Mini-tour of village halls for Orcadian duo Saltfishforty

ORKNEY power-folk duo Saltfishforty are set to return to Shetland at the end of next month with a weekend of gigs across the isles.

The award-winning and popular pair, comprising of fiddler and viola player Douglas Montgomery and multi-instrumentalist and singer Brian Cromarty – both also of The Chair – have recently released their new album Bere and will perform three dates in Sandwick, Yell and Muckle Roe.

Montgomery is looking forward to a weekend up north: “I can’t wait to come back to Shetland at the end of September,” he said. “It’s been a peedie while since we were last up as Saltfishforty and we have some new music to bring with us too, so can’t wait.”

Saltfishforty have delighted audiences at many of the world’s top folk festivals including Celtic Connections, Cambridge, HebCelt, Shetland, Lorient in Brittany and Canada’s Celtic Colours, as well as touring in the US and Europe.

Their focus on Orkney music takes in traditional, contemporary and original material, boldly cross-fertilised with influences ranging from Americana to East European folk, plus a high-octane whiff of heavy metal.

The Saturday concert in Yell will also see the return of the duo’s spree supergroup The Silver Penguins, who last appeared in Shetland during Tall Ships week in 2011 in Unst.

Due to travelling up later on Friday, there will be a slightly later start time than normal for the Sandwick Concert. The Muckle Roe gig is a late afternoon slot with local supergroup Stengle and weel-kent duo Ryan Couper and Adam Johnson in support.

• Saltfishforty perform at Carnegie Hall, Sandwick on Friday 29 September (tickets from Sandwick Baking Company), Cullivoe Hall, Yell on Saturday 30 September (tickets from RS Henderson’s or by contacting the hall) and at Muckle Roe Hall in the afternoon of Sunday 1 October (tickets by contacting Peter Johnson on 07876 630899 / 01806 522671 / laebrak@gmail.com). Tickets are priced £15 with concessions £12.