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The Orkney Folk Festival has recently been named 'EVENT OF THE YEAR 2011' at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 2011
A huge thank-you to all who voted for us.
Welcome back! Come on in, party's this way...
[01/12/2011]
Well here it is folks. Our big 3-0. No longer a bairn...all grown up. Suppose we had better throw a peedie bash to celebrate!
We’ve brought together fifteen acts from throughout the UK, as well as both sides of the Atlantic and North Sea, to help us celebrate in style. These guests alongside the realms of Orcadian talent – some hardened veterans, some newcomers – to form the perfect line up for our anniversary.
Visiting from mainland Scotland, chart-topper Eddi Reader is making her Orkney debut this year, accompanied by an all-star band of Boo Hewerdine, John Douglas, and Alan Kelly.
From Scotland’s north-east, we have the specially reunited, legendary Foundry Bar Band, with a collective musical expertise exceeding half a millennia!
Crossing the Atlantic to be with us are the Scottish and Californian fiddle and cello masters Alasdair Fraser and Natalie Haas, as are Le Vent du Nord, one of the most popular Quebecois folk outfits in the world today. Also heading over from Eastern Canada is singer and guitarist Buddy MacDonald, making a welcome return to the festival.
One of Scandinavia’s finest fiddlers, Denmark’s Harald Haugaard is returning to the festival, this time round fronting his quartet, featuring singer Helene Blum.
At the cutting edge of UK folk music, KAN, featuring two of the most revered front-men in recent years, Aidan O’Rourke (Lau) and Brian Finnegan (Flook), are heading to the festival for the first time, as is Edwina Hayes, the Nashville and Lancashire-based Americana singer, who has opened numerous shows for Jools Holland and Van Morrison in recent years.
Leading the way amongst Scotland’s international ambassadors, the Battlefield Band will be visiting Orkney this year. Something of a Shetland institution, making a welcome return to Orkney after a five-year break, Hom Bru are once again set to perform at the Orkney Folk Festival. Also visiting from our northerly neighbouring isles is the Cullivoe Dance Band – sure to go down a treat with ceilidh dancers.
Also returning to the festival is the award-winning, and half-Orcadian, Scots song duo Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller, whilst multi-instrumental Danny Kyle Award Winners Rura will visit for the first time. Strengthening our mainland-Scotland contingent, also featuring an Orcadian expat, we have Dr. Mango and the Chickpeas who, in their own words, create a “musical marmalade of mayhem and madness”! Completing our visiting line-up, we have Adam McCulloch, a fantastic Scots singer/songwriter, who presents his new trio.
As well as our visitors, a major of focus of every Orkney Folk Festival over the last 29 years has always been Orkney’s home-grown talent. This year is no exception, with an army of Orcadian bands set to take the spotlight.
International folk stars, The Wrigley Sisters, stomp masters The Chair and gutsy duo Saltfishforty are all set to return to the festival stage once more. Local youngsters are also at the heart of every festival, from the large groups Hadhirgaan, Shoramere and the Orkney Traditional Music Project, to young individuals carving their own niche, such as Eric Linklater and Emily Bourn. Orcadian song is also well represented, with performances from Bruce Mainland, the Song Shop Trio, Jo Philby and Dave Morrison all on the bill.
All we need now is an audience – see you from May 31 to June 3!
Scots Trad Music Awards
[03/12/2011]
We are delighted to be announced as winners in the category of 'Event of the Year' at this year's Scots Trad Music Awards! Many thanks go out to all those who voted for us.
In the lead up to our thirtieth anniversary, we would like to share this award with everyone who has helped make the festival what it is today: committee members past and present; the scores of volunteers who help us bring the festival to life each May, every artist who has ever played at our 29 festivals since 1982, and every single audience member in as long - without you things would be very dull!
There was a strong Orcadian contingent in this year's round of nominations, across the awards - Kristan Harvey was nominated for 'Up and Coming Artist of the Year', whilst Douglas Montgomery - the driving force behind "Orkney Folk: The Gathering", as well as the phenomenally successful Hadhirgaan - was up for tutor of the year.
Unfortunately Kristan and Douglas were pipped to the post in their categories, but to be nominated is a both a great achievement, and just recognition for their sterling work. Well done!
Music on a Tall Ship
[19/12/2011]
In 2011 the Orkney Folk Festival chartered a tall ship to sail around Scapa Flow offering on-board musical entertainment, food and refreshments. Off Doon the Flow was a great success and the ship The Wylde Swan went on to win no less than 5 awards during the Tall Ships Race 2011. We'd like to congratulate the captain and crew of the Wylde Swan for their excellent achievements.
You could have a chance to take part in a similar event at Easter 2012 when the tall ship Gulden Leeuw will be doing similar charters from Stromness to The Old Man of Hoy and Scapa Flow. Click the banner below for details.
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Apart from the visiting acts photos, most of the images on this site are from 2011 and are used with the kind permission of Tom O'Brien and the Orkney Media Group.
Additional photographs from Colin Keldie - K4 Graphics.
The Orkney Folk Festival is a registered charity: SCO27280