Concerts
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Lunchtime Session - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Lunchtime session from 12 noon featuring musicians from this year's resident club act Tern, Eryn Rae and perhaps more!
Festival Club Opening
The 41st Festival will get underway with the official opening at our Festival Club at Islesburgh Community Centre! Each afternoon of the Festival, members will have access to live programmed music in Room 16 featuring both visiting and local artistes. Thursday afternoon will showcase short sets from some of the acts appearing over the Festival weekend - providing attendees with a flavour of what lies ahead. This is not a ticketed event and afternoon Club programming is included as part of your Festival membership. Numbers will be limited in room 16 and we anticipate many members wishing to take advantage of this live music and hope there is an ongoing flow of members coming and going to enjoy the atmosphere. It would be greatly appreciated if members who have been seated in room 16 for some time give others the opportunity to come in if there are people waiting.
Ringin' Strings Concert - A celebration of fiddle music - Mareel, Lerwick
This concert has been deliberately programmed to celebrate the fiddle, which is so instrumental to Shetland's musical heritage and indeed the very reason that the Shetland Folk Festival was originally formed. As well as showcasing some fiddle music and styles from Canada and USA, we are proud to showcase three Shetland fiddle-focused acts including the incredible Bryan Gear & the legendary Violet Tulloch, and The Shetland Fiddler's Society. The winning sets from this year's Young Fiddler of the Year competition concert will also be performed. Bar facilities will be available and table service will be available for the cabaret seating downstairs in the Mareel auditorium. There will be limited balcony seating available to purchase separately. As with all our concerts, seating is unallocated. This concert is scheduled to finish around 10.45pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
- Shane Cook and the Woodchippers
- Dirk & Amelia Powell
- Bryan Gear & Violet Tulloch
- Shetland Fiddlers' Society
- Shetland's Young Fiddler of the Year 2023
Legion Concert (Thursday Evening) - Lerwick British Legion
A seated concert in the Lerwick British Legion featuring 2 visiting acts and 2 Shetland acts. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged with a combination of tables and in rows. Bar facilities will be available and this concert will finish around 10.30pm. There's plenty of characters in this lineup of acts so we expect a lot of humour from the stage! We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Da Big Kirk Concert - St. Columba's Church
A special concert with a singing focus, held in the beautiful St Columba's Church in Lerwick on the opening night of the Festival. Seating is unallocated and the chairs are arranged in rows on the ground floor. There is additional seating upstairs in pews if needed. This venue does not have disabled access to the upper floor so please let us know in advance if you require reserved seating on the ground floor. The concert will finish no later as 10pm and there will be no bar facilities at this concert.
We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Whiteness & Weisdale Concert
This is a seated concert in a rural village hall in the central mainland. Located next to the school in Whiteness and Weisdale, this venue is about a 15 minute drive from Lerwick. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged in rows facing the stage. Bar facilities will be available and this concert is scheduled to finish around 10.45pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Voe Concert
This is a seated concert in a rural village hall in the north mainland. Located next to the former school, this venue is about a 25 minute drive from Lerwick. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged in rows facing the stage. Bar facilities will be available and this concert is scheduled to finish around 10.45pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
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Festival Club- Friday Programme
Festival Club Live Music Programme Room 16
Each afternoon of the Festival, members will have access to live programmed music in Room 16 featuring both visiting and local artistes. Friday afternoon will be split into a lunchtime slot of three acts and a late afternoon slot of three acts. This is not a ticketed event or official concerts and afternoon Club programming is included as part of your Festival membership. Numbers will be limited in room 16 and we anticipate many members wishing to take advantage of this live music and hope there is an ongoing flow of members coming and going to enjoy the atmosphere. It would be greatly appreciated if members who have been seated in room 16 for some time give others the opportunity to come in if there are people waiting.
TIMINGS ARE APPROXIMATE AND MAY BE ALTERED AT ANY TIME
12.30 Eli West Trio
13.05 George Spence and Fraser Jamieson
13.40 Simon Thoumire & Mark McGuire
ROOM 16 will be closed for sound checks between 2.15 and 3.45
16.00 Trials of Cato
16.45 Magic Money Tree Band
17.30 Project Smok
Lunchtime Sessions - Friday - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Lunchtime sessions from 12 noon. The Foghorn Stringband will be firing up some tunes in the bar before heading up to their concert in Walls. Festival Club resident act, Tern, will be leading a session from 2pm
Legion Trios Concert (Friday afternoon) - Lerwick British Legion
Afternoon Concert
An incredible Friday afternoon concert, featuring sets from three of our visiting bands - who all happen to be trios! Seating is unallocated and will be arranged with a combination of tables and in rows. Bar facilities will be available. This concert will finish around 4pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Jonny on the spot cocktails on Friday - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Jonny will be on the spot with his cocktails from 2-6pm at the Festival Club Bar in Room 12.
