When he鈥檚 onstage, Scott Woods is always moving.
The fiddler will swing his instrument behind his back as he plays. He鈥檒l perform somersaults during songs. His stunts have earned him three Canadian Novelty Fiddle Championship titles and the nickname 鈥渢he Flippin鈥� Fiddler.鈥�
He鈥檚 a big ball of energy. And that鈥檚 before he stands on a barrel.
鈥淚t鈥檚 one of the toughest tricks I do,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou have to get on it slowly.鈥�
Woods walks on the barrel as it rolls across the stage, playing his fiddle all the while. He鈥檚 been doing this trick for so long it鈥檚 second nature.
鈥淚t鈥檚 fun stuff,鈥� he said.
Yorktonites can expect the barrel stunt, along with others, when Woods comes to town in November.
Woods and his band are hosting an Old Time Christmas show across the country. The Yorkton show begins at 7 p.m. at St. Andrew鈥檚 United Church on Nov. 15. It will run for about two hours.聽
Woods said it will be completely different from their usual shows.
鈥淚t鈥檚 Christmas music from start to finish...with our own fiddle spin,鈥� he said.聽
鈥淚t鈥檚 very grassroots,鈥� he added. 鈥淲e keep the Christ part of Christmas in it.鈥�
The tour begins in Beausejour, Manitoba, on Nov. 14. Their second show will be in Yorkton.
Woods鈥� band was in Yorkton last June. This will be their first Christmas show in western Canada in over 12 years.
鈥淧eople [in the west] said they鈥檇 love to see our Christmas show,鈥� Woods said.
The band will be performing 34 shows in 34 days across five provinces. It鈥檚 a big undertaking. The band has gone through long tours, but not during the Christmas season.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be tough,鈥� said Woods, who drives the tour bus. 鈥淪ome of the drives are pretty long.
鈥淗ope the bus keeps working.鈥�
Woods will be joined by other talented fiddlers, drummers, and guitarists. Leo Stock, 13, is joining the band for the first time during the tour as a step dancer.
鈥淚 know the crowd is going to love him,鈥� Woods said.
Woods thinks Christmas shows are important because of the strong memories they evoke.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a nostalgic time, whatever age [you are],鈥� he said. 鈥淚t brings out a lot of strong emotions.
鈥淲e try and celebrate that with music.鈥�
Woods has seen how his band鈥檚 music resonates with people and he hopes the Christmas show is no different.
鈥淲hen we can connect with the audience, it鈥檚 heartwarming,鈥� he said.
Woods is thrilled to play聽 a lot of the Christmas classics, but he鈥檚 particularly excited for an instrumental rendition of 鈥淥 Holy Night.鈥�
鈥淣othing says Christmas any clearer,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 one I always look forward to.
鈥淵ou almost get goosebumps.鈥�
Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $10 for children age six-12. Kids under five get in for free. Tickets can be purchased at the St. Andrew鈥檚 United Church office or by calling 306-783-4157.
