Arts / Grammy-nominated Americana musician prepares for Mareel gig
ACCLAIMED Americana star Kenneth Pattengale says hearing about Shetland’s rich musical heritage from Aly Bain was what first sparked his interest in visiting the islands.
Speaking ahead of a mostly solo gig at Mareel next Wednesday (20 May), the singer and guitarist – whose band The Milk Carton Kids have chalked up four Grammy nominations – recalled learning about Shetland when he was part of the Transatlantic Sessions back in 2016.
Pattengale has shared stages with music royalty ranging from Robert Plant and Joan Baez to Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle, since The Milk Carton Kids first sprang to attention in the roots music world with their 2013 record The Ash & Clay.
They also featured prominently, alongside the likes of Jack White, Marcus Mumford, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, in Another Day, Another Time – a live celebration of the soundtrack to the Coen Brothers’ Inside Llewyn Davis film the same year.
The latter performance famously left Mumford in tears on Chris Thile’s shoulder, while Guitar World magazine has concluded that Pattengale’s command of his instrument places him as “one of the most exciting contemporary voices on the acoustic guitar”.
Milk Carton Kids recently released their seventh full length album Lost Cause Lover Fool and will be touring the UK in January 2027, including a show at Glasgow’s 1,500-capacity Pavilion Theatre.
Before that, Pattengale’s visit to Lerwick forms part of a short solo run taking in the UK mainland, Scandinavia and next weekend’s Orkney Folk Festival.
Pattengale says he will mostly be playing some of the Milk Carton Kids songs that he wrote, but “in the solo configuration they take on a different light”, and “also I’ll play a few that no one has ever heard”.
He will be joined for a couple of numbers by his wife Danielle Ackroyd, captivating frontwoman of the excellent indie project Vera Sola and the daughter of Blues Brothers/Ghostbusters actor Dan Ackroyd.
“I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting the people of Shetland, and there’s a great musical history,” Pattengale told BBC Radio Shetland this week.
“I remember the first time I heard about it we were on a tour with the great fiddler Aly Bain. I remember when he was telling me I was like, ‘oh, there’s this musical tradition that Aly’s a part of there – I hope we get to go there one time and see what it’s about’.”
He describes the Transatlantic Sessions experience as “a tour for the ages with many new friends made, and many new worlds uncovered. That’s where I befriended the late, great Danny Thompson, who is one of my all-time heroes.”
Neil Riddell of local not-for-profit music promoter Ragged Wood says they are thrilled to have attracted one of the most notable figures in the Americana world over the past 15 years.
“Kenneth’s playing, singing and writing within Milk Carton Kids are all so good that it can often take your breath away,” he said.
“He has worked with loads of brilliant musicians that have come this way – you don’t wind up co-headlining shows with Punch Brothers and Sarah Jarosz unless you’re really, really good at music.
“If you’re going to take a chance on seeing one act that you’re not familiar with in 2026, we strongly recommend making it this one.”
Pattengale adds that getting the offer to come to Shetland was “like a dream come true for me, because the entire thing is about connecting with people, and connecting with people who love music”.
“I’m very excited to visit a brand-new-to-me place on the globe. I love to discover what is different about us, and what is the same. And I love to punctuate that with the energy of a concert. There’s nothing quite like it to experience together.
“I’m going to bring all the tools I have, to open my heart and play my guitar and sing, and I’m going to be there to receive what you all have to give back to me. That to me is the complete magic of music.”
Tickets to see Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids live at Mareel on Wednesday 20 May, with support from Black Shed Green, are on sale now from Shetland Arts Box Office.
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