Ah, August in the Bay Area: foggy mornings, languid afternoons, and . . . the Freight Fiddle Summit! Once again, we're proud to host the annual kickoff for Alasdair Fraser's Valley of the Moon Scottish Fiddling Camp, a rousing evening of fiddle magic from some of Celtic music's most celebrated players.

Fiddle Summit host Alasdair Fraser is justly renowned for his warmth and wit as well as his music. One of Scotland's most valued tradition-bearers, his richly expressive playing transports listeners across a broad spectrum ranging from haunting laments drawn from the Gaelic tradition to classically styled airs and raucous dance tunes, all delivered with sincerity, flawless virtuosity, and the sweetest of sounds. Alasdair performs with brilliant young cellist Natalie Haas. The two showcase driving, dancing rhythms from their most recent duo album, Fire and Grace, for which they won the Scots Traditional Music Award for Album of the Year in 2004.

Joining Alasdair are fiddle camp faculty members, including, Annbjørg Lien, one of Norway's most prominent fiddlers, and Catriona MacDonald, a proud bearer of the fiddle traditions of the Shetland Islands.