All set for the 37th Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival
The four-day music bonanza opens its doors on Thursday 8 October
IT’S NEARLY a year since the very successful 36th Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival drew to a close, and we’re now not many weeks from the 37th festival which starts on Thursday 8 October.
Preparations have been ongoing virtually since last October and the programme has just been released. It contains details of everything that is happening, and where, and of course how to get your tickets! Details can also be found on the official web page: shetlandaccordionandfiddle.com.
As usual the Festival Hub is in Islesburgh Community Centre, and this is where the official opening will take place on the Thursday at 1pm. This year top fiddler and stalwart of many festivals, Roddy Matthews, will perform this duty and launch the festival proceedings.
One of the main aims of the festival is to provide top class music for both listening and dancing, and to take the entertainment all over Shetland.
This year the concerts on Thursday and Friday will be in Cunningsburgh, Vidlin, Bridge End, Walls, Brae, Scalloway, and of course on both nights in the Festival Hub in Islesburgh. Dances following the concerts will be at Cunningsburgh and Brae and on both nights in Islesburgh. Anyone with Festival Hub membership is very welcome to return from the country venues to join in the dancing which will be going on into the wee smaa oors.
The festival endeavours to include some of the top Scottish dance bands, and this year there are four top broadcasting bands to set the feet tapping. Long established bands like the West Telferton Caledonian Dance Band have always proved popular, as has the Duncan Black Band.
The winning band from the 2024 ALBA Trad Awards, the Pure Scotch Ceilidh Band, will be here, and also the Fin Hope Scottish Dance Band. Although still in his teens Fin Hope along with his band have had two superb broadcasts recently on Take the Floor. He has performed at the festival before, but this is his first time with the full band.
These, along with seven local bands, will all be playing at the Clickimin Grand Dance on the Saturday evening. As always, this is one of the highlights of the festival, and especially so in the last few years with so many younger folk taking part.
Between the first and last Boston there will be another 24 dances, with something for everyone. A dance which has been proving popular recently is the Palais Glide, and after an absence of number of years it will again be included. The Grand Dance will again be videoed as a reminder of a great night of music and dancing.
Amongst the many other visiting artistes are the Alasdair MacLeod Trio, the Neil Kirkpatrick Trio, the David Oswald Trio, and a trio who sound like a firm of solicitors – Dawson, Hutson and Orr. They are of course Neil Dawson, Ian Hutson, and Tom Orr, all top musicians in their own right who will be doing something special as a trio.
One of the most popular accordionists around today is Ewan Galloway, and this year he is performing solo. Roddy Matthews, who is officially opening the festival, will be accompanied by Leonard Brown, and of course no festival would be complete without Scandinavian and Irish influences.
This year top Norwegian accordionist Ronny Kjøsen will be crossing the North Sea, while from Ireland we have a band with a great name – Chunky Junction.
There is of course a wealth of local talent too, with young bands like Filskit and Da Gadderie as well as long established bands like the Cullivoe Dance band and Da Fustra. The local accordion and fiddle clubs will be represented, as well as both the 2025 and 2026 Shetland Young Fiddlers of the Year, and many many more musicians.
Apart from the evening concerts and dances, there will be music and sessions taking place at the Hub, and of course the youth concert on Saturday afternoon is an excellent showcase for all the local young talent. That will be followed by the youth sessions in an adjoining room which will include many players from the youth concert, and is open to all youngsters.
Sunday, being the final day of the festival, is a more relaxing day, with two afternoon concerts in the Hub and in the Royal British Legion. These two concerts will take place simultaneously and will feature some of the most popular performers from the festival who will move between the venues.
The committee are very appreciative of local sponsorship and for the support received from Shetland Charitable Trust. They are also very pleased that as usual many visitors are already booked to come to Shetland for the 37th Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival, musicians, dancers, and enthusiasts alike. Friendships will be kindled and renewed and it is hoped that everyone will enjoy the accordion and fiddle bonanza!
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