The music we've programmed in room 16 late afternoon will all be perfectly accompanied by a cocktail (or two or three!) We all love Friday cocktails!
Live Music on the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Friday Afternoon
This is NOT a concert but it is a really lovely experience. A late afternoon session of live music on board this beautiful Tall Ship with Norwegian food and there are refreshments available to purchase. Donations at the gate (suggested donation of at least £3 per adult, children free). Following the ‘Ships Welcome’, three live acts will appear with the event closing around 6pm. Please note - this is not a concert with amplified music through a PA. It is predominantly an acoustic affair with very restricted viewing depending on how busy the ship is.
Cancelled
Mareel Concert (Friday Evening)
A Friday evening concert held in the beautiful Mareel auditorium, Shetland's purpose built music venue. Bar facilities will be available with table service for the cabaret seating downstairs in the Mareel auditorium. There will be limited balcony seating available to purchase separately. As with all our concerts, seating is unallocated. This concert is scheduled to finish around 10.45pm (so plenty of time to get to either the Legion Lates or the Festival Club before live music commences there). We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
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Clickimin - Friday Fusion Concert (partially standing gig) - Clickimin Centre, Lerwick
It's Friday night and if you're someone who likes to let off some steam by listening (and dancing!) to lively music then this concert is for you! Featuring 4 of the liveliest bands performing over the weekend, this fusion of acts will all be capable of luring you to the dance floor.
The concert will take place in the main hall of Clickimin Leisure Centre with limited raked/tiered seating at the back of the hall AND some tables and chairs. As a partially standing concert, there will NOT be seats for all attendees and all seating is unallocated.
There will be fairly extensive use of lighting effects during this concert, including strobe lighting. Bar facilities will available and as with most Festival concerts, under 18s can only attend if they are accompanied by a responsible adult at all times. The music here will finish between 10.30 and 10.45pm, leaving plenty of time to reach either of our late night ticketed options where you can continue to let you hair down!
Doors open one hour before the concert starts with entry through the venue’s side door - not the main reception area. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Cullivoe Concert
A concert in one of Shetland's rural halls on the island of Yell - in the settlement of Cullivoe - which is about a 2 hour journey from Lerwick. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged in rows. Bar facilities will be available and the concert will finish around 11pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
This concert requires a ferry crossing, with bookings made though the local authority's ferry booking office.
PLEASE NOTE - we are hoping to secure an additional late ferry for our artists and sound operators departing Ulsta at 1.00am (TBC) and it will be possible for concert goers to book space on this ferry too. Booking is essential and the Ferry Booking Office phone number is 01595 745804 (although it might only be possible to book space nearer the Festival time). See the Travel section in the 'About Us' section of the website.
Sponsored by R.G. Jamieson & Son
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Walls Concert
This is a seated concert in a rural village hall in the west mainland. This venue is about a 35 minute drive from Lerwick. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged in rows facing the stage. Bar facilities will be available and this concert is scheduled to finish around 10.45pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
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Legion (Friday Lates) - Lerwick British Legion
Building on the success of last year's most in demand concert tickets of the weekend, the Legion Lates are back! With live music starting around 11.15pm and continuing until 2am, Skelburn, Trials of Cato and Shetland's famous party band The Revellers are sure to entice you to the dance floor. Bar Facilities are available but PLEASE NOTE this event is OVER 18s ONLY. Although there is some seating it is predominantly a STANDING gig and lighting effects, including strobe lighting, are likely to be in use. Doors will be from 10.30pm and the Bar will close at 2am. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
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Festival Club FRIDAY Lates
Only 2023 Festival members will be able to buy tickets and attend Festival Club LATES and performers will not be unveiled until the night. This ticket guarantees entry to Shetland's famous late night Festival Club on the Friday night where there will be live music programmed on two stages from around 11.15pm until 2am as well as the inevitable sessions that will occur in the many staircases and session rooms that exist in Islesburgh Community Centre. Bar facilities will be available on the ground floor and middle floor of the Club. The bars will close at 2am and the building MUST be cleared by 3am at the very latest.
Members aged 14 and over may attend our Late night Festival Club BUT only if accompanied by a responsible adult member at all times. There is only one ticket price for Club lates and no cheaper price for 14-17 year olds.
- Performers remain a closely guarded secret until the night!
