Arts / People invited to share memories of folk festival on 40th anniversary
THIS weekend should usually feature toe-tapping tunes and late night sessions as Shetland becomes a focal point of the folk music scene.
However, after being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Shetland Folk Festival 2021 is also off.
The first festival was in 1981, meaning that the event is celebrating its 40th year.
In the absence of the festival, people are being invited to share their memories, photos and videos of the popular event.
They can upload them to social media with the hashtag #ShetlandFolkFestival, or tag Promote Shetland and Shetland Folk Festival.
People’s memories will then be shared by the folk festival team, while a Promote Shetland blog will also spread the joy.
Local folk music will also be celebrated tonight (Friday) with a concert organised in association with Edinburgh Tradfest.
It will feature Margaret Robertson, Chris Stout, Ross Couper and show curator Catriona Macdonald.
Tickets for the online concert can be bought here.
Meanwhile, BBC Radio Shetland aired a special programme last night exploring the history of the celebrated folk festival, which can be listened to below.
For those on music streaming platform Spotify, local musician Gary Smith has curated a 320-song playlist of the bands who have visited and performed at the folk festival over the last 40 years.
Find the playlist below.
Become a supporter of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its many readers to consider start paying for their dose of the latest local news delivered straight to their PC, tablet or mobile phone.
Journalism comes at a price and because that price is not being paid in today’s rapidly changing media world, most publishers - national and local - struggle financially despite very healthy audience figures.
Most online publishers have started charging for access to their websites, others have chosen a different route. Shetland News currently has over 600 supporters who are all making small voluntary financial contributions. All funds go towards covering our cost and improving the service further.
Your contribution will ensure Shetland News can: -
- Bring you the headlines as they happen;
- Stay editorially independent;
- Give a voice to the community;
- Grow site traffic further;
- Research and publish more in-depth news, including more Shetland Lives features.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a supporter of Shetland News by either making a single payment or monthly subscription.
Support us from as little as £3 per month – it only takes a minute to sign up. Thank you.
Already a supporter? Sign in to hide this message.
