News & Reviews

Cuban sounds get Clickimin crowd dancing like never before

I can’t think of a Shetland Folk Festival concert at the Clickimin that had quite so many people up on their feet dancing. Four acts and a crowd willing and full of, well, energy among other things.

Faced with the warm-up slot were the local drumming and dance troupe Aestaewast, formed around nine years ago. This eclectic mix of locals specialise in, predominately, West African songs, drum and percussion numbers.

Around the world at the Click

THE PERFECT antidote to the cold May weather was a hot and steamy night of international grooves, as dancing Davie Gardner discovered on Friday night.

Over its 33 year life span there have been many two-word phrases used to describe the phenomenon that is Shetland’s Folk Festival.

Opening night Cunningsburgh show lives up to expectations

The line-up last night at Cunningsburgh on the opening night of the 33rd Shetland Folk Festival promised much.

And it promptly delivered on a committee promise to festival stalwart, the late Michael Coutts, that “we’ll make sure that this festival is one of the best yet”.

Grand finale from April Verch provides highlight at Hamnavoe

Hamnavoe Hall filled to the brim last night as crowds gathered to hear what the 33rd folk festival had to offer.

First on stage was local ensemble Haltadans, who impressed with their dynamic set of traditional Shetland tunes.

Stirring souls in Voe

The first evening of the Shetland Folk Festival presented an eclectic mix of musical styles at Voe Public Hall on Thursday night, reports Olivia Abbott, who is experiencing the four days of musical mayhem for the very first time.

Excitement builds as 'jewel of musical world' folk festival gets up and running

Scottish singer and broadcaster Mary Ann Kennedy today described the Shetland Folk Festival as “one of the jewels of the musical world, not just the folk world.”

After performing at the official opening of the 33rd festival, Mary Ann said: “People know it’s a big festival. You’ve got to make a big effort to get here but the reward is more than equal to that.”

Folk fest kicks off - no sleep til Monday

SHETLAND has geared up for yet another weekend of great music as the annual folk festival kicked off on Thursday with its traditional lunchtime concert in Lerwick’s Islesburgh Community Centre.