Crossings brings this CD release show to Zumbrota's State Theatre on Saturday, March 16, at 7:30 pm. Internationally renowned fiddler April Verch performs the folk music of Canada and the southern United States, Celtic ballads and more, always finding the heart of the music and singing it truly, with no need to imitate .Tickets are $20 in advance, $22 the day of the show. To purchase tickets call (507) 732-7616.
The April Verch Band—rounded out by bassist and clawhammer banjo player Cody Walters and guitarist Hayes Griffin, who has a Masters in jazz improv from the New England Conservatory— is an energetic, virtuosic, tradition-celebrating outfit, not to mention one that’s not soon forgotten when they depart the stage. It doesn’t hurt that the thrilling grand finale involves Verch fiddling and step dancing—and often executing two entirely different intricate rhythmic patterns—at once.
The trio wins over audiences with sheer musical virtuosity as well as charm, humor and boundless energy on stage. Audiences are also drawn in by subtle things – April's pure voice, the finely detailed elegance of her fiddle phrasing and the depth of a repertoire that ranges from bluegrass to Brazilian to Celtic, from a jaunty Canadian folksong to a poignant contemporary ballad.
Verch doesn’t just perform music, she exudes it, sometimes engaging in fiddle licks so intense her bow sheds hair. This world class fiddler, singer, songwriter and stepdancer has a passion for performing. Her goal is to touch the lives of those who are listening. She became the first woman in history to win both of Canada’s most prestigious fiddle championships, the Grand Masters and the Canadian Open. When Canada hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics, she was asked to represent her country’s music at the opening ceremonies.