RAMA / YORKTON - Renowned Canadian Fiddle Champion Scott Woods and his All-Star band, with their new show Old Fashioned Hoedown, are back on the road and will be making a stop in Rama May 13, at St Anthony’s Parish Hall.
“It feels so great to be back doing what we love so much,” Woods told Yorkton This Week. “It's almost surreal to stand on the stage again after almost four years -- 2019 was our last big tour.
“In 2020, we had tours booked across Canada, the USA and two in Europe. We are still getting back on track and it will take some time. But the energy of connecting with the band on stage and with the audience is an amazing feeling.
“This spring we are back full steam with 39 shows in five provinces. We also have a Christmas tour in November and December already booked -- 43 shows in five provinces including a stop in Yorkton on Nov. 14.”
Conversely, Woods said the shutdown was a difficult time for a musician used to touring.
“I found the pandemic to be the most depressing time,” he said. “I was not motivated to play or write or even practise sometimes.
“It took a lot of self-discipline to get back to a regular practise routine. Not having a show or a recording to work towards just sucked all the life out of the music for me.
“Having said that, after a couple months of staring at the news everyday thinking COVID would soon be gone, I did manage to get into the studio and record a new album. I also recorded one for my sister, Kendra -- who has played harmony fiddle on all my CDs but had never recorded one of her own.”
It was also an opportunity to do something different that at least put him back on the road.
“Early in the lock downs, I also got bored sitting in the house, so I went out driving long-haul trucks,” said Woods. “As a kid, I always loved trucks and dreamed of one day driving one. Having driven our tour bus all across North America for the past 16 years, I figured that may be as close to a big truck as I would ever get. But thanks to COVID, I got the chance to get out on the open highway for almost two years. I drove mostly USA runs – Texas, Florida, Oregon, Â鶹ÊÓƵ Carolina, Georgia, the mid-west, all up and down the east coast and everywhere in between.
“It was a great experience and I took my fiddle and my dog with me on every trip.”
Now back on the stage Woods has a new show for his long-time fans.
“Our new show this year is called Old Fashioned Hoedown,” he said. “It is based on the old Gene Autry song by the same name. In the lyrics, it says ‘when Lady Luck gives you the throw down, and old man worry starts to mow down, there’s nothing like a good old fashioned hoedown, to chase your blues away.’
“After the lock downs of COVID, that’s pretty much how every musician has been feeling.”
Of course some aspects of a Woods’ show are forever.
“I continue to do my trick fiddling routine -- playing with a coat hanger or broomstick and turning somersaults and walking on a barrel while playing,” he said. “It is a two-hour show that will go by so quick we will have you laughing, crying and singing along with all your favourites.
“We feature many fiddle tunes in the style of Don Messer, Graham Townsend and Al Cherny and incorporate lots of county music, humour and step dancing,” he said. “Not unlike the variety television shows of the past -- Don Messer’s Jubilee, Country Hoedown, Hew Haw and the Tommy Hunter Show, we try to have a fast-paced exciting time for those attending.
“You don’t have to be a fiddle fan or country music fan to get something out of the show.”
The show is multi-talented too.
“Old Fashioned Hoedown features my sister Kendra Norris on fiddle, accordion and piano as well as her famous ‘Minnie Pearl’ comedy routine,” said Woods. “Germain Leduc from Vallefield Quebec cover piano and bass as well as plying his fiddle too.
“And our drummer, 18-year old Leo Stock is the current Canadian Open Step Dancing Champion. Leo also sings and plays his fiddle too. At one point in the show, we feature all four fiddles together in harmony.” Many of Woods’ shows across the country are fundraisers and the show in Rama is for St. Anthony’s Parish. Their full tour schedule and tickets are available to purchase from scottwoods.ca
