EARLVILLE – On Friday, Sept. 2, the Earlville Opera House welcomes the April Verch Band traveling from Ontario in support of their newest CD, with the Band to play the historic stage at 8 p.m. International webzine of cultural criticism Pop Matters talks about April Verch renowned for both her championship fiddle and stepdancing: “April is often compared to Alison Krauss. She is ‘a master of subtlety and precision ...”  This concert is generously sponsored by Dr. William Graber, Weight Loss Surgery and by media sponsor WAER FM.

April Verch is emerging as one of the top female artists in the roots music genre. A modern pioneer of Ontario’s Ottawa Valley tradition, she has built a repertoire rich in original tunes influenced by a treasure chest of musical jewels passed down through generations. Her fiddling and stepdancing styles were shaped by the region’s French, Irish, Scottish, Polish, and German immigrants drawn to the lumber camps of the mid-1800s.

 April holds two fiddling championships – Canadian Grand Masters Fiddle Champion and Canadian Open Fiddle Champion. Between 2001 and 2006, she produced three albums on Rounder Records. In addition to her fiddle virtuosity and remarkable stepdancing, April has become a soulful songstress, using her vocals to draw the listener into her wistful and evocative lyrics.  Her singing has drawn this comparison: “Her clear soprano voice sounds like a mix of a young Olivia Newton-John and a younger Dolly Parton.”

April Verch is joined by Cody Walters on upright bass and banjo and by Clay Ross on guitar as well as a mix of other instruments including the Kashakas, an African instrument.  The Band delivers traditional roots tunes, bluegrass and newgrass melodies and country music. When April trades her fiddling for the rhythmic stepdancing, the band takes on the sound of the old lumber camp halls. Tapping exhilarating cadences while dancing and with intricate rifts on her fiddle, the overall effect is electrifying.