Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas | The Henry Girls

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The musical partnership between Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as one of Scotland’s premier fiddle ambassadors, and the sizzlingly-talented young California cellist Natalie Haas may not seem an obvious one. Fraser, acclaimed by the San Francisco Examiner as “the Michael Jordan of Scottish fiddling”, has a concert and recording career spanning 30 years, with a long list of awards, accolades, television credits, and feature performances on top movie soundtracks (Last of the Mohicans,Titanic, Stone of Destiny). Fraser has been sponsored by the British Council to represent Scotland’s music internationally, and received the Scottish Heritage Center Service Award for outstanding contributions to Scottish culture and traditions.

Haas, a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music, wasn’t even born when Alasdair was winning national fiddle competitions on the other side of the Atlantic. But this seemingly unlikely pairing is the fulfillment of a long-standing musical dream for Fraser, whose cutting-edge musical explorations took him full circle to find a cellist who could help him return the cello to its historical role at the rhythmic heart of Scottish dance music.

Natalie Haas was just 11 when she first attended Fraser’s Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling School in California. She responded to Fraser’s challenge to find and release the cello’s rhythmic soul, and four years later, when Natalie was just 15, Fraser and Haas played their first gig together. Now regularly touring with Fraser and creating a buzz at festivals and in concert halls throughout Europe and North America, Natalie is in the vanguard of young cellists who are re-defining the role of the cello in traditional music. “Cellists are coming out of the woodwork to study with Natalie, to learn how she creates a groove and a whole powerful rhythm section,” says Fraser. “It’s inspiring to hear the cello unleashed from its orchestral shackles!”

The duo has six recordings: Ports of Call, Abundance, Highlander's Farewell, In the Moment, the award winning Fire & Grace and the latest release Syzygy — all on Fraser’s own Culburnie Records label. The CDs display the duo’s dazzling teamwork, driving, dancing rhythms, and their shared passion for improvising on the melody and the groove of Scottish tunes. “Haas is the percussive power to Fraser's fiddle fireworks, providing syncopated, bowed underpinnings to his melodies and solos,” writes Kira Schlechter of The Patriot News.

They perform frequently in Europe, and throughout the US and Canada. They have been featured on NPR’s Performance Today, the Thistle & Shamrock, Mountain Stage, and represented Scotland at the Smithsonian Museum’s Folklife Festival. In addition, Fraser and Haas have busy teaching schedules, including summer fiddle courses in the US, Scotland, and Spain.

The Henry Girls are a marvelous trio of three sisters from Malin: Karen, Lorna and Joleen McLaughlin. They are great songwriters and have gorgeous super-tight three-part harmonies that come partly from the sisterhood bond that they share as well as their lengthy musical history.

Twenty years of gracing stages together, this trio interweaves their native traditions with bluegrass, jazz and country, and are one of Ireland’s top emerging folk acts. With the harp as their main accompaniment, their shimmering harmonies weave a continuous spell throughout their music. They have become one of the most talked about folk/roots acts to come out of Ireland, now captivating audiences on worldwide stages having toured in Germany, America, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Holland, Austria and the UK.

They are natural performers and are known for their warm personalities, onstage and off. Each performance from The Henry Girls is like a masterclass in harmonies and instrumental mastery with a considerable dose of magical charm that combines to deliver a musical experience that you never want to end and will never forget.

“Seek out The Henry Girls' live shows for the full 3D experience.”  - Irish Times 

“This is not Irish Traditional music. However, it is wonderful and purely Irish music. World-class.” - Live Ireland Radio

"These sisters have a sensational talent. The quality of their harmony singing goes beyond mere technique. They possess an unerring ability to blend tone and resonance in a seamless fashion." - Eamon Carr, The Evening Herald (IRL)

"Ireland might have to finally share its pride and joy with the rest of us...it's time for America to discover the Henry Girls." - Huffington Post (USA)

The Rogue Folk Club is pleased to provide great Sponsorship Opportunities for all our shows. For a nominal cost, individuals or businesses can sponsor any of our shows and reap a number of benefits - free tickets, reserved table, recognition on literature, our web site and at the concerts. For more information simply contact our Sponsorship Director Morris Biddle at mobiddley@me.com