play pure-drop foot-tapping Irish traditional music with Sheena Valelly (flute), Paul Kerins (tenor banjo) and Benjamin Trott (guitar). You can see us playing or see our upcoming gigs here, or go and listen to us over on Soundcloud or Bandcamp.
As Straight from the Jug, I play fiddle with Dominic Henderson on uilleann pipes. We play up-tempo traditional Irish jigs and reels, as well as mixing in some slow airs and traditional songs for two voices.