News & Reviews

Music festival review: Shetland Folk Festival

FOR roots-based musicians the world over, the Shetland Folk Festival ranks among the most coveted gigs on the circuit, combining elite international cachet with mighty craic.

You The Critic: Shetland Folk Festival 2014

Now in its 34th year, the Shetland Folk Festival brings a variety of bands and artistes from around the world on the overnight ferry from Aberdeen, where the party essentially starts with the visiting musicians having a session in the ship's main bar which goes on long into the night, beginning a trend that will last the whole weekend in the festival club at Islesburgh House in Lerwick.

Quality music in a cosy setting

After a day of glorious sunshine people packed into Ollaberry Hall for the third night of Shetland Folk Festival. There was a cosy atmosphere with informal round tables and candlelight, and the audience was treated to high quality music all night.

Fiddlers young and old impress at Clickimin

Saturday night at the Clickimin  was a concert of two contrasting halves.

The first was steeped in the trans-Atlantic folk tradition of tunes passed from generation to generation while the other focused more on the North American roots and gospel movements.

Mexican vibes add spice to festival variety

It’s folk festival Friday and there’s another sell-out concert in Islesburgh.

Room 16 offers a cosy venue with a cosmopolitan atmosphere created by the draped flags of all nations reflecting the international ethos of the gathering. Breaking down borders is the message here.

Rose Room a tough act to follow at Carnegie

Entering the Carnegie Hall last night the first impression was how good the place looked, with an array of small fairy lights in the roof making for a homely feel.

Legion gig gives taste of quality to come

The Lerwick British Legion’s first folk festival gig of 2014 kicked off in fairly muted style – not the fault, it has to be said, of the act with the tough, first slot, Adam Sutherland & Friends. Perhaps the audience had not yet supped enough legal drugs to get in the mood.