String Sisters are a Grammy long-listed folk supergroup made up six of the world’s leading female fiddlers. In January 1998 at the world-renowned Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow, Scotland, Shetland fiddler Catriona MacDonald was commissioned to assemble the world’s leading female fiddlers. Macdonald brought together friends and collaborators from Ireland, USA, Norway and Sweden to perform the festival’s biggest concert of that year. Catriona arranged the concert set with fellow fiddle players Annbjørg Lien, Liz Knowles, Catriona MacDonald, Liz Carroll, Emma Härdelin and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, who also provides vocals for the group. It wasn’t until 2005 that the name String Sisters was penned. Until then, the group members could not be together at once due to their solo careers, Mairéad’s work with Altan and Liz Carroll’s work with John Doyle. Almost seven years later, the group commenced a Norwegian tour, recording its début album and DVD, Live. String Sisters toured throughout 2009, and are currently working on a new album. String Sisters are Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh — Irish fiddle, vocals (Ireland), Annbjørg Lien — Hardanger Fiddle (Norway), Liz Knowles — fiddle (USA), Catriona MacDonald — fiddle (Shetland, Scotland), Liz Carroll — fiddle (USA) and Emma Härdelin — Fiddle, vocals (Sweden).
May 2011
