Brighten your day with a joyous celebration of love – Leeroy Stagger’s Fiddler’s Daughter. The words feel authentic and real: “The pretty little poet, with the ribbon in her hair,” and the song is an unself-conscious declaration of the main character’s feelings for another, made buoyant by the glorious combination of bright guitar and sweetly melodic fiddle. There are instrumental pauses and subtle fluctuations that ebb and flow, giving the song a playful, engaging energy.
Stagger says of the song: “Fiddler’s Daughter was written after my 2024 tour with my hero Steve Earle. The main character is a salty roustabout up to no good. Originally, I had him kill the love interest of his love interest, but then Joel came along and made sure there was no murder. Everyone lives happily ever after. I was also happy to get Truro into a song; it’s where my people settled after coming over from Northern Ireland in the late 1700s.”
Directed and edited by Erica Chan and starring Coby Starck, the accompanying video mirrors the song’s positive mood. Stagger added for AUK: “The main character in the song worships the woman he is after. As I was coming up with a concept for the video, it struck me that I was surrounded by a beautiful woman and the space she’s created. I am in awe of her still, 20-plus years later. I wanted to honour her and her creativity and whimsy; she’s my fiddler’s daughter.”
The single appears on the forthcoming new album Pilgrimage, co-produced by longtime friend and collaborator Joel Plaskett. Pilgrimage also features recent singles Swimming Back To You and Lost In The Flood, and promises to be an energetic, authentic and timeless collection. Stagger was very deliberate about the sound he wanted to achieve, and the songs were all recorded on a Tascam 8-track ¼-inch tape machine for that analogue vibe. “It’s old school and about as real as it gets. The medium isn’t grandiose; it’s small. You have to lean in and really listen. It’s not as hi-fi or polished as most modern recordings, and that’s by design. I needed something very real and raw, not clinical, not perfect, but deeply human. Rare in these times we find ourselves in.” Real and human; we can’t ask for more.
Pilgrimage benefits from musical flavours contributed by a host of talented players, including Tyler Lieb on tenor guitar, acoustic guitar and pedal steel; Daniel Lapp on fiddle; Cindy Fairbank on piano; bass from Rick May; and Ryland Moranz on banjo. The multi-talented, multi-instrumentalist Plaskett also delivers drums, vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, mandolin and tenor guitar. To celebrate the launch of Pilgrimage, Stagger has a run of shows across Canada this May before heading to the UK and Germany on tour. In the meantime, look out for the new record on 29th May 2026.
Upcoming shows:
July 1st, 2026 – Midhurst – Fairview Wines
July 2nd, 2026 – High Wycombe – Secret Venue
July 3rd, 2026 – Oundle – House Concert
July 4th, 2026 – Woodbridge – Maverick Festival
July 5th, 2026 – Petersfield – The Stables
July 8th, 2026 – Newport – Le Pub
Further details here.
