Lantzville fiddler Quin Etheridge-Pedden is hitting the road for a series of Vancouver Island shows in support of his debut album, Embark.
He’ll be performing in less-familiar territory and hopes to come away with new fans.
“I’m doing a show in Lantzville, so that one will be a lot of friends and family since I live in Lantzville,” he said.
“But the two other shows, Port Alberni and Gabriola, I don’t know a lot of people there so a good first impression would be ideal because I’ll be playing to a new audience.”
The record was released last May and Etheridge-Pedden had hoped to tour in the summer but a busy schedule pushed back his performances. His upcoming Island swing will take him to Char’s Landing in Port Alberni on Friday, Feb. 16 and Gabriola Island’s Roxy Lounge and Cultural Club on Saturday, Feb. 17 before wrapping up with a hometown show at Costin Hall on March 3.
Etheridge-Pedden is a member of Nanaimo’s Fiddelium string ensemble and was nominated last year for a Canadian Folk Music Award for Young Performer of the Year. The teenager will be joined on the road by pianist and guitarist Geoff Horrocks, who has been Etheridge-Pedden’s music instructor for the past five years. The student and teacher have performed together in the past.
“He’s not just my teacher, we get along really well,” Etheridge-Pedden said.
“So doing the shows, it’s not like he’s totally telling me what to do, we work together so it’s nice to have that and obviously he’s my teacher as well so he can help me a lot.”
The material on Embark covers a range of fiddle styles, from traditional jigs and reels to French, Finnish, original compositions and “some newer, kind of out-there things.”
Etheridge-Pedden is currently in the writing stages of his follow-up album of all originals, tentatively titled Out of the Blue as a nod to the its jazzy, improvisational influence. He hopes to have that record ready for summer touring season. Until then, he said he’s “riding the wave” of his first CD.
WHAT’S ON … Quin Etheridge-Pedden performs at Char’s Landing in Port Alberni on Friday, Feb. 16 at 8 p.m., The Roxy on Gabriola on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 7:30 p.m. and Costin Hall in Lantzville on Saturday, March 3 at 7 p.m. All tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. More information at www.quinwithonen.com.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com
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