FIVE of the best young fiddle players from the Scottish highlands and islands catch fire at the National Centre for Early Music, York, on Tuesday.

Catriona Macdonald, from the Shetland Isles, Aidan O'Rourke, from the Isle of Seil, and their fellow fiddlers Allan Henderson, Bruce MacGregor and Iain MacFarlane first performed together in 1998 in a one-off showcase at the Highland Festival.

Their Blazin' Fiddles project has since developed into a fully-fledged band with Marc Clement on guitar and Andy Thorburn on piano.

Described by the Scotsman newspaper as "the Led Zeppelin of the folk world", Blazin' Fiddles have released two albums on their own Blazin' Records label, Fire On! in 2000 and The Old Style in 2002. Plans are afoot for a third album, featuring the band members in solo performance.

Blazin' Fiddles first played York in a sell-out show in 2003. Tickets for Tuesday's 8pm concert, promoted by the Black Swan Folk Club, cost £13, concessions £11, on 01904 658338 or boxoffice@ncem.co.uk

Updated: 15:31 Thursday, March 10, 2005