John Arcand, the undisputed “Master of the Métis Fiddle”.
Originally from the Debden - Big River area of Saskatchewan, John now makes his home southwest of Saskatoon. He started playing fiddle at the age of six with coaching from his Father and Grandfather and by age twelve he was playing for dances. His impeccable sense of timing and flowing rhythm comes from learning to watch the dancers feet at this early age and from this he developed and refined a style of playing that has helped him become a legend in the fiddle world. People often refer to him as the “dancer’s choice”!
John has made sixteen recordings to date, and still plays and records the Traditional Métis tunes of his Father and Grandfather as well as those he continues to research, learn and pass on. He is also a prolific writer having composed over 390 original tunes.
John has spent his lifetime promoting and preserving the Métis traditions of Fiddle and Dance and old time fiddling. His contribution to the music world encompasses the preservation of these traditions, and his on-going efforts to offer a venue where all of this can be seen, appreciated and shared - The John Arcand Fiddle Fest. Held annually on the second weekend of August right here on his acreage, the John Arcand Fiddle Fest has become one of the major fiddle events in Western Canada.
"The Roof" where the John Arcand Fiddle Festival competitions, concerts and Old Time Dances are held.
Cache placed with the landowner's permission.