Natalie MacMaster has drawn a line on time, putting bow to fiddle once again for this, her first solo album release in eight years. Sketches was released on November 1st, 2019 through Linus Entertainment.
With over 300,000 albums sold, Canada’s most-endeared and revered fiddler has received countless nominations and award wins — including but not limited to a GRAMMY Award win and nomination, a JUNO Award win and seven nominations, 19 East Coast Music Association awards, and five Canadian Country Music Association’s “Fiddler of the Year” nods — as well as three honorary doctorates, an induction into the Casino Nova Scotia Hall of Fame, and a member of the Order of Canada.
But for Sketches, the Celtic music superstar is drawing on a different set of numbers for inspiration.
“It is a moment during my 47th year of life, my 37th year of fiddling, my 16th year of marriage, and my 13th year of parenting,” MacMaster says of the forthcoming release, and in reference to her seven children and husband and fellow fiddler Donnell Leahy. “It’ll be a moment of joyous appreciation inspired by years of parenting, marriage, friendships, music, and life.”
This is a professional life that includes performances with Béla Fleck, Faith Hill, Carlos Santana, The Chieftains, Sharon, Lois & Bram, Buddy MacMaster and Jesse Cook, as well as award-winning collaborations with Yo-Yo Ma, and a blended line with award-winning collaborations with Donnell and their children. And speaking on the family-front, she’s distantly related to fiddler Ashley MacIsaac and rocker Jack White and spends much of her time collaborating with Donnell as well as putting her teaching degree to use homeschooling their children.
Sketches is a return to a solo sound, and the result is a fiery, must-hear collection of traditional tunes and medleys mixed with new compositions. The album teems with retrospect and legacy as MacMaster reflects on her extraordinary journey in both life and career.
“I have something to say through my fiddle,” she says.
Hear what it is; Sketches is available now.
Natalie MacMaster USA Tour Dates
November 29, 2019 Opera House, Waterville, ME ^
November 30, 2019 Newton Theatre, Newton, NJ ^
December 1, 2019 Paramount Theater - Rutland, VT ^
December 3, 2019 Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Burlington, VT ^
December 4, 2019 Fine Arts Center Concert Hall, Amherst, MA ^
December 5, 2019 Quick Center, Fairfield, CT ^
December 6, 2019 Grunin Center For the Arts, Toms River, NJ ^
December 8, 2019 Hylton Performing Arts Center/Merchant Hall, Manassas, VA ^
December 10, 2019 Weis Center For The Performing Arts, Lewisburg, PA, ^
December 11, 2019 Majestic at the Jennifer and David LeVan Performing Arts Center, Gettysburg, PA^
December 12, 2019 Clair Performance Hall, Winter Visual & Performing Arts Center, Millersville, PA^
December 13, 2019 The Cabot, Beverly, MA ^
December 14, 2019 Staller Center For The Arts, Stonybrook, NY ^
December 15, 2019 Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA ^
December 17, 2019 Macky Auditorium Concert Hall, Boulder, CO ^
December 18, 2019 UCCS Ent Center For The Arts, Colorado Springs, CO ^
December 20, 2019 Lensic Performing Arts Center, Sante Fe, NM ^
^ Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy’s A Celtic Family Christmas
