News / Orkney set for Rack n Ruin
YELL party band Rack n Ruin are heading back to Orkney with an expanded line-up for their first visit since 1999 this weekend.
The band was formed by Barry Nisbet, David Spence, Kevin Tulloch and Martin Henderson in 1994 – with much of their early material featuring the traditional Cullivoe style of fiddle-playing, which can be traced back over 100 years.
Rack n Ruin’s sound evolved over time, and in recent years the line-up has expanded to include Michael Nisbet, Brian Spence and Leslie Tulloch – all younger brothers of founder members. The fuller sound is completed by percussionist Jack Jamieson, with all eight members of the band hailing from Cullivoe.
Inspired by traditional Shetland tunes, outlaw country and Americana, Rack n Ruin describe themselves as “proud purveyots of ‘Yellbilly’ country rock”. Orcadian crowds can expect to hear songs by the Saw Doctors, Johnny Cash, Steve Earle and Old Crow Medicine Show.
In recent years Rack n Ruin have supported Orkney supergroup The Chair, and performed in Whitby, Yorkshire, for the launch of Shetland’s newest whitefish trawler the Guardian Angell.
The group regularly appear at Shetland Folk Festival and are well known for inducing sprees across the islands at weddings and Up Helly Aa festivals.
Keyboard player Henderson said it made sense to be taking the party to Orkney: “We have plenty of family and friends in Orkney, but it’s been too long since we last player there.
“We hope Orkney folk haven’t forgotten about us, even though this will be our first visit this century! Now we have new band members, a bigger sound, and it promises to be an even bigger spree.”
Rack n Ruin have been described as sounding “as traditional as a red can”, but often “mixing it up with modern tunes as fast and relentless as shots of Fireball”. The band describe themselves as “North Yell’s premier tractor-riding, sheep-thieving, peat-raising, smooriken-stealing party band”.
- Rack n Ruin are playing at the Sands Hotel, Burray on Friday 8 April, the Royal Hotel in Stromness on Saturday 9 April, and the Auld Motor Hoose in Kirkwall on Sunday 10 April.
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