LEWISTON — Perpetual e-Motion, featuring fiddler Ed Howe and guitarist John Cote, is acclaimed throughout New England for its driving, pulsating music for contra dances, which rely on traditional dance tunes for backup. The Celtic/trance duo, which draws from Celtic, bluegrass, jazz and electronic influences, will perform at 9 p.m. Friday, July 3, at She Doesn’t Like Guthries.
Born into a musical family, Howe started playing fiddle at age 4, learning the Suzuki method. His musical interests cover a wide spectrum from bluegrass to Celtic and beyond, and he has been an instructor for Maine Fiddle Camp since 2003. He has an extensive electronics background and took an interest in the electric violin. He plays a five-string NS Designs electronic violin and makes extensive use of the BOSS RC-50 loop station to layer and orchestrate a variety of sounds from his instrument.
Cote is a well-known accompanist for many Maine and New England fiddlers. He is a private teacher and an instructor at Maine Fiddle Camp. He attended the Berklee College of Music for a five-week music program in high school and for two years after high school to study film scoring. He later transferred to the University of Maine at Augusta’s jazz program and earned a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance. At 22, he took an interest in traditional dance music, teaching himself the mandolin and fiddle; and helped found the Celtic/world band Wake the Neighbors.
In Perpetual e-Motion, Cote plays a Godin acoustic electric guitar connected into synthesizer module, adding a wide palette of sounds to the music. Aside from his duties on guitar, he simultaneously plays the didgeridoo, an Australian aboriginal instrument, and foot percussion.
For a sampling of the duo’s music, log on to www.perpetuale-motion.com.
Guthries is at 115 Middle St.

Copy the Story Link