A self-taught fiddler who plays by ear will stop in Nanaimo as he embarks on a nine-day tour across the province.

As presented by Harbour City Concerts, Calvin Vollrath will perform at the Unitarian Hall on Sunday, Oct. 22. Prior to the concert, he will provide a workshop for the Cross Canada Fiddlers, hosted by Geoff and Trish Horrocks.

According to a release, the fiddler will tour with Jeremy Rusu, “an incredibly talented blind musician” from Ontario who will not only accompany Vollrath on piano, accordion and guitar, but amaze audiences with his “uncanny sense” of anticipating the fiddler’s musical thoughts.

“Jeremy has a special talent and I can’t wait to make music with him, as together I know we will entertain and wow audiences,” said Vollrath in the release.

The release adds that Vollrath is considered “the driving force behind the revitalization of fiddle music in Canada,” having released 72 albums and composed more than 800 tunes – many of which are played in fiddle contests and dance halls across North America and Europe. Vollrath was commissioned to compose five tunes for the 2010 Winter Games opening ceremonies, and has been recognized with several honours including the induction into the North American Fiddler’s Hall of Fame and the Country Music Alberta Hall of Fame.

While his roots are in Canadian fiddle music, Vollrath embraces and excels in many styles and at any one of his concerts, audiences could potentially hear something from the Beatles, Louis Armstrong, Tom Jones, Hank Williams, Stephen Grapelli or Bob Wills.

Tickets for the Nanaimo show can be purchased online at www.eventbrite.ca.

READ MORE: Nanaimo folk-rock singer re-imagines music with orchestra accompaniment

Follow @nanaimobulletin