The Becketts “thrilled to return” to Heritage Music Festival

July 12, 2018 · 0 Comments

International fiddle performer Linsey Beckett says, “The Becketts are thrilled to be returning” as the Thursday night entertainment for the Shelburne Heritage Music Festival (HMF.) “Fiddle music is deeply rooted in our family’s heritage,” she says, “so having the opportunity to perform on the iconic Shelburne stage is a huge honour.”

The Becketts, who have incorporated three and even four generations of the family into the show over the years have opened for acts like the late Canadian entertainer, Gordie Tapp, and Grammy-winner Charlie McCoy. They have enjoyed entertaining at a variety of country and folk festivals, performing with their “all-star band, equipped with telecaster and acoustic guitar, piano and swingin’ steel guitar.”

Stars of the show, siblings Linsey and Tyler Beckett, are both past fiddle contest winners, and Linsey is an award winning step dancer. They are two time Canadian duet fiddle champions and three time Ontario duet champions.

“Tyler and I can confidently say that the Shelburne fiddle contest played a large role in our development of becoming professional fiddle players,” says Linsey, “and we are grateful for the opportunities and memories we have from our years of competing.”

Linsey says she is “truly honoured” to be a judge at the contest this year, stating her hope is to encourage as many fiddle players of all ages and abilities to participate and experience this wonderful tradition. Other judges include Scott Woods, Tyler Beckett, Karen Reed, Devon Ballagh and Kendra Norris.

“We can’t wait to kick off the Heritage Music Festival in true fiddle-style,” says Linsey, “with lots of Canadian Old Time Fiddling, Traditional Country Music and Ottawa Valley Step Dancing. Over the past 68 years, many of our “fiddling heroes” have competed or performed at The Canadian Open Fiddle Championships, including our Grandpa, Stan, who competed at Shelburne for the first time in 1952.”

Tyler Beckett’s bio includes working with musical artists, including the award winning bluegrass group, The Chapmans. Tyler has also established himself as a valued multi-instrumentalist, playing with Jason McCoy on a Canadian Service Tour to Afghanistan, and performing with a number of CCMA winners. Tyler currently holds the 2017 Central Bluegrass Fiddle Player of the Year Award for the fifth time.

Linsey Beckett’s bio includes working as a full-time musician and touring regularly with a variety of musical artists, including Charlie Major and Kelly Prescott. She has performed with the international string production Bowfire which led to exciting opportunities, performing with symphonies, Sean Connery’s 80th Birthday celebration in the Bahamas, and on the runway of New York Fashion Week’s “Dressed to Kilt.” Linsey continues to freelance, perform and record with a variety of traditional fiddle, country and contemporary acts.

The Heritage Music Festival, featuring the 68th Canadian Open Old Time Fiddle Championship, will take place August 8-12, 2018 in Shelburne. As always, the proceeds of the events go to support Shelburne Rotary’s many charitable projects, including the BMX riding area in Greenwood Park; renovation and expansion of the Centre Dufferin Recreation Centre; Headwaters Health Care Centre; renovations at the Shelburne Library; Girl Guides and Boy Scouts; minor sports, such as hockey, baseball, figure skating, lacrosse, soccer; the Christmas Hamper Program, the Shepherd’s Cupboard food bank and many more.

The Heritage Music Festival and the 68th Canadian Open Fiddle Championship present The Beckett’s “with their arrangements of traditional country, bluegrass, western swing and Canadian old-time fiddling, combined with exhilarating Ottawa Valley step-dancing” on Thursday, August 9th at 7:30 pm at the CDRC. Bar available. Tickets can be purchased at heritagemusicfestival.ca or at Holmes Music Shop, Main Street, Shelburne or call 519-925-3037, purchase online at EventBrite.