News / A Reel Christmas Spree
SHETLAND Folk Festival stalwart Davie Henderson is promising A Reel Christmas Spree this month starring top class acts from Shetland, Ireland and mainland Scotland.
For three consecutive nights from 16 December, Edinburgh based singer songwriter Dean Owens, the gentle Irish giant and accordionist Brendan Begley and Shetland fiddler Kevin Henderson will form the visiting artiste line up for a spree-filled weekend.
Performing at Sandwick Social Club, the Muckle Roe Hall and the Lerwick British Legion, the line up is to be supplemented by a different local act each night.
Previously the front-man of the much loved and lauded Americana act The Felsons, Dean Owens has subsequently been recording and touring the world as a successful solo artiste in his own right.
He has opened and been tour guest for artistes such as Steve Earle, Emmylou Harris and Nanci Griffiths and has spent 2011 completing a new album “New York Hummingbird” due for release in early 2012.
He’s also been working on a project close to his heart, recording an album of Johnny Cash songs. As folk festival goers will recall, Dean is a long time fan of Johnny Cash and has been playing his songs at concerts for many years.
Returning from Ireland is Brendan Begley who is bursting with the wild and beautiful music of West Kerry. As a singer he is a gentle giant and on the accordion he is a force of nature. Slides, polkas, songs and slow airs run through his veins and he now carries on the tradition of his home place while playing with the next generation of Begley’s.
For his third consecutive festive excursion to Shetland he will be accompanied by the oldest of his three children, Bréannain Begley on guitar whose main influence is Steve Cooney, Tim Edey, Gavin Raiston and Arty McGlynn.
The third visiting artiste is Shetland’s very own Kevin Henderson who between tours with Fiddlers Bid, Boys of the Lough, Session A9 and the Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, also performs as a solo artiste.
For this trip home, Kevin will be showcasing material from his recently released and eagerly awaited debut solo album Fin da land ageen. Featuring purely traditional Shetland fiddle music, Kevin celebrates the isles’ unsurpassed fiddle tradition by bringing together a collection of tunes from all parts of Shetland.
The weekend will also see the debut performance by Shetland’s newest local band Väir at the Sandwick gig, featuring the musical talents of Ryan Couper, Jonny Polson and Lewie & Erik Peterson. The Muckle Roe concert will feature Jonny and Ryan whilst Craa Dang Pussy will appear at the Sunday afternoon gig in the Lerwick Legion.
Tickets are now on sale at High Level Music at £12 each, with any remaining tickets available on the door (door times 7.30pm in Sandwick on the 16th and 2.30pm at the Lerwick British Legion on the 18th). Muckle Roe tickets are only available through contacting Peter Johnson on 01806 522671 or 07876630899.
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