Director blown away by local musicians

FILM director Jim Brown said he was blown away by the standard of Shetland musicians who auditioned for the soundtrack to the movie Between Weathers due to be filmed in the isles next year.

More than 30 separate acts turned up at Lerwick’s Garrison Theatre last Wednesday to impress the Aberdeen-based director.

Mr Brown said that after decades auditioning musicians he was astounded by the quality he witnessed during the day, adding that he had “definitely” found what he was looking for.

He said that of the 32 acts on display, whose ages ranged from 16 to 65, he had already decided on two who will be on the soundtrack before he had returned to Scotland.

“I thought I was going to be a long day of fiddles, but then it got to the point of are we going to have a fiddle. It was singers, contemporary groups, traditional groups…and then we had a fiddle, which was good,” he said.

Several songs have been written already and he is looking for suitable performers, as well as original material from the artists at the Garrison.

He said: “I definitely found what I am looking for. I was not surprised because I knew there was talent there, but I have auditioned so many people for different talent shows over the years and at the end of the day if you get one you are sometimes lucky.

“Out of 32 that we auditioned I would say there was 20 on the shortlist, which is extraordinary. It doesn’t happen. I was waiting for a bad one to come in.”

Shooting for the film is due to start early next year, with the crew arriving in Shetland in May and June for work on location.