Well, Alisdair, truthfully, he ain't my fave fiddler, either technique-wise, or taste-wise, but I've played some and talked some with him at a few festivals, and he's seems curteous, and treats us grizzled veterans nicely.

I think the "edgy" comment (mine) has more to do with his 'neo-punk' personna, and habit of sawing through his bow a lot. The big boots, kilt (yes he DOES wear underwear....just not always) and stage-stomping, won him the audience he apparently was looking for.

Dave Swarbrick's MY fiddle hero!

Cheers

Rick