Shetland Folk Festival 2013

The 33rd Shetland Folk Festival shall be held between Thursday 2nd and Sunday 5th May 2013. The Festival comprises of concerts throughout the isles as well as a Festival Club in Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick with both formal and informal concerts, workshops, a real ale bar, and sessions continuing into the wee hours of the morning.

The Shetland Folk Festival is a non-profit, volunteer driven organisation, dedicated to presenting the best folk music from around the globe to the local community and visitors alike.

Line-up

The line-up of big name acts alongside more than 50 local bands is as follows: Thursday: Skerryvore, The Rambling Boys Of Pleasure, Cedric Watson, Sheila Henderson Band, Brian Nicholson, The Leon Hunt n-tet, Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra, The Long Notes, Reesel, Freda Leask and the Shoormal Band, Fiddlers' Rally, Shetland Fiddlers Society, Shetland Folk Dance, Hansel, Shetland's Heritage Fiddlers, Kaela Jamieson, Son Yambu, Fionia Stringband, Niamh Ní Charra Band, Old Man Luedecke, Country and Northern, April Verch Band, Kieran Goss, Woody Pines, Coig, and Haltadans.

Friday: Son Yambu, Coig, Cedric Watson, Aestaewast, Niamh Ní Charra Band, The Rambling Boys Of Pleasure, Paddy Callaghan, Adam Brown and Danny Boyle, Birls Aloud, Jenny Keldie & Brian Cromarty, Alex Couper, Brian Nicholson, Lise Sinclair, Fridarey, Steven Robertson, Da Whalsa' Weemin, Skerryvore, The Leon Hunt n-tet, Kieran Goss, Vair, Mirka, April Verch Band, Old Man Luedecke, Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra, Kansa, Teevliks, Fionia Stringband, The Long Notes, Woody Pines, Jennifer McCormick Trio, and Nikal.

Saturday: Skerryvore, Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra, April Verch Band, Paddy Callaghan, Adam Brown and Danny Boyle, The Isles Gathering, Woody Pines, Fionia Stringband, Kieran Goss, Stengle, Arthur Nicholson, The Wisharts, Tyunes, Rack & Ruin, Rod Sinclair, Niamh Ní Charra Band, The Long Notes, Old Man Luedecke, Chloe Robertson, Shetland's Heritage Fiddlers, The Rambling Boys Of Pleasure, The Leon Hunt n-tet, Son Yambu, Heart O' The Run, Catherine and Sarah Brown, Cedric Watson, Coig, Mahogany, and Lise Sinclair.

Sunday: Old Man Luedecke, Kieran Goss, Laeverick, Skerryvore, Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra, and Cedric Watson.

Tickets

Tickets and are not yet on sale. There is no all-in-one inclusive Festival ticket – tickets must be purchased for individual concerts but membership offers a significant discount. Prices range from £12 to £19.

More info

The festival features concerts, workshops, session rooms, food and bar. Most visiting musicians will be in Shetland for the duration of the festival playing at different venues throughout the isles alongside the local acts.

There will be dedicated events for younger audience members featuring Scottish Children Entertainers Allansmagic. The Festival will conclude with the 'Festival Foy' events on Sunday the 6th where most visiting musicians will play three separate 15-minute slots in three different venues.

Camping and other accommodation

Amongst others, there is a campsite at the Clickimin Centre in Lerwick. There are also B+B's, hotels and guesthouses.

Getting there

Ferries

There are daily flights and ferries connecting mainland UK to Shetland but booking is essential at Festival time. Northlink Ferries currently operate the overnight ferry service between Aberdeen and Shetland but early booking is probably essential especially as the first ferry before the festival starts (i.e. leaving Aberdeen on Wednesday), renowned for impromptu sessions, is likely to be packed with performers.

Plane

You can also fly from Glasgow/Edinburgh and Aberdeen with British Airways to Sumburgh, Shetland's main airport. There are several flights a day.

More information will be here when available.

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