“Pocket Venus refers to a woman who is petite in height, yet voluptuous and curvy at the same time,” says Skelpin fiddler Patric Petrie of her 2013 solo album title. “I’m maybe 5’ 2’ on a good day, and supposedly did not make the cut for Celtic Women because I was too short.”

There are other fiddlers, of course, but there is only one Patric Petrie.

Blessed with that rare combination of beauty, talent and riveting stage presence, she is a virtuoso performer, making her name playing Celtic and world music-inspired tunes and winning fans of all genres from San Diego to Tokyo.

As a founding member of the award-winning acoustic group Skelpin, she's won several honors, including the 2010 San Diego Music Awards Trophy for Best World Music Album.

Now comes her debut solo release and it lives up to every bit of the anticipation her fans have had for years. Its lush, atmospheric sound is no accident, Petrie has crafted her debut album around a select core of nationally-recognized musicians and infused its tracks with the passion, romance, and steampunk sensibilities of la Belle Celtique. In the capable hands of Grammy Award-winning producer Alan Sanderson, it's a masterwork and the first step in her new focus on solo material.

Songs:

1) Gan anam

2) The Steampunk Waltz featuring Matt Hensley, accordion

3) The Parting Glass

4) The Crested Hens

5) Le Petite Django

6) I Know My Love

7) Star of the County Down

8) Har Du Svenska?

9) Sally Gardens

10) Innisheer

Musicians:

Patric Petrie: Violin, five-string violin, vocals

Paul Castellanos: Mandolin, guitar, five-string violin

Tim Foley: Low D whistle, pennywhistle, bodhran
Matt Hensley: Accordion

Steve Peavey: Guitar

Pedro Talarico: Guitar