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Live Music on the Statsraad Lehmkuhl Saturday Lunchtime
Afternoon Concert
This is NOT a concert but it is a really lovely experience. A lunchtime session of live music on board this beautiful Tall ship with Norwegian food and there are refreshments available to purchase. Donations at the gate (suggested donation of at least £3 per adult, children free). Following the Ships Welcome, three live acts will appear with the event closing around 2pm. Please note - this is not a concert with amplified music through a PA. It is predominantly an acoustic affair, with very restricted viewing depending on how busy the ship is.
Cancelled
Laeverick Album Launch - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
The Shetland Folk Festival are delighted that local band Laeverick with their Americana flavours and three part harmonies are launching their debut album of self penned songs at this year's Festival. This will be the first opportunity to buy their much awaited album and they will be performing a few of their album tracks live.
Gin Tasting and Scandi Tunes - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Shetland Reel Gin tasting in back in the Festival Club in Room 10 between 12.30-2.00pm. As you sample your Shetland gins, there will be some Scandi tunes in session led by Lena Jonsson Trio. A very lightsome Saturday lunchtime activity!
Festival Club- Saturday Programme
Festival Club Live Music Programme Room 16
Each afternoon of the Festival, members will have access to live programmed music in Room 16 featuring both visiting and local artistes. Saturday afternoon in Room 16 kicks off with Laeverick's album launch between 12.30-1.30 and from 1.45 there will be a constant stream of music all afternoon.
This is not a ticketed event or an official concert and afternoon Club programming is included as part of your Festival membership. Numbers will be limited in room 16 and we anticipate many members wishing to take advantage of this live music and hope there is an ongoing flow of members coming and going to enjoy the atmosphere. It would be greatly appreciated if members who have been seated in room 16 for some time give others the opportunity to come in if there are people waiting.
TIMINGS ARE APPROXIMATE AND MAY BE ALTERED AT ANY TIME
13.45 Dirk & Amelia Powell
14.30 Freda Leask and Band
15.10 Scott Moncrieff
15.45 Cosmic Country
16.30 Rack n' Ruin
Legion - Global Gadderie Concert (Saturday Afternoon) - Lerwick British Legion
Afternoon Concert
Fabulous wide ranging world music sounds at this special afternoon concert, featuring sets from two of our visiting bands and Shetland's very own Odesa. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged with a combination of tables and rows. Bar facilities will be available. This concert will finish around 4pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Mareel - Young Trad Showcase Concert (Saturday Afternoon)
Afternoon Concert
A showpiece concert of the Festival weekend, this special event will showcase the last 4 title holders of BBC Radio Scotland's Young Traditional Musician of the Year. Hosted by legendary Simon Thoumire from Hands up for Trad, the audience can expect amazing performances and collaborative pieces from Ali Levak, Michael Biggins, Eryn Rae and Shetland's very own Amy Laurenson. Two upright pianos on stage have been requested and we're pretty confident audiences will be in for a real treat with this one-off concert, bringing together four of Scotland’s best young folk musicians to inspire us all.
Bar facilities will be available and table service will be available for the cabaret seating downstairs in the Mareel auditorium. There will be limited balcony seating available to purchase separately. As with all our concerts, seating is unallocated. This concert will finish around 4pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
- Ali Levack (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2020)
- Michael Biggins (BBC Radio Scotland Young Trad Musician of the Year 2021)
- Eryn Rae (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022)
- Amy Laurenson (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023)
- HOST - Simon Thoumire
Jonny on the spot cocktails on Saturday - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Jonny will be on the spot with his cocktails from 2-6pm at the Festival Club Bar in Room 12.
Session with Haltadans from 4pm (approx) - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
After a busy afternoon of concerts, what better way to round up a Saturday afternoon than with a session led by Haltadans who will be joined by lots of their musical friends!
Mareel Concert (Saturday Evening)
A Saturday evening concert held in the beautiful Mareel auditorium, Shetland's purpose build music venue. Bar facilities will be available and table service will be available for the cabaret seating downstairs in the Mareel auditorium. There will be limited balcony seating available to purchase separately. As with all our concerts, seating is unallocated. This concert is scheduled to finish around 10.45pm (so plenty of time to get to either the Legion Lates or the Festival Club before live music commences there). We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
- The Trials of Cato
- Amy Papiransky
- Johanna Juhola Trio
- Amy Laurenson (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023)
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Clickimin Nort' Americana Concert (Saturday Night) - Clickimin Centre, Lerwick
The big Saturday Clickimin Concert is an all seated concert in the main hall of the Clickimin Leisure complex in Lerwick. This year it features all the visiting musicians from North America as well as Shetland Americana leaning outfit, Laeverick, who will be releasing their debut album at the Festival.
