 The idea of a convention devoted to fiddlers, fiddle music, and dance from different countries around the North Atlantic Rim started modestly in 2000 at the University of Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute with a small pilot project that brought together fiddlers from the Northeast of Scotland.
Then, in 2001, the first international conference was launched, attracting participants from such countries as Ireland, Sweden, the United States, Canada, and Norway.
Building on the success of these events, the 2006 convention brought together participants from more than ten different countries, attracting an audience of 13,000 attendees.
As a member of the audience from Alberta, commented, it was “a fabulous conference and festival with so many wonder activities to take part in . . . I loved the mixture of academic and ‘real life’ music and dance.”
In essence, this unique convention creates a vibrant atmosphere where scholars and players and scholar-players share concepts as they share tunes, songs, and dances.
NAFCo offers remarkable opportunities for cross-fertilizing ideas, as well as opportunities to enjoy an amazing variety of styles of music played by absolute masters of the fiddle.
By hosting the convention in Newfoundland & Labrador, we aim to build on the international perspective of the event, attracting new audiences and crossing over into a threshold of fiddling as never seen before.
Our province has always been on the cusp of cultural innovation, celebrating its heritage in many distinct ways. The convention will also place us on the world stage with a cultural focus on music and dance, attracting tourists from around the globe.
Located in the mid-Atlantic, this province is an appropriate place for fiddlers from the old world to meet and exchange musical ideas and creativity with those reflecting the cultures that settled in North America. Fiddle aficionados and tourists alike will hear a wide range of fiddling traditions with considerable international representation.
The theme ‘Crossing Over’ has been chosen for the 2008 event, symbolizing the first time the convention has been held in North America.
The concept also points to Newfoundland and Labrador’s distinct geographical and cultural position in the global community.
Situated at the most easterly point of Canada between the old world and the new world, historically our province has long been an important cross-over point for both First Nations and European cultures.
Since the late eighteenth century, it has provided a new home for settlers mainly of Irish, Scottish, English, Portuguese, and French origin who made their way across to the new world, transporting their music and dance traditions with them.
In recent years it has been a key migration point for immigrants wishing to move to the new world.
Performers:
Scotland
Paul Anderson
Alisdair Fraser and Natalie Haas
Ireland
Matt Cranitch
Seamus Creagh
England
Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
Denmark
Haugaard and Høirup
Canada
Éric Favreau and Paul Marchand
Fiddle Stories
Ivan and Vivian Hicks
Anne Lederman with Tom Leighton
Erynn Marshall and Dave Clarke
Kelly Russell
Pierre Schryer and Andy Hillhouse
Christina Smith
Mike Stevens and Raymond McLain
Brenda Stubbert with Janine Randall
France
Christian Lemaître
USA
Alan Jabbour
Ken Perlman
Liz Carroll and John Doyle
http://www.mun.ca/nafco2008/about/ | 
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