An excited crowd packed around the outdoor stage in front of L.L. Bean on September 2nd, waiting for the incredible fiddling and step-dancing talents of Natalie MacMaster. Sitting down comfortably on a chair, she immediately starts playing a high-tempo number as the crowd cheers and taps their feet along.

Before the next song, she talks about the last time (in 2001) that she played at L.L. Bean and about what has changed since then. For one, she’s had her second child, a boy. She then introduces the band, and swings into another tune. Soon her husband (Donnell Leahy who also plays fiddle, including with the band Leahy) steps out, and they playa bunch of songs together. Natalie also does a number fiddle-less, with only her tap shoes and the drummer, in a very creative manner. A stunning bagpipe solo is also performed by a band member.

Natalie’s hometown is Cape Bretton Island, and her uncle is Buddy MacMaster, who is also a famous fiddler. Ever since she first started playing the fiddle at age nine, Natalie’s talent has showed and grown. Her tenth album, Yours Truly, is coming out on October 10, and she has one “Best Female Artist of the Year” in 2005 at Canada’s East Coast Music Awards. Yours Truly also contains a piece titled “Farewell to Peter,” in the honor of Peter Jennings, a journalist and news anchor, and also a big fan.

I myself found the concert a wonderful way to enjoy fiddling, because Natalie incorporates in a drum set, beautiful keyboard, guitar, and cello, and several other instruments. If you ever have a chance to go see her, take it, because it was an amazing experience that I would love to go through again. If you want to learn more about Natalie check out http://www.nataliemacmaster.com.