What with all the green sprouting of late, along with the splashes of color allowed us in the form of tulips and lilacs, irises and fruit blossoms, the idea of getting out to see some fiddling and step-dancing feels downright perfect. That makes it all that more imperative to reserve some tix for the internationally renowned Canadian fiddler, singer/songwriter and step-dancer April Verch at the Unison Arts and Learning Center in New Paltz this Saturday night, May 21 at 8 p.m. Verch blends old-time, folk, jazz and bluegrass music with infectious energy, backed by longtime accompanists Clay Ross on guitar and Cody Walters on upright electric bass and banjo, and clearly demonstrates what it is about Ottawa Valley step-dancing that’s winning acolytes around the world.

A native of rural Ontario – the same breeding ground of Joni Mitchell and Neil Young (following starts farther west on the prairies) – Verch was the first woman to win both of Canada’s most prestigious fiddle championships: the Grand Masters and Canadian Open. In 2010, she represented her country musically at the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. She has released seven albums to date and is putting the finishing touches on an eighth, in which she incorporates American bluegrass stylings. Verch has just returned from a tour of China, and is headed to Alaska after her New York State sojourn.

Her May 21 concert at Unison starts at 8 p.m. Unison is located on Mountain Rest Road just west of New Paltz. For further information and reservations call (845) 255-1559 or visit www.unisonarts.org.