Shetland Folk Festival 2016

The 36th Shetland Folk Festival shall be held between Wednesday 28th April and Sunday 1st May 2016.

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

Thursday: Sheesham and Lotus & 'Son, Gordon Gunn, Brian McAlpine & Friends, The Outside Track, Rhonda May B's, Da Loose Ends, De Temps Antan, Rose Room, Fromseier Hockings, Veev, Peter Wood Shetland Dance Band, The Railsplitters, Alan Kelly Gang, Wör, Haltadans, Arthur Nicholson, The Elephant Sessions, Gary Innes & Ewen Henderson, Tsuumi Sound System, Freda & Sheila, Hummelskju, The East Pointers, Laura Cortese and The Dance Cards, Talisk, Vair, Misbehavin', Sølja, Shetland Fiddler's Society, and Northmavine Fiddle & Accordion Club.

Friday: Laura Cortese and The Dance Cards, Fromseier Hockings, Gary Innes & Ewen Henderson, Laura Cortese and The Dance Cards, Alan Kelly Gang, Fromseier Hockings, The Shetland Mandolin Band, Kansa, Sheesham and Lotus & 'Son, Wör, Tsuumi Sound System, Elsbeth Clark, Soothmoothers, The East Pointers, Rose Room, Gordon Gunn, Brian McAlpine & Friends, Bryan Gear & Violet Tulloch, Sheila Henderson Band, The Railsplitters, De Temps Antan, The Outside Track, Shetland's Heritage Fiddlers, Matthew Adam & Lana Elaine, Mànran, The Elephant Sessions, Talisk,and Festival Spree Band.

Saturday: De Temps Antan, Alan Kelly Gang, Tsuumi Sound System, The East Pointers The Railsplitters, Rose Room, Tsuumi Sound System, Hjaltibonhoga, De Temps Antan, Wör, Gary Innes & Ewen Henderson, The Shetland Collective, Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson, Laura Cortese and The Dance Cards, Gordon Gunn, Brian McAlpine & Friends, Talisk, Martha, Herbie and Hayden, Jane & Norman, Alan Kelly Gang, Sheesham and Lotus & 'Son, Kris Drever, Pedro & McEwen, The North Ness Boys, The Elephant Sessions The Outside Track Fromseier Hockings, Adam Guest, Shaun & Iwan, Rack n Ruin, Sophie & the Lads, Liza, Alison, May and Kenny, Tyunes, Fiola, and Evergreen.

Sunday: High Strings, High Level Music- Mixed Group, Fiddle Finale, High Level Music- Accordionists, Shetland's Young Fiddler & Traditional Fiddler of the Year, The Railsplitters, Sheesham and Lotus & 'Son, The Outside Track, The Elephant Sessions, and The East Pointers

Tickets

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Ticket prices vary depending upon event.

Tickets are expected on sale to Early Members in mid-March. Tickets are usually in high demand, even early members may not get the tickets of their choice. However, there are usually tickets available for some concerts when tickets go on sale to the public.

All SFFS Members are limited to the purchase of one member ticket per night, with the exception of Sunday, where they may purchase a ticket for both an afternoon concert and a Foy.

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 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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