"I grew up in the Ottawa Valley and my parents were fans of the local music scene and so I was surrounded [by it] growing up. It's always been a part of my life as long as I remember."
April Verch has been step dancing since she was three and fiddling since she was six. The two go together, although the difficulty of each rises when done simultaneously, as Verch does at her performances with April Verch Band.
Verch and the band are on tour in support of their latest release, The Newpart, and return to North Battleford this Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Dekker Centre, where locals will have an opportunity to see and hear the Vancouver Winter Olympics opening ceremony performer's moves and music firsthand.
A key set piece to those opening ceremonies back in 2010 was the notion that fiddling has made its way into Canada's national identity. From coast to coast, players learn the traditional songs of the area.
Being from the Ottawa Valley, where Irish and French traditional music has deep roots, Verch was introduced to the area's heritage at a young age. Her musical repertoire and education has continued to grow beyond her hometown of Rankin, Ont.
Verch says that, in addition to traditional fiddle music, the culture surrounding it is what kept her playing for audiences after all these years.
"Whenever I was around [the music] people were having a good time," says Verch.
"It was kind of the way people celebrated. Being able to share it and make people happy is one of my favourite parts."
