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FIRST THREE NAMES ANNOUNCED FOR \n2015 ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL<\/p>\n
FIRST THREE NAMES ANNOUNCED FOR
\n2015 ORKNEY FOLK FESTIVAL<\/p>\n
\nWith just over five months to go until the 33rd Orkney Folk Festival, the event\u2019s organisers have announced three of the artistes scheduled to appear at the late May event.<\/p>\n
World-renowned Irish accordionist, Sharon Shannon, rising stars of the UK country scene, Ward Thomas, and Mercury nominated, English singer\/songwriter Seth Lakeman will all make their debut Orkney appearances at the 2015 festival.<\/p>\n
These announcements come ahead of the full line-up release, which is scheduled for mid January. Acts still to be revealed include artistes from Canada, Norway, Sweden, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, England, mainland Scotland and Shetland, as well as a number from Orkney\u2019s own thriving folk scene.<\/p>\n
The festival committee hope, by releasing a few names before the New Year, to build upon the event\u2019s primetime nationwide exposure gained through their hosting of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show at the 2014 weekend \u2013 and so appeal to a greater share of the mainland UK market, who may be planning their holidays over the festive period. <\/p>\n
During the hour-long Orkney Folk Festival special edition of the flagship BBC programme, presenter Mark Radcliffe hailed the festival to be; \u201can amazing and indelible few days\u201d.<\/p>\n
Looking ahead to his first visit to the county, Seth Lakeman said: \u201cI’m really looking forward to performing at one of the northernmost folk festivals, Orkney, in 2015! It will be the first time I’ll have been there and I\u2019m very excited, as I’ve heard some great things about it through the years.\u201d <\/p>\n
A singer, songwriter, fiddler and multiple BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner, Seth is one of the most renowned folk musicians in the UK. His 2005 album, Kitty Jay, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, whilst its gold-selling follow-up, Freedom Fields, spawned the hit singles Lady of the Sea and The White Hare. For his most recent recording, Word of Mouth, Seth unearthed hidden histories and unsung everyday heroes from his native Devon and Cornwall, to commemorate in song. Although renowned for fronting his own band, Seth will be appearing solo over the Orkney Folk Festival weekend, providing a rare treat for lovers of folk song.<\/p>\n
With their debut recording crowned UK Album of the Year at the 2014 British Country Music Awards, Ward Thomas have fast become one of the most hotly-tipped acts on the UK country scene. From Where We Stand \u2013 from 20-year old twin sisters, Catherine and Lizzy Ward Thomas \u2013 entered the top 20 of the UK album charts the day after its release, the iTunes country chart at number one, and sat at the top of the UK country chart for five weeks, signalling very big things for the young Hampshire duo.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, it is no stretch to say that Sharon Shannon has already achieved legendary status throughout the world. Her back catalogue of collaborators speaks for itself – Steve Earle, Bono, The Waterboys, Sinead O\u2019Connor, The Chieftains, Willie Nelson, Jackson Browne, Alison Krauss and Shane MacGowan, to name just a few – a list that is testament to Sharon’s versatility, as well as talent. On top of countless worldwide concert and festival tours, garnering multi-platinum album sales, she has entertained two US Presidents; Clinton at the White House, and Obama in Dublin.<\/p>\n
Orkney Folk Festival\u2019s Artistic Director, Bob Gibbon, said: \u201cWith winter making its presence well and truly felt in recent days, it\u2019s warming to already be looking ahead to early summer and the 33rd outing of the Orkney Folk Festival. The three acts announced this week are just a taster of what\u2019s to come in the full line-up, but represent many of the key themes that we aim to bring together in just one weekend. <\/p>\n
\u201cIn Sharon Shannon we have arguably Ireland\u2019s most well-known instrumentalist, renowned for her many collaborations \u2013 perhaps most notably with The Waterboys, and Steve Earle \u2013 and for catapulting the modern session staple Music for a Found Harmonium into the stratosphere. Seth Lakeman is one of the highest selling English folk singers in recent years, yet is rarely seen north of the border \u2013 and indeed solo \u2013 so that is quite a coup. Ward Thomas, though, are at the forefront of the new age of UK country artists \u2013 adding a flavour of Nashville to the festival, via Hampshire and the BBC Radio 2 daytime A-list \u2013 and are visiting us at what looks to be just the beginning of a very illustrious career.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese three acts really are just to whet appetites for the full cast that will be announced in January, and even then visiting acts are just one half of our programme \u2013 Orkney\u2019s own thriving folk scene is very much the backbone of the festival. From veteran stalwarts to teenage prodigies, such a breadth of home-grown talent is rarely found elsewhere, and not only draws audiences from far and wide, but draws them back time and time again.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tickets for the 2015 Orkney Folk Festival will go on sale in the spring. Members of the festival\u2019s Patronage scheme will receive advanced access to tickets, at least a week ahead of their general sale, as well as discounted ferry travel to Orkney from the Scottish mainland with NorthLink Ferries. To find out more about becoming a patron and supporting the festival year-round, or on any other aspect of the festival, head to www.orkneyfolkfestival.com.<\/p>\n
ENDS<\/p>\n
\nFor further information, images, additional quotes, interviews, please contact:<\/p>\n
Craig Corse
\nMarketing and Press Officer, Orkney Folk Festival
\npress@orkneyfolkfestival.com – 0777 555 6813<\/p>\n
Facebook \u2013 www.facebook.com\/OrkneyFolkFestival
\nTwitter \u2013 www.twitter.com\/OrkneyFolkFest <\/p>\n
Notes to Editors:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tThe 33rd Orkney Folk Festival take place over the holiday weekend of May 21-24, 2015, comprising a wealth of concerts, ceilidhs, clubs, sessions, the Open Stage competition, talks and more.
\n\u2022\tThe festival will once again be based in Stromness, with events taking place throughout the Orkney mainland and some of the outer islands. Further information on which venues and parishes will be hosting festival events will be released in the early spring.
\n\u2022\tThe festival is run entirely by volunteers \u2013 and has been since its inception in 1982 \u2013 with the twelve-strong year-round management committee supported by countless others in the months and weeks leading up to the festival.<\/p>\n
For more information please contact:
\nOrkney Folk Festival
\nVictoria Street
\nStromness
\nOrkney
\nOrkney
\nKW16 3AA<\/p>\n