Shetland Folk Festival 2006
27-30 April 2006
The programme
Foy concerts
Unofficial opening night
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.
This April, the Shetland Folk Festival – sometimes regarded as the granddaddy of folk festivals – sees yet another eclectic and innovative line up of visiting artists. In its 26th year, the UK’s most northerly folk festival is regarded as a prestigious event for performers, locals and visitors alike.
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The American contingent includes Tim O’Brien, fresh from winning a Grammy for his latest album, ‘Fiddler’s Green’, and joined by his sister Mollie O’Brien, and Elana James and the Continental Two. The festival is also presenting a strong Irish delegation for its 26th celebration, including family group Carmel Sheerin and the Ravens, the Saw Doctors, and Tim Edey with Seamus Begley. |
The festival runs a festival club from the Islesburgh Community Centre. Concerts, workshops, session rooms, food and bar facilities are available.
| A special feature of the Festival, and unique to Shetland, are the ‘Foy’ concerts, which take place on the last day of the event. These concerts give audiences an opportunity to see all visiting acts in one evening. The concerts are held over the three main venues in Shetland’s capital, Lerwick, and the visiting artists are shuffled between halls by mini bus and perform in each venue for around 15 minutes. It’s crazy but it works! |
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If you’re tempted to make your way up to the most far-flung folk festival in the UK, you may be interested in knowing that its unofficial opening is on Wednesday 26 April, on an overnight ferry somewhere in the middle of the North Sea. An event in itself!
| For programme details and booking information, visit the Shetland Folk Festival website or telephone 01595 694 757. | |