I’ve seen various spellings for Big John’s name, but it’s all the same tune. This tune has been in the repertoire of a lot of a lot of Canadian fiddlers, and has been recorded by the likes of Graham Townsend and the fantastic Calvin Vollrath, who sometimes plays it with the St. Anne’s Reel. Banjo freaks will also want to check out Walt Koken’s great version of the tune on his most excellent Banjonique recording. Some people suggest Big John McNeil is a Canadian tune – although I’ve been told in no uncertain terms it actually came over from Scotland.

Here’s me, giving it a go in the key of A on my Dogwood banjo.