The Orkney Folk Festival 2016

Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th May 2016
various venues, Stromness, Orkney Islands, KW16 3AA, Scotland MAP
varies depending upon event

Daily capacity: 2,000

Last updated: Tue 19th Apr 2016

The 34th annual The Orkney Folk Festival will take place at various locations around Stromness, Orkney Islands, in Scotland from Thursday 26th to Sunday 29th May 2016.

Expect a line-up of music featuring both established and emerging artists set against the local traditions and musicians.

Line-up

Latest additions are Belt Hid Oot, Bruce Mainland, The Chair, The David Bowen Trio, Dosca, The Driftwood Cowboys, Fiona Driver and Graham Simpson, Frank Keenan and Login’s Well, FunBox, Gary Coupland, Geoff Lakeman, Gleemro, The Glencraig Scottish Dance Band, Gnoss, Graham Low, Hadhirgaan, Hjaltibonhoga, Hullion, Ivan Drever, Jenny Keldie and Brian Cromarty, Jo Philby, Kirkwall City Pipe Band, Maggie Adamson and Brian Nicholson, No Soond, Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club, Orkney Folk Festival Choir, Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society, Orkney Traditional Music Project, Paddy Callaghan Trio, Rob Heron and the Tea Pad Orchestra, The Ronald Anderson Band, RURA, Saltfishforty, Sarah Jane Gibbon, Scott Gardiner, Session A9, Stromness RBL Pipe Band, Stronsay’s Silver Darlings, Teebro, Three of Bu, Vishtèn, WEST, West Mainland Strathspey & Reel Society, The Wrigley Sisters, and Zoë Bestel.

The first acts confirmed were Julie Fowlis, Frigg, The Unthanks, and Liz Carroll.

Tickets

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Ticket prices vary depending upon event. It is not possible to attend every event, especially in the evenings, as there are often three or four on the go at the one time.

More info

The festival hosts over thirty events featuring something for everyone concerts, ceilidhs, sessions, workshops and talks, and aims to cater for all tastes - from the acoustic song clubs for the puritan to the more energetic, contemporary dance gigs for those who like to jump around to the music, and most things in between.

The Orkney Folk Festival is centered in Stromness, Orkney's second largest town. Some events take place in Kirkwall, and in some mainland parishes, as well as one or two of the smaller islands.

Camping

There is not a festival campsite, however there is a very well equipped one within walking distance of Stromness town centre, owned and operated by Orkney Islands Council.

Transport

There are three ferry companies that operate from mainland Scotland to Orkney Northlink Ferries from Scrabster direct into Stromness, and from Aberdeen to Kirkwall; Pentland Ferries from Gill's Bay to St. Margaret's Hope; and the John O'Groats Ferry (no vehicles, passengers only), from John O'Groats to Burwick, in South Ronaldsay.

FlyBe/Loganair also operates regular (at least one per day) flights to Kirkwall from Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Shetland.

If you are relying entirely on public transport to get to Orkney, the best option is either of Northlink's services, or to fly. Citylink and Megabus connect from all major Scottish towns and cities to Inverness, from where there is a direct bus service to Scrabster timetabled to meet the ferry connection. Rail connections go as far as Thurso (2 miles from Scrabster), from where you will need to get the bus or a taxi to the ferry.

There will be more information here when available.