Arts /

Accordion and fiddle festival postponed again

6 May 2021 13:31

Local outfit Birls Aloud at a recent fiddle and accordion festival, that will now have to step up its own fundraising efforts after charitable trust cutbacks. Photo Dale Smith

Birls Aloud at an accordion and fiddle festival. Photo Dale Smith

THIS year’s Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival – due to take place in October – has been postponed to 2022 due to ongoing uncertainty regarding coronavirus restrictions.

The committee said it is “impossible to budget with any certainty” without certainty over venue capacities.

With capacity in halls likely to be considerably reduced, income is consequently reduced and as a result the financial viability of the event is called into question, it added.

The committee also said it has been “amazed by the generosity of our supporters” who have donated over £5,000.

“We feel that it would be much better to save this money to put towards a ‘full blown’ festival in 2022,” it said.

The 2020 festival was also postponed.

The committee still hopes to mark the 2021 festival weekend (7-11 October) in some way. The format of which will be dictated by government guidelines at the time, and details will be announced at a later date.

The likely date for 2022 is Thursday 13 October, but this will only be confirmed once holiday dates for the 2022-2023 school year are confirmed. This should be available in the next couple of months.