THE 2015 BBC Radio 2 folk musician of the year winner, Sam Sweeney, will be at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil next month as part of his Made in the Great War tour.

Eight years ago, Sam bought a violin in Oxford. It had all the appearance of a new instrument but the label inside gave the date 1915 and the name Richard S. Howard.

Research revealed that the violin had been made, but never finished, by a luthier and some-time music hall performer from Leeds called Richard Spencer Howard.

He had joined the army in 1915 at the age of 35 and less than two years later fought and was killed at the Battle of Messines. His violin had been left unfinished in his workshop.

Discovering the history behind Richard and the fiddle inspired Sam to create a multi-media performance telling the incredible story of the fiddle which took nearly 100 years to complete, finally being finished by luthier Roger Claridge in 2007.

Sam performs the show with the actual fiddle.

“Working on this show has completely changed the way that I see the First World War,” said Sam, who is known for his work as fiddle player in the acclaimed Bellowhead folk band.

“By looking at it through the story of one man, I have begun to understand so much more about war and its impact on people.”

Since taking the show on the road during 2014, another Richard Howard Violin ‘No. 2’ has come to light, the story behind this fiddle continues to unfold bringing previously unknown descendents and relatives together for the first time at shows.

The Made in the Great War show is being held at the Octagon Theatre in Yeovil on Monday, September 7, 2015, and tickets are priced £15 for adults and £10 for students/children.

Also performing in the concert are Sam’s Bellowhead bandmate Paul Sartin and acclaimed concertina player Rob Harbron who will appear with award-winning storyteller Hugh Lupton to tell the amazing story of a violin that lay unfinished in a manila envelope for nearly 100 years.

For more details contact the Octagon box office on 01935-422884 or visit www.octagon-theatre.co.uk.