NAFCo History
The idea of a convention devoted to fiddlers, fiddle music, and dance from different countries around the North Atlantic Rim started modestly in 2000 at the University of Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute with a small pilot project that brought together fiddlers from the Northeast of Scotland.
Then, in 2001, the first international conference was launched, attracting participants from such countries as Ireland, Sweden, the United States, Canada, and Norway.
Building on the success of these events, the 2006 convention brought together participants from more than ten different countries, attracting an audience of 13,000 attendees.
As a member of the audience from Alberta, commented, it was “a fabulous conference and festival with so many wonder activities to take part in . . . I loved the mixture of academic and ‘real life’ music and dance.”
In essence, this unique convention creates a vibrant atmosphere where scholars and players and scholar-players share concepts as they share tunes, songs, and dances.
NAFCo offers remarkable opportunities for cross-fertilizing ideas, as well as opportunities to enjoy an amazing variety of styles of music played by absolute masters of the fiddle.
By hosting the convention in Newfoundland & Labrador, we aim to build on the international perspective of the event, attracting new audiences and crossing over into a threshold of fiddling as never seen before.
Our province has always been on the cusp of cultural innovation, celebrating its heritage in many distinct ways. The convention will also place us on the world stage with a cultural focus on music and dance, attracting tourists from around the globe.
Located in the mid-Atlantic, this province is an appropriate place for fiddlers from the old world to meet and exchange musical ideas and creativity with those reflecting the cultures that settled in North America. Fiddle aficionados and tourists alike will hear a wide range of fiddling traditions with considerable international representation.
For information on previous events, visit www.abdn.ac.uk/elphinstone/events/nafco06/home.shtml