CHILDSPLAY: FIDDLERS, FIDDLES AND FIDDLEMAKERS Celebrates 30 Years of Performances with All New Production

Having introduced thousands to the delights of all styles of fiddle music, supergroup Childsplay returns to the Northeast for a limited run of performances this November. Childsplay, a who's who of more than two dozen virtuoso fiddlers, will present an all-new production with special guest vocalist Karan Casey. Tickets are now on sale for concerts at the Harwich Center in Cape Cod, Symphony Space in New York, Portland High School Auditorium in Portland, Maine and at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville, MA at www.Childsplay.org

Childsplay is the creation of Cambridge, MA luthier Bob Childs, a fiddler who has been making violins for nearly 35 years. The band name of "Childsplay" derives from the fact that all the members play violins and violas crafted by Childs himself. This year's production will celebrate more than 30 years of performances, featuring Childs' fiddles and the fiddlemaker.

Led by Childs, the group includes the best of the best from all over the United States and Celtic World including all-Ireland fiddle champion Sheila Falls, National Scottish Fiddle champion Hanneke Cassel, Boston Symphony Violinist Bonnie Bewick, fiddler and singer Lissa Schneckenburger, New England Scottish Fiddle Champion Katie McNally and more. The 2016 concert dates will also feature renowned dancers Kieran Jordan and Kevin Doyle.

"People are going to be delighted by our upcoming performances. A Childsplay tour brings together some of the most amazing musicians, all sharing a legacy of playing fiddles that with a common ancestry," said Childs. "Paired with the exquisite voice of Karan Casey and the talented dancers Kieran Jordan and Kevin Doyle, it's a truly an event not to be missed."

Showcasing the versatility of the fiddle, a Childsplay production will feature traditional Irish, French-Canadian, Cape Breton, Bluegrass, Appalachian, and Scandinavian musical performances as well as jazz, swing, and classical music. For this tour, Childsplay will also be introducing several new pieces, which will be recorded in 2017 for release on its seventh album.

Both the tour and the forthcoming album will feature guest vocalist Karan Casey, an Irish folk singer whose career includes performing as part of the nationally recognized band Solas. Casey has recorded six solo albums as well as a duo album with Irish musician and songwriter John Doyle, and numerous collaborations with the likes of James Taylor, Bela Fleck, Tim O'Brien and more.

2016 Childsplay Concert Dates include:

Thursday, November 17th at 7:30 p.m.

Monomoy Regional High School
Harwich Center (Cape Cod) MA

75 Oak St

Harwich, MA

Friday, November 18th at 8 p.m.

Symphony Space

2537 Broadway
New York, NY

Co-sponsored by the Folk Music Society of NY.

Saturday, November 19th at 8 p.m.

Portland High School Auditorium

284 Cumberland Avenue

Portland, Maine

Sunday, November 20th at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Somerville Theatre

Davis Square

Somerville, MA

For tickets and information, visit www.Childsplay.org

Childsplay last toured in 2013 in support of their sixth CD release As the Crow Flies as well as a concert DVDLive from the Zeiterion Theatre, which has been shown on public television stations across the country. Childsplay CDs and DVDs are available at www.childsplay.org, where you can also purchase performance tickets and find more information about live shows.

About Bob Childs:

Bob Childs has been making violins for more than 30 years. He was first introduced to violinmaking by Ivie Mann in Maine. He then did six years of apprenticeships with Mittenwald-trained violinmakers Anton Smith and Michael Weller, before setting up his shop in Cambridge, Mass. There, Bob produces instruments with a deep, sweet and dark sound whose quality has captured the interest of leading string performers throughout the United States and beyond.

As a fiddler himself, Bob was immersed in the Maine fiddle tradition for many years before becoming heavily influenced by Irish music. In addition to performing with Childsplay, Bob was also part of two seminal bands in Maine: Old Gray Goose and the Moosetones.