A MOUNTAIN music legend is bringing his distinct Appalachian style to Peebles’ Eastgate Theatre .

Bruce Molsky, a giant of the genre of old time mountain music will take to the stage on December 12, promising to bring the sounds of the Appalachian region to the Borders.

One of America’s most revered ambassadors of old mountain music, Bruce Molsky is a self-described “street kid” from the Bronx. Trading city life for the seclusion of a cabin in Virginia in the 1970s, he immersed himself in the authentic Appalachian mountain music scene at the feet of some of its legendary pioneers.

Today, he is regarded as a giant of his genre – one who, for decades, has been a globetrotting performer and recording artist, with seven solo albums and two Grammy nominations under his belt.

He has also collaborated with and received high praise from a diverse range of musicians such as Linda Ronstadt, dobro master Jerry Douglas and Mark Knopfler, who commented: “Bruce Molsky is one of those great players who ‘gets it’: he has all the links to the past, but is happy not to be chained to it”.

As a master of fiddle, banjo, guitar and song, Bruce’s performance promises to transport audiences to a different time and place. Organisers said: “Whether playing major festivals or more intimate venues, Molsky seduces audiences with a combination of rhythmic virtuosity and relaxed, conversational wit – a uniquely down-home approach that can make even a performance at Carnegie Hall feel like a jam session amongst pals.”

In addition to his many live performances as a solo artist and with Molsky’s Mountain Drifters, Bruce also works as an educator, teaching as a Visiting Scholar at the old American Roots Music Program at Boston’s Berklee College of Music.

Bruce said: “Performing and teaching traditional music is the biggest thing in my world.

“For me, being a musician isn’t a standalone thing; it informs everything I do in my life. It’s always been about being creative and being a part of something much bigger than myself, a link in the musical chain and part of the community of people who play it and love it.”

Bruce Molsky performs at the Eastgate Theatre, 7.30pm, Wednesday 12 Dec. Tickets £15, £13, £6 under 15s, available from Box Office on 01721 725777, or online at www.eastgatearts.com