This venue has extensive lighting installed for Festival concerts so a range of lighting effects could be used throughout. Bar facilities will be available and the concert will finish no later as 10.45pm (so plenty of time to get to either the Legion Lates or the Festival Club before live music commences there). Seating is unallocated and will predominantly be arranged with tables but there is some raked/tiered seating at the back of the main hall.
As this is a larger capacity venue, we will open doors 1 hour before the concert starts. Entry to concert will be through the events side door - not the main reception area of the Clickimin Leisure Centre. We will ensure that this is clearly signposted. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
- Shane Cook and the Woodchippers
- Foghorn Stringband
- Eli West Trio
- Dirk & Amelia Powell will be joining the Foghorns
- Laeverick
Sponsored by RSM Chartered Accountants
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Gulberwick Concert
This is a seated concert in a rural village hall in the south mainland, just south of Lerwick. This hall is about a 10 minute drive from Lerwick. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged in rows facing the stage. Bar facilities will be available and this concert is scheduled to finish around 10.45pm. This is one of the limited ticketed opportunities at this year's Festival to catch Eryn Rae and Michael Biggins in duo format. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Scalloway Concert
This is a seated concert in a rural village hall in the central mainland. This venue is about a 10 minute drive from Lerwick. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged in rows facing the stage. Bar facilities will be available and this concert is scheduled to finish around 10.30pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Legion (Saturday Lates) - Lerwick British Legion
Building on the success of last year's most in demand concert tickets of the weekend, the Legion Lates are back! With live music starting around 11.15pm and continuing until 2am, Shetland's popular party band The Deadpans along with visiting bands Valtos and Project Smok are sure to entice you to the dance floor. Bar Facilities are available but PLEASE NOTE this event is OVER 18s ONLY. Although there is some seating it is predominantly a STANDING gig and lighting effects, including strobe lighting, are likely to be in use.
Doors will be from 10.30pm and the Bar will close at 2am. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Sold Out
Festival Club SATURDAY Lates
Only 2023 Festival members will be able to buy tickets and attend Festival Club LATES and performers will not be unveiled until the night. This ticket guarantees entry to Shetland's famous late night Festival Club on the Saturday where there will be live music programmed on two stages from around 11.15pm until 2am as well as the inevitable sessions that will occur in the many staircases and session rooms that exist in Islesburgh Community Centre. Bar facilities will be available on the ground floor and middle floor of the Club. The bars will close at 2am AND the building needs to be cleared by 3am at the very latest.
Members aged 14 and over may attend our Late night Festival Club BUT only if accompanied by a responsible adult member at all times. There is only one price of ticket for Club Lates and no cheaper price for 14-17 year olds.
- Performers remain a closely guarded secret until the night!
Sold Out
Peerie Spang (fur da bairns) - Clickimin Centre, Lerwick
Afternoon Family Concert
This is a predominantly standing concert targeted at families with children - an event that families can attend together, filled with lots of lively music to dance (or spang about to). Bar facilities - with juice and snacks - will be available. This concert is scheduled to finish around 3pm and there will be some raked/tiered seating at the back of the hall (which is unallocated). This venue has an extensive lighting rig installed, so some lighting effects may be possible. Entry to concert will be through the events side door - not the main reception area of the Clickimin Leisure Centre. We will ensure that this is clearly signposted. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Festival Club - Sunday Programme
Festival Club Live Music Programme Room 16 1.30-5pm
Each afternoon of the Festival, members will have access to live programmed music in Room 16 featuring both visiting and local artistes and on the Sunday, we have a particularly amazing showcase of predominantly Shetland themed music.
This is not a ticketed event or an official concert and afternoon Club programming is included as part of your Festival membership. Numbers will be limited in room 16 and we anticipate many members wishing to take advantage of this live music and hope there is an ongoing flow of members coming and going to enjoy the atmosphere. It would be greatly appreciated if members who have been seated in room 16 for some time give others the opportunity to come in if there are people waiting.
TIMINGS ARE APPROXIMATE AND MAY BE ALTERED AT ANY TIME
13.30 Shetland Mandolin Band
14.20 Elsbeth & Co
15.00 Shetland's Heritage Fiddlers
15.40 Eryn Rae and Michael Biggins
16.15 Rounding off the 41st Festival Club Programming with some collaborative fiddle tunes featuring Shane Cook, Bryan Gear and perhaps more! (Room 16)
17.00 FESTIVAL CLUB CLOSE
Jonny on the spot cocktails on Sunday - Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Jonny will be on the spot with his cocktails from 1.30-5pm at the Festival Club Bar in Room 12.
