Bobbi Nikles
Port Townsend based fiddler, Bobbi Nikles performs in a wide array of bands: oldtime, Irish, Jazz combos, and contradance bands.” Her luscious fiddling and driving rhythm add fuel to every project she's with: Swing Jazz and manouche with Jessica Logan & Ryan Hoffman, Irish music with Black Brothers Band and Oldtime music and songs with Jere Canote. She has been a contributor to Strings magazine with articles on bowing technique and instrument evaluation. She founded and directed the acclaimed day camp for young fiddlers-Fiddlekids- in Berkeley, CA. Bobbi is sought after teaching at camps, workshops and in her private studio. She taught at YEA (youth enrichment in the arts) in Port Townsend and at Centrum’s Festival of American Fiddletunes. Her creative and nurturing style naturally incorporate her depth of knowledge and her experience as a teacher for over 30 years. She has appeared on KPTZ on many programs and her performance of "Mr.Sandman" closes out every Cats in Our Laps show.
Photo by Bonnie Obremski
Bobbi Nikles Band
Bobbi Nikles Band brings music to your event in your favorite configuration: solo, duo, trio or full band. Choose classical, Irish, American oldtime, swing jazz or hot Django Gypsy jazz.
Bobbi plays for weddings, parties of all kinds. She has played for Jewish high holidays including the beautiful Kol Nidre piece. Bobbi plays for musical theatre "pit" orchestra for "Always Patsy" always an adored country music project.
Bobbi is easy to work with and can collaborate with you for all the special details of your event!
Here's a bit of family and musical history you might enjoy:
http://riggy.com/jews-in-irish-music-bobbi-nikles/
Fire In The Air
Fire in the Air is Bobbi's acclaimed solo album. The core sound is fiddle and guitar, with various tracks enriched with the harmonic and contrapuntal sounds of mandolin, celtic harp, bass, viola, vielle, and viola da gamba.
Irish jigs, reels and airs are woven into an emotional journey with two of Bobbi's luscious originals, a recently composed Swedish tune, and a ripsnorting toe-tapping polka set. You will find the magical sound of twin fiddles and enjoy the inventive pairing of an Irish reel, American Old-time tune, and Pennies from Heaven.
Fire in the Air is available on Spotify, CDBaby, iTunes, Pandora and other streaming services.
Black Brothers Band
An important affiliation in Bobbi's rich musical constellation is her love for Irish and Celtic music, including a long association with Ireland's foremost family of song: The Black Brothers Band. With the Black Brothers, Bobbi has performed at numerous national festivals including the Milwaukee IrishFest and the Nebraska Irish Festival, as well as at Bay Area concert venues such as the Freight and Salvage, Throckmorton Theatre and San Jose Theatre on the Square. She also performed for many years with Wake the Dead, the popular Celtic Dead band--with appearances at The Fillmore and Slim's.
Fiddlekids
logo design by Marlene Walters, graphic design
Bobbi developed Fiddlekids to fill the void between classical violin and traditional fiddling. Creating a unique, fun-filled summer day camp devoted to traditional fiddle music caught on immediately. Bobbi directed Fiddlekids for 15 years, eventually handing it off to the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse where it continued to be known as an excellent and highly successful program. Bobbi continues to provide important input and guidance.
Douce Ambiance
Douce Ambiance plays a lively blend of captivating gypsy, swing and jazz tunes fueled by the driving rhythm of fiddle, clarinet, guitar, ukulele and doublebass.
With Bobbi on fiddle, Chris White on clarinet & vocals, David Silberberg on guitar & vocals, and Dave Fisher on upright bass, this combo has a great sound!
Here's video we completed for Creativity Explored featuring our recorded music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CU7W3-YaIew
Available for a variety of events!
Teaching
Bobbi is a sought after teacher, attracting fiddle students of all ages and levels. She teaches privately at her home studio as well as conducting workshops and classes at music camps. From "So You Have Always Wanted to Play the Fiddle" workshops, to learning to jam and the "how-tos" of playing for a dance or performing on-stage,
Bobbi has taught countless students over the years in genres including classical, Irish, Old-time Appalachian, contra-dance, and swing jazz. Available in-person and for video lessons.