Post by Joe on Feb 18, 2011 16:46:47 GMT -5
When it comes to describing a musican, one must think of several important points. Determination, performance and agility are three that spring to mind.
Rachel Davis has these important points and so many more.
A native of Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Rachel has spent well over half of her young life developing her craft of fiddle playing, under the guidance of her grandfather, Clarence Long.
From then, Rachel's fiddle skills were honed by such teachers as Karen Beaton and Kyle MacNeil.
In 2007, Rachel won the Tic Butler Memorial Award, given each year to a young performer for outstanding contribution to Cape Breton culture.
She accompanied the Cape Breton Fiddlers Association to Scotland in the summer of 2008.
As 2009 unfolded, Rachel received the Frank “Big Sampy” Sampson Award, which is sponsored by the Celtic Colours Festival Volunteer Drive’er Association, and Lakewind Sound Studios, giving financial aid for a Cape Breton artist to record their first CD. Rachel was nominated for a Canadian Folk Music Award in the Young Performer of the Year category.
Rachel's self-titled debut CD was released during the Celtic Colours Festival that October, with a CD release party held at the late night Festival Club. Reviews of the CD have been fantastic; with articles in the Cape Breton Post and Rambles.net.
In the spring of 2010 Rachel and Buddy MacDonald toured New England and also Prince Edward Island to take part in the weeklong Festival of Small Halls.
This year will very active for Rachel. She will accompany The Cottars during their tour of Australia in March into the first days of April. When she comes home from that, she will perform a showcase at the ECMA's East Coast Music Week 2011 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
Forthcoming tours will include the eastern USA and British Columbia.
