Super fiddlers on last tour

BRATTLEBORO- Led by acclaimed fiddler and luthier Bob Childs, Childsplay is heading on tour one last time and will make a special stop at the Latchis Theatre on Sunday, November 17, at 7:30 pm.
  The farewell tour will feature music from the group’s seven albums and will include surprise guests that have been part of Childsplay during their 32-year run.  
With more than 30 years of performances under their belt, Childsplay has introduced thousands to the delights of traditional Irish, French-Canadian, Cape Breton, bluegrass, Appalachian, and Scandinavian fiddle music, as well as jazz, swing, and classical music.
 The name “Childsplay” derives from the fact that the musicians in the group play violins and violas crafted by Childs. Originally trained by violin maker Ivie Mann, of Orrington, ME, Childs has been crafting violins for more than 40 years. On stage the instruments create a familial quality that unites all the violins in a singular voice that is both beautiful and powerful.
 Childsplay features more than two dozen of the leading virtuosos in traditional and contemporary fiddle music including all-Ireland fiddle champion Sheila Falls, national Scottish fiddle champions Hanneke Cassel and Katie McNally, and Boston Symphony violinist Bonnie Bewick. Mix in the exquisite voice of Irish folk singer Karan Casey, the step dancing of Kevin Doyle, as well as the hambone artistry of Virginia fiddler Steve Hickman, and this becomes a very special event.
 The Brattleboro area has long been well-represented in the ranks of Childsplay musicians, and this year’s concert is no exception. Local performers Keith Murphy, Lissa Schneckenburger, Naomi Morse, and Molly Gawler are slated to be on stage at the Latchis.
 The Latchis is at 50 Main Street. Visit childsplay.org or latchisarts.org for tickets and more information.