Matrix, Bochum, Germany23rd March 2007
Fiddler’s Green
FIDDLER’S GREEN are back with a new album and of course with several live shows. On 23rd March, they will play in the famous “Matrix” in Bochum. Well into their 17th year of existence, Germany's top representatives in terms of Irish Independent Speed Folk return with a changed line-up and a new studio album and they just can't wait until they get the chance to unleash the energy of their brand-new songs on-stage as well.
With more than 1200 shows to date they have gained a reputation for their live performances which are regarded as being at the very top of Germany's premier league. Be it a low-key street event or a large festival, a small club or a major venue – always ripping through their songs like madmen, they are notorious for making audiences go crazy and rocking the place. And you can create this atmosphere in your own home with their new CD, DRIVE ME MAD!
Fiddler's Green – here you got some old hands who still know how to speed: For 16 years they have been gigging around the country partying with their audiences and spilling a lot of Guinness in the process. Releases include 10 full-length albums and 2 live recordings on DVD – admittedly impressive numbers, and no reasons for gearing down! For those who suspect dull routine, we can only recommend inserting the new Fiddler's release, DRIVE ME MAD! to take a listen for themselves. The madness has just begun! After as long a time as three years, Fiddler's Green speed up and send energy levels to the limits on their brand-new studio album DRIVE ME MAD!. Even more than before they have managed to capture the freshness and power of their legendary live performances on a recording.
How did this happen? Upon the separation from founding member Peter Pathos, Fiddler's Green have undergone a process of renewal by integrating the fresh member Pat "let's rock!" Prziwara at vocals and guitar – not just in a visual sense. The Mad Six of Irish Independent Speed Folk have put to practise their long-nourished wish to record all songs live in the studio in order to bundle the unbridled energy emanating from their live performances on disc.
And just look at the result: The concept works brilliantly! Your living room is going to shake to the beat of the first track, Irish Air, and you will realize that only one motto is heeded here: No speed limit! Forget about technical intricacies - this is directly and roughly in-your-face. Be it their own stuff or weird and speeded-up Traditionals such as The Night Pat Murphy Died or Salonika, a 2-minute number with that perky feel - there is absolutely no doubt: Like after a good greasing, the engine is running top notch and will stay there to make you go mad.
DRIVE ME MAD! is the title - the twinkling new Fiddler's Green CD has the agenda in it's name, but there are oases of quietness as well. Sure, gentle ballads like Don't Let Go or the melancholy Another Spring Song will make you want to close your eyes and enter into a daydream, but then you will at least go on tapping your foot to the rhythmically complex instrumental Bretonix before ending up head banging to Folk's Not Dead, which has a good measure of punk as an ingredient. As those of you who know the Fiddlers will expect, there is also a reggae tune - this time in the shape of an adapted traditional song by the name of When Will We Be Married.
And this is how it goes on and on for no less than 20 songs! Is this a surplus in creativity? It is, because there is another novelty in the history of Fiddler's Green: Upon the split-up with their former songwriter, all band members contributed song material and you can just feel how they could not wait to combine all their creativity - thus reversing the saying "Too many cooks spoil the broth". For this reason, it is quite understandable that the six musicians are keen on relentlessly partying live with you and the new material more than ever before. The motto is: Let madness rule - DRIVE ME MAD!!! http://www.fiddlers.de/ / www.myspace.com/speedfolk
Fiddler's Green are:
Ralf "Albi" Albers - vocals, acoustic guitar, bouzouki, mandolin
Pat Prziwara - vocals, acoustic + electric guitars
Tobias Heindl - fiddle, vocals
Stefan Klug - accordion, bodhrán
Rainer Schulz - bass
Frank Jooss - drums, percussion
Upcoming Tour Dates
March 2007
16.03. - Potsdam, Lindenpark (+ Pokes, Clover), pre-sale: +49(0)331-747970
17.03. - Bad Salzschlirf (b. Fulda), Kulturkessel, pre-sale: +49(0)6648-916143
23.03. - Bochum, Matrix, pre-sale: +49(0)234-65533
24.03. - Neustadt/Orla, Wotufa, pre-sale: +49(0)171-7457815
April 2007
20.04. - Lübeck, Riders Café, pre-sale: +49(0)451-898105
21.04. - Flensburg, Roxy
27.04. - Glauchau, Alte Spinnerei, pre-sale: +49(0)37204-2643
30.04. - Zella-Mehlis, Walpurgisnacht, pre-sale: +49(0)3682-482840
May 2007
03.05. - Freiburg, Jazzhaus, pre-sale: +49(0)1805-556656
04.05. - Ulm, Roxy, pre-sale: +49(0)731-96862005.05. - München, Backstage Werk, pre-sale: +49(0)89-1266100
18.05. - Oberndorf / Neckar, Omi-Open
26.05. - Eichstätt, Open Air
27.05. - Leutkirch, Open Air
June 2007
07.06. - Regenthal, Pottenstein Fest 2007, pre-sale: +49(0)9243-903371
June 2007
07.06. - Regenthal, Pottenstein Fest 2007, pre-sale: +49(0)9243-903371
08.06. - Bayreuth, Zeltfest
17.06. - Glauchau, Woodstage Open Air 2007, Tickets: http://www.woodstage.de/
23.06. - Bonfeld / Bad Rappenau, Folk im Schlosshof, pre-sale: +49(0)7066-910303 30.06. - Cadolzburg, 850 Jahre Cadolzburg
Tickets for most shows at http://www.ticket69.de/
Pictures by Carsten Bunnemann
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