Oliver is a genius. He pushes the envelope every which way but knows his musical roots inside and out. His recordings are worth listening to again and again but if you every get a chance to hear him live do not miss it.

Unfortunately Oliver is very ill. There are 2 benefit concerts for him next week at HUGH'ROOM in Toronto - with some of Canada's finest performing. I've copied below from the H.R. website - down below discusses his illness in more detail:

OLIFIDDLE
A GRAND MUSICAL CELEBRATION & FUNDRAISER

TUESDAY JUNE 19, 2007
Host - Shelagh Rogers
(CBC's 'Sounds Like Canada')
featuring

Sharlene Wallace
Don Ross
Ian Bell & Anne Lederman
Holmes Hooke
Steafan Hannigan with Saskia
Stephen Fearing

Set 2
Betty & The Bobs
Sahra Featherstone
Brent Titcomb
Stewed Tomatoes
James Keelaghan

w/ Mark Duggan: percussion

* * * *

THURSDAY JUNE 21, 2007
Host - Stuart McLean (CBC's 'Vinyl Cafe')

Set 1
Sandy MacIntyre
John Herberman
Liam Titcomb
Teresa Doyle
James Keelaghan

Set 2
Michael Wrycraft
Anne Lindsay
Bobby Watt
Jesse Cook
Brian Pickell
Don Ross

w/ Ravi Naimpally:­ tabla, percussion

Tickets are going fast for this two-night tribute to
and benefit for, Oliver Schroer – a much-loved
fiddler across Canada. Oliver is currently
battling leukemia and has chosen to return
to Toronto for his intensive treatment in
order to be near his family and large
circle of friends.

This promises to be two of the most star-studded
evenings in a very long time, that are both to
celebrate his remarkable musical career, to date,
and also to raise funds to help Oliver get through
a difficult health crisis since he will likely be
unable to work for many months to come. One
of the major reasons we are coming together is
to raise awareness for the donor bank, which
in Oliver's case could be the life saver. In the
past the only way to donate bone marrow was
a very painful experience for donors - these
days it is a similar procedure to giving blood
except the filtered blood is returned to the
blood donor! Coincidentally, the week
of June 10 is National Blood Week.

***************

I'll be there on the 21st.
~b.w.