First showcase of summer

ISLESBURGH was sold out last night for the opening Shetland Showcase of this summer, with more than 100 people – a mixture of tourists and locals – treated to some excellent local fiddle music.

Opening the showcase were the Scandi Session fiddlers, a young group formed this past winter by tutors Eunice Henderson and Debbie Scott. 

With a mixture of stories, funs and some excellent tunes, this group charmed the appreciative crowd. Eunice and Debbie intend to keep the group going and there’s no telling how good they’ll come over time.

The interval gave the audience a chance to refresh with tea and bannocks and browse the excellent crafts on display at the back of the community centre hall.

Making their showcase debut, the main act were father and daughter duo Derek (piano) and Kirsten Hendry (fiddle). They took to the stage and soon had the audience enthralled.

They played a mixture of tunes, mostly Shetland with a few others Kirsten had picked up at university and on her travels. Kirsten’s stories and playing were superb and the audience thoroughly enjoyed the first Shetland Showcase of 2015.

• Tickets, priced £6 (£4 concession), are on sale at Shetland Box Office for showcases which take place at Islesburgh every Monday night between now and 24 August. 

Dale Smith