Mark Sullivan with Andy Hillhouse, Craig McGregor, and Rob Becker

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“A force in the world!” says Liz Carroll, the famed Grammy nominated Irish fiddler. 

“My playing is from the heart. It’s who I am. The stories behind our great fiddlers and their tunes have always been something that I’ve been fascinated with. These stories continue to inspire the music I make. I’m excited to embark on this new direction with original fiddle music and share some of my stories with friends.” – Mark Sullivan, 2014 

Mark Sullivan is at the forefront of the Canadian fiddle scene. He continues to be in high demand as a spirited performer and instructor across North America. His latest and ninth album, The Gathering Room, is a collection of purely original tunes. Though the music is steeped in the Canadian tradition, the tunes reflect an array of influences. Whether it’s Irish, Scottish, Gypsy, Western Swing, or Cajun, Mark Sullivan is making music that effortlessly takes his listeners on a musical journey of fiddle styles. 

Mark grew up playing for old time dances in Ontario. He comes from a family of fiddle players and he is heavily rooted in the Canadian tradition. As a youngster, he performed throughout the province and surrounded himself with the many styles of Canadian fiddling. As a competitive fiddler, Mark is on a short list of multiple award winners. He is a three-time Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion and three-time Canadian Open Fiddle Champion. As an early member of the Brian Pickell Band, Mark seamlessly entered the folk/roots domain and continued to play live with a stunning musical precision. 

Locally, Mark performs with SwingReel, an acoustic roots duo that blends Canadian fiddle styles with the likes of jazz and swing. As an effort to promote the Canadian fiddle community, the duo has produced an online radio station called SwingReel Radio. Internationally, Mark tours with the StepCrew, a high-energy show featuring members of The Chieftains that has recently returned from a summer of American and International Festivals. As a solo artist, he can be found touring the country and playing anywhere there is a Canadian fiddle connection to be made. 

This concert is a celebration of Mark Sullivan’s Canadian Fiddle Music and the release of his ninth album, The Gathering Room. Accompanying the CD, Mark has also released a book of notation and chords. 

Sitting alongside Mark for the evening will be an all-star band of West Coast alumni: Andy Hillhouse (Mad Pudding/The McDades) on guitar - Craig McGregor (SwingReel, Tiller’s Folly) on guitars and Rob Becker (bass.) Kierah Raymond will open as special guest.

It’s original, Canadian music, that’s executed with great precision and taste.