29th Shetland Folk Festival: 30th April to 3rd May 2009....
This year's Shetland Folk Festival, often regarded as the granddaddy of UK folk festivals, sees yet another eclectic and innovative line up of visiting artistes – one that that currently represents more than eleven nationalities!
As the UK's most northerly folk festival, this event continues to be regarded a prestigious event for performers, locals and visitors alike – and it's 100% organised by volunteers! The "sessions" in the Festival Club, Islesburgh are often regarded as the best and most unique in the world whilst visiting artistes are regularly dumbfounded by the quantity and quality of local musicians that these remote isles have to offer.
This year, the organising committee are thrilled to announce a line up that includes Cara Dillon – the multi award winning vocalist from Northern Ireland who performs with music collaborator and husband Sam Lakeman. The 29th event will also see the long awaited return of Shooglenifty who will perform for one night only on Friday 1st and a Shetland debut for the Finnish-Norwegian fiddling powerhouse group Frigg. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean to put in an appearance are two Canadian outfits –Vishten brings together four young Acadians who are passionate about the music and dance of their regions of Prince Edward Island and the Magdelen islands whilst Madison Violet are a Toronto based band whose Americana style of music comes loaded with harmonies, lots of stringed instruments and beautiful lyrics. Also clocking up the air miles is the lively Asturian roots band Felpeyu as well as the wild duo of Australian blues, Hat Fitz and Itchy who build their performances through a series of frenzied, almost out of control crescendos!
Most visiting musicians will be in Shetland for the festival's duration, playing at different venues throughout the isles alongside fantastic local acts such as Hom Bru and Maggie Adamson. As usual, the Festival will conclude with the famous "Festival Foy" events on Sunday 3rd. These "Foy" concerts are unique to Shetland and give audiences an opportunity of seeing all visiting acts in one evening. Held over three venues in Shetland's capital, Lerwick, the visiting artistes are shuffled between halls by mini bus and perform in each venue for around 15 minutes. It sounds crazy but it works!
With slightly reduced travel distances to this esteemed event are 5 other UK based acts. From Scotland, there is multi award winning singer songwriter Emily Smith who recently won the accolade of Scots Singer of the year at the Trad Music Awards. Returning to the Festival is popular Orkney duo Saltfishforty as well as the four first class performers who comprise the England based New Rope String Band. This act's exuberant theatrics, boundless energy and gorgeous music are certain to wow audiences. The Jani Lang Band are Aberdeen based but are a unique collaboration of Hungarian, Scottish, Irish and Egyptian musicians driven by an enthusiasm for Balkan and Gypsy music. Completing the UK contingent is an act featuring musicians from Scotland, reland, Cape Breton and California – the phenomenal instrumental arsenal of Dàimh who are now joined by award winning gaelic singer Calum Alex MacMillan from Lewis.
As if this wasn't enough, festival organisers have also booked two other fantastic European acts. Award winning Danish band ZAR breathe new life into old songs and tunes from the rich Danish tradition whilst the four-member Brock McGuire Band comprises the very best of Irish musicianship. What a treat!
The Festival Committee are now appealing for sponsorship for the 29th event. A number of early sponsors have already been secured including Baker Tilly, Delta Marine Ltd and the CHC Search and Rescue SAR (H) Team "Soteria". However, many more sponsorship opportunities are available including for specific bands, particular concerts, the Festival Club and educational events. For more information on sponsorship or to request a sponsorship pack, please contact Mhari Pottinger at info@shetlandfolkfestival.com.
So, if you're tempted to make your way up to the most far-flung folk festival in the UK, you may be interested in knowing that Festival memberships go on sale on the 23rd January and that its unofficial opening is actually on Wednesday the 29th April, on an overnight ferry somewhere in the middle of the North Sea. An event in itself!
For more information on this festival, including all the visiting acts biographies with sound samples please visit: www.shetlandfolkfestival.com .