Reviews / Fantastic foy – a whirlwind of musical brilliance
SHETLAND Folk Festival always promises a weekend of incredible music, and this year they’ve delivered once more. The foy at the end of the four-day feast is the perfect example of the quality and talent they’ve brought to Shetland over the last few days.
Twelve acts performing across four hours, rotating through three different venues in Lerwick bringing a whirlwind night of musical brilliance. Each act only has 15 minutes to leave an impression, and everyone did exactly that.
In a show like this I expected to be able to say there were some real highlights and show-stealers, but every single act left the crowd (and me) wanting more. Fifteen minutes for each artist didn’t seem like enough time.
Richard Wood from Prince Edward Island opened the show at the Legion. He last performed at the Shetland Folk Festival in 1997. At the foy, he played a rush of lively fiddle tunes with infectious energy that had the crowd clapping along. His set was the perfect opener to get the night started.
Next up were Michael Daves and Jacob Jolliff who aptly described the format as ‘musical speed dating’. They treated the crowd to some impressive authentic bluegrass. They were technically on point, playing complex tunes that were effortlessly compelling. Bluegrass isn’t my usual type of music, but I might just be a convert after that performance.
Gina, the night’s compere, prompted the audience to limber up for our third act. Mec Lir took to the stage and turned things up a notch. They got everyone up on their feet, playing some lightning quick traditional music fused with drums and electro beats. It was undoubtedly something you had to dance to, like a ceilidh crashing into a rave.
The sound slowed down for Australian act The Maes, who performed some hauntingly beautiful harmonies. More Than You Know, dedicated to their late grandfather, was deeply honest and emotional. You could feel the room go still. I’m sure there were a couple of tears in the audience after that. Maggie Rigby said: “We’ve had the time of our lives here at the Shetland Folk Festival, we can’t believe that we’re here.”
They brought the mood up at the end with a 90s country pop song called Storm Warning. The band had some albums available for sale at the venue, and they sold out minutes after their performance, a testament to their talent.
Estonian Duo Ruut were up next giving us something completely unique. They weaved a unique soundscape with their Estonian zither, an ‘uncool’ instrument (their words, not mine).
They said: “It’s one of the least cool instruments in Estonia, usually old men in front of supermarkets play it. So, you can imagine the joke when we were 17 and decided to pick it up.” Their on-stage banter was hilarious, and their music was transcendent.
They explained their songs are arrangements from Estonian traditional songs and texts, and it was an unforgettable performance. Their harmonies were perfect, and the entire set was ethereal and otherworldly, beautiful and strange in the best way.
Julie Alapnes and her band followed with a sweeping set of Norwegian folk tunes. Her fiddle playing was impressive and powerful, blending traditional Norwegian folk music with her own compositions. Her second song, composed to her husband (although he wasn’t her husband at the time), Pull the Finger Out, built from a slow burn into a soaring epic. She played music that was so cinematic you felt immersed in Norwegian culture and landscapes. I had goosebumps when the set was over.
We moved swiftly on to Astro Bloc who gave us a jolt with a bold set in contemporary folk music. They’d only done a few gigs prior to Shetland Folk Festival 2025, but you’d never know it from their electric energy on stage. The entire set was bold and modern, feeling like somewhere between a folk and a synth-pop gig, giving us a fresh genre-blending voice on the Scottish folk scene.
Moving back to the states The Hot Seats were up next with a mixture of bluegrass, banter, and rag-time country music. They last played at the Shetland Folk Festival 13 years ago, and said they were ‘especially happy to be here’. Their set included a lullaby written from one of the band members daughters, before moving on to Hard Time a Coming, which felt all too relevant today.
Good Guy Hank kept the American rhythm going, giving us tight and traditional arrangements. They brought traditional bluegrass and lively rhythms to the audience. Their unique blend of talents featured some lightning quick mandolin, and incredible violin virtuoso playing.
Budapest Café Orchestra followed with one of the most entertaining sets of the night. This ensemble act has been a real highlight of the festival this year. Led by violinist Christian Garrick, who may be one of the best violin players I’ve ever had the fortune of seeing. Their stage presence was captivating as their set blended Balkan, Russian, and Celtic traditional music with some classical flourishes.
They were playful and amusing to watch, but don’t let the humour distract you from the incredible musicality. This entire band is immensely talented. Their fusion of music was perfectly done. They ended with a tender tune about the Isle of Skye, both rousing and elegant.
Our penultimate act was Margo Cilker, who stepped in with rich story-driven Americana songs. She was joined by half of Budapest Café Orchestra, and her music felt grounded and heartfelt. Her impressive vocals paid homage to her upbringing and roots.
Last, and most certainly not least, The Traveling Janes finished the night off, playing smooth and sultry jazz music, and transporting the audience into a 1920s prohibition-era speakeasy. Their medley of two songs from the 1800s The Old Folks at Home and Leaving of Liverpool was blended seamlessly.
It was a night that spanned across the globe, from Australia, to Estonia, to America, and everywhere in between. I can’t imagine many concerts where you’d be treated to such a wide variety of performances. The entire show was a masterclass in musical storytelling.
Thank you to the Shetland Folk Festival committee for delivering on another magical festival, and to all the acts who travelled to be here and gave it their all.
Now, to finally get some sleep!
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