About
The Folk Arts Quartet (FAQ) combines folk styles from the fiddle world with the arts heritage of the classical string quartet. The result is a new, grooving, and prodigiously tasteful progressive string quartet. As the musicians of FAQ pioneer this style they are gaining recognition for their musicianship and innovation.
The original members of the Folk Arts Quartet met while studying at the Berklee College of Music, arranging traditional tunes and original compositions using an array of techniques and ideas. Their groovy, contemporary style nods to their many influences and breathes new life into folk and chamber music. They perform a mix of their original compositions and modern-day spins on old time and traditional Celtic tunes. The members each bring different backgrounds to the group, creating a wonderful mixture of distinct musical styles “that fuse grooving, dancing fiddle music with the best of string quartet arranging and texture,” says fiddle guru, Matt Glaser. The FAQ has had the honor of being mentored by some of the best contemporary string players around, including Eugene Friesen, Mads Tolling, and John McGann.
The Folk Arts Quartet recently released their debut self-titled album to critical acclaim. “Evidently passionate and extremely tight, it was an absolute delight to see them perform,” says Anja McCloskey, writer for Wears the Trousers Magazine. Scots Trad Music Award winner and FAQ mentor, Natalie Haas, says “The Folk Arts Quartet is comprised of four incredibly talented young [musicians], each bringing their own unique style of fiddling to this group that is the first of its kind in the Celtic genre. They are taking the string world by storm with their zesty arrangements of both traditional and original tunes, blending the raw, folksy sounds of a string band with the sophistication and grace of a classical string quartet.”
The Folk Arts Quartet has stormed onto the global folk scene, receiving rave reviews wherever they perform. In the words of Matt Glaser, “There’s really nothing else like them…check them out; you’ll be glad you did!”