Legion Concert (Sunday Afternoon) - Lerwick British Legion
Afternoon Concert
The perfect Sunday afternoon concert, featuring some amazing singers and multi-instrumentalists. Seating is unallocated and will be arranged with tables and in rows. Bar facilities will be available and this concert will finish around 4pm. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
Bigton Hymhus Concert (Sunday Afternoon)
Afternoon Concert
For the first time, we are introducing a rural concert option on a Sunday afternoon in the beautiful Bigton Hymhus (a former church now in community ownership). Even better, there will be a separate fundraising Soup and Sweet event on in the Bigton Hall between 12-2pm that audience members may choose to attend prior to the concert starting.
Hymhus is located directly next to the Bigton Hall, in Shetland's south mainland and is about a 25 minute drive from Lerwick. Seating is unallocated and the chairs and pews are arranged in rows. The concert will finish no later as 4pm and there will be no bar facilities at this concert. We reserve the right to alter line ups as circumstances may dictate.
- Eli West Trio
- Lena Jonsson & Johanna Juhola DUO
- Kirrmirren and Skalva
Sunday Finale Clickimin - Clickimin Centre, Lerwick - Foy
The final extravaganza where 12 visiting acts will be performing 15 minute sets in 3 different venues and all in the same night. Audience just picks one hall - the bands go in rotation. It's a marathon but certainly worth it.
Seating is unallocated and will predominantly be arranged with tables but there is some raked/tiered seating at the back of the main hall. As this is a larger capacity venue, we will open doors 1 hour before the concert starts. Entry to concert will be through the events side door - not the main reception area of the Clickimin Leisure Centre. We will ensure that this is clearly signposted. Bar facilities available. This venue has an extensive lighting rig installed for Festival concerts so a range of lighting effects could be used throughout. This concert is scheduled to finish around 11.15pm
Sponsored by Scottish Sea Farms
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Sunday Finale Mareel - Foy
The final extravaganza where 12 visiting acts will be performing 15 minute sets in 3 different venues and all in the same night. Audience just picks one hall - the bands go in rotation. It's a marathon but certainly worth it.
As with all our concerts, seating is unallocated. There will be cabaret seating downstairs in the auditorium and limited balcony seating available to purchase separately. Bar Facilities available. This concert is scheduled to finish at 11.15pm.
This venue has an extensive lighting rig installed, so some lighting effects may be possible
Sponsored by Arch Henderson LLP
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Sunday Finale Legion - Lerwick British Legion - Foy
The final extravaganza where 12 visiting acts will be performing 15 minute sets in 3 different venues and all in the same night. Audience just picks one hall - the bands go in rotation. It's a marathon but certainly worth it. As with all our concerts, seating is unallocated and will be arranged with tables and in rows. Bar facilities available. This concert is scheduled to finish at 11.15pm. This venue will have lighting rig installed, so some lighting effects may be possible
Sponsored by LHD Marine Supplies
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All workshops are free and are available to festival members only.
Whistle Workshop
Thursday 27th Apr
Venue: Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
WHISTLE WORKSHOP with Ali Levak from Project Smok and also BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2020 (1hr) Room 11
Exploring Appalachian Music with Dirk & Amelia Powell
Saturday 29th Apr
Venue: Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Exploring Appalachian Music with Dirk & Amelia Powell (1hr) in the Drama room, top floor, Islesburgh Community Centre This workshop will delve into aspects of the music that give it the drive, soul, and feel that make it an engaging and energetic style. While some parts of the tradition have Celtic antecedents, others are clearly derived from African and Native American roots. Digging into the overall sensibility that evolved from these different roots into something new and unified can help players understand the motivation behind the music! All welcome
Singer Songwriter Workshop
Saturday 29th Apr
Venue: Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Singer Songwriter Workshop with Jenny Sturgeon
Composition with Simon Thoumire
Sunday 30th Apr
Venue: Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Composition with Simon Thoumire 12.30-1.30pm Room 11 Have you run out of ideas for tunes? Everything sounding the same? In this workshop, prolific tune writer Simon Thoumire will show you some new simple ideas that will always give you new ideas how to write. No more writers block! Please bring a pencil and paper.
Canadian Fiddle with Shane Cook
Sunday 30th Apr
Venue: Festival Club (Islesburgh), Lerwick
Canadian Fiddle workshop with Shane Cook 2-3pm Room 10. A Canadian and US National fiddle champion, Shane Cook is a multi-instrumentalist who has distinguished himself as a master of the Canadian old-time fiddle tradition. We expect this workshop will be in high demand!
SFFS Members Only Ferry Crossing Required