Last year鈥檚 concert series at the Old Church Theatre proved live music is alive and well in the Comox Valley.

鈥淲e produced 22 concerts last year, all during a time when many venues were shutting down or at least, curtailing their activities and our audiences were great for every single show,鈥� said OCT artistic director Doug Cox.

This year鈥檚 series starts with a diverse celebration of the many styles of music that make up what has become known as 鈥榬oots鈥� music. This is no surprise to people who know Cox鈥檚 history as the booker of Vancouver Island MusicFest for coming on 30 years now.

鈥淲e have the best-of-the-best all coming to our intimate venue, and the sound and vibe at the Old Church Theatre has been magical for these shows,鈥� said Cox.

Beginning Friday, Jan. 6, Scottish fiddle legend Alasdair Fraser teams up with his long-time musical partner, cellist, Natalie Haas for an evening of folk, celtic and even classical string music. You can expect some cutting-edge fiddle and cello explorations of Scottish and global music throughout the evening.

Reviewers have praised this world-class duo.

鈥淵ou would think they鈥檇 been playing together for centuries. While his fiddle dances, her cello throbs darkly or plucks puckishly. Then [Haas] opens her cello鈥檚 throat, joining Fraser in soaring sustains, windswept refrains, and sudden, jazzy explosions. Their sound is as urbane as a Manhattan midnight, and as wild as a Clackmannan winter,鈥� says the Boston Globe.

Fraser and Haas continue to thrill audiences internationally with their virtuosic playing, their near-telepathic understanding and the joyful spontaneity and sheer physical presence of their music.

Limited tickets are still available for this show and all upcoming shows at oldchurchtheatreshows.com