Folk Festival fans can start building their buzz for the 42nd Shetland Folk Festival as its hotly anticipated visiting artist line-up is launched!
A medley of new acts will grace festival stages alongside some familiar faces between 2nd and 5th May this year, with performers representing an array of musical genres including jazz, country, folk-metal, indie and more!
A showpiece feature of this year’s Festival will be a one-off performance of the “Celebrating Sail” commission by the Hjaltibonhoga Big Band, that was first showcased at Lerwick’s Tall Ships event in July 2023. Supported by the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Traditional Arts Programme (TTAP), the project has evolved into a touring initiative, providing youth development and lifelong learning opportunities for fiddle players from Shetland and beyond. Under the leadership of Margaret Robertson, the band will see around 40 Hjaltibonhoga members and guest fiddlers taking to the Clickimin stage on Saturday 4th May, along with a 15-strong backline of esteemed Shetland musicians. With around half of the band’s musicians traveling to Shetland to perform at the Festival and from locations as far afield as New Zealand, the performance helps highlight the global resonance of Shetland’s traditional music.
Travelling across the Atlantic to perform are Prince Edward Island based trio Inn Echo – one of the most unique and captivating groups to emerge out of Atlantic Canada in recent years. They will perform dazzling arrangements including hint of blues, pop and dub, and definitely a pinch of something different.
Hailing from the oldest settlement west of the Rocky Mountains, The Hackles will bring their sumptuous harmonies and song-writing. The trio of superb musicians from Oregon made their UK debut last year with a major tour and effectively stamped their name as a formidable force on the Americana/indie folk circuit.
Completing our Transatlantic offering are returning act The Fretless – who blew away Festival audiences with their genre bending and progressive sound in 2018. This year the Juno Award winning quartet returns to Shetland shores with the addition of incredible vocalist Madeleine Roger. The Fretless live shows are infectious, dynamic, and impressively relentless and the addition of Madeleine’s breath-taking melodies will elevate their sound to yet another level.
Also making a welcome return to Shetland with the addition of a stunning vocalist are Swedish trio Ahlberg, Ek & Roswall (AER) who will be joining forces this year with Ulrika Bodén, whose exquisite voice will immerse listeners in her country’s rich cultural traditions. It has almost been a decade since AER brought their dazzling interplay and imaginative arrangements to the Shetland Folk Festival in 2015, wowing audiences with their repertoire based on traditional Swedish tunes as well as their own compositions.
Another Scandinavian sensation to star at the Festival this year are Norwegian folk-rock band Gangar whose fresh take on Nordic roots music and formidable live performances are sure to exhilarate! The five-piece ensemble has dug deep into Norway’s extensive folk music archives and given rare traditional tunes a modern arrangement influenced by rock, folk-metal, and jazz improvisation.
Representing Asturias and Andalusia in Spain are exciting up and coming trio of musicians Deira, who were the first ever non-Scottish act to win Celtic Connection’s prestigious “Battle of the Folk Bands” competition. Their distinct sound explores the connections of Asturian and Scottish music from a modern angle. Winning the Battle of the Bands in 2022 earned them a flurry of subsequent bookings, which has since seen them performing at many of the most prestigious folk festivals in Europe.
A “supergroup” and make no mistake, returning band The Friel Sisters will be performing alongside Festival first-timers The High Seas, showcasing seven fabulous musicians who will skilfully weave together the colourful strands of Irish music, song and dance into a tapestry of tradition. The Friel Sisters performed at the Festival in 2018 and proved tremendously popular with audiences. This is a collaboration not to be missed!
Scotland is well represented at the 42nd Shetland Folk Festival with a smorgasbord of musical genres sure to delight audience members. The Edinburgh based Ciarán Ryan Band will be making their debut performance, and festival goers can expect a high-octane spectacle of ferocious banjo led music and sheer instrumental brilliance. Having already toured extensively as a founding member of world-folk band Dallahan, Ciaran Ryan is now making a name with his own show of all-original music, loosely grown out of his traditional Irish music upbringing that nods towards the idioms of rock, electronic dance and post-punk music.
Also based in Edinburgh and bringing something a bit different to the Shetland Folk Festival are the Tenement Jazz Band. This five piece will take you back to the red-hot roots of jazz, ragtime and blues with scorching renditions of early recordings and fresh takes on lesser-known tunes. Powered along by the classic New Orleans front line of trumpet, trombone and saxophones, audiences are in for a truly swinging set.
Bringing another genre to the Festival are Kirsten Adamson and The Tanagers, who will perform their tight harmonies and Americana sound that has impressed audiences throughout the country. Kirsten is an award winning singer-songwriter and daughter of rock legend Stuart Adamson of Big Country and Skids. The Tanagers provide the perfect outfit to accompany Kirsten’s sublime voice and country style.
Another sublime Scottish singer-songwriter sure to delight audiences is Beth Malcolm – last year’s winner of BBC MG Alba Scots Singer of the Year. Rising star Beth is a folk inspired singer and keyboard player from Perth who will perform alongside outstanding guitar player and singer Heather Cartwright. Together, they deliver tight harmonies and traditional songs.
A welcome and familiar face will grace Festival stages once again in the form of local lad Ross Couper and his incredible band of folk musicians. The Ross Couper Band has already established a reputation for their distinctive energy and no holds barred approach. Ross is a well-known fiddle virtuoso who has performed at multiple Shetland Folk Festivals through the years, and has been fundamental to many of our famous Festival sessions and late night Festival Club appearances!
Making their debut appearance in Shetland are rising Orcadian stars, Haverin, with their indie folk music, a touch of country and a whole lot of harmonies. Initially coming together for a friend’s wedding, the six members of the band discovered a shared love of harmonies and a musical chemistry that was too good to ignore.
Also representing our inter-county rivals and completing our visiting artiste line-up are Orkney party band Stereo Lobsters who will be performing at late night scheduled events at the Festival Club and Legion. With the musician overlap with Haverin, it seemed entirely appropriate that the Festival invite the 5 piece act that play music and covers that will certainly get the audience on the dancefloor and singing their hearts out in the small hours.
A full programme including all local acts will be announced over the coming weeks, and festival goers can expect the usual diverse assortment of styles and talent including some returning favourites and some new acts making their debut performances. While the Festival Club will be based again at Islesburgh Community Centre, concerts will happen across the isles as in previous years.
The 42nd Shetland Folk Festival kicks off on Thu 2nd May, and organisers are keen to encourage young players and audiences to come along and enjoy live performances, sessions, workshops and more! Memberships will go on sale on 1st February.
Festival spokesperson, Louise Jamieson hopes that locals and visitors alike will snap up the opportunity to get involved and relish the variety of styles on offer during the four-day musical extravaganza:
“Making the festival happen each year is no small task – we are so grateful to our local and global audiences who continue to support us by buying memberships and tickets well in advance, as well as hundreds of volunteers, local partners and sponsors.”
The festival runs from 2nd to 5th May 2024. More information about the event and this year’s acts is available at www.shetlandfolkfestival.com
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