Shetland Folk Festival 2010

The 30th Shetland Folk Festival shall be held between Thursday 29th April and Sunday 2nd May 2010. 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 acts confirmed include Väsen, Ahimsa, Fiddlers' Bid, Baskery, Lau, The Chair, The Unwanted, Simon Thoumire & Ian Carr, Foghorn Stringband, Session A9, New Rope String Band, Eva Hren & Sladcore, Mórga Paradiso Jazz Quartet, Bodega, The Wiyos, and Feolta.

Local acts include Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag, Bryan Gear & Violet Tulloch, Hom Bru, Inge Thomson, Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson, Sheila Henderson Band, Lise Sinclair, Shetlands' Heritage Fiddlers, May, Mackie & Rhonda, Shetland Fiddlers' Society, Antonia Sidgwick, Ryan Couper & Adam Johnson, The Whisky Jaks, Freda Leask, The Wisharts, Terry Balfour, Alex Hutchison, 60° North Klezmer Collective, Chiara Beradelli, Robert Sim & Steve Davidson, Shetland Folkdance, Paul Johnston, Brak da Bröd, Fradenr Gamla, Northmavine Fiddle & Accordion Club, Aestaewast, NikAl, Sheerlin, The Shining Pool, Wayfarer, Leeshinat, Cunningsburgh Connections, Julie Moncrieff, Square Da Mizzen, Malachy Tallack Band, Rack n Ruin, No Sweat, Jamieson's Big Pockets, Scaldin Bragg, Rumshack Blues Band, Donald Anderson Band, Revellers, Molly and Steve Earl, DJ Alex, The Bleach Boys, Husquoy Collection, and The Quinntet.

Youth event performers include Fiddle Attraction, Tunester, Shetland Dialect Singers, and New Tradition, with more acts still to be announced.

The festival features a Folk Club in Islesburgh Community Centre (entry limited to Season Ticket holders ONLY) with concerts, workshops, session rooms, food and bar. Previous years have also included special Outreach Concerts held on the adjacent isles of Cullivoe & Haroldswick although you are expected to arrange your transport there by ferry yourself.

Tickets

Festival tickets are priced at £14 for an adult, £6 for a child (under 18 on the first day of the festival), and £28 for a family (consisting of two adults and 2 under 18s). To see ticket options, click here.

So far, the following are SOLD OUT - Thursday Legion, Thursday Bigton, Thursday Scalloway, Friday Whiteness & Weisdale Friday Legion, Saturday Clickimin, and All Foys (Clickimin, Legion and Shetland Hotel).

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 28th April 2010), 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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