programme - orkney folk festival€¦ · stromness westray. 3 ... their farewell tour, ... a...

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Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland www.orkneyfolkfestival.com What’s On Concerts Ceilidhs Dances Stomp Clubs Pub Sessions Open Stage Family Concert Fiddlers’ Rally Food Market Exhibition Talks . . . PROGRAMME 21-24 May 2015 Where Birsay Deerness Harray Holm Kirkwall Orphir Quoyloo Sanday Sandwick St Andrews Stromness Westray

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Page 1: PROGRAMME - Orkney Folk Festival€¦ · Stromness Westray. 3 ... their farewell tour, ... A mainstay of the Orkney Folk Festival programme, since 2010, the Orkney

Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland

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What’s OnConcertsCeilidhsDancesStompClubsPub SessionsOpen StageFamily ConcertFiddlers’ RallyFood MarketExhibitionTalks . . .

PROGRAMME

21-24 May 2015

WhereBirsayDeernessHarrayHolmKirkwallOrphirQuoylooSandaySandwickSt AndrewsStromnessWestray

Page 2: PROGRAMME - Orkney Folk Festival€¦ · Stromness Westray. 3 ... their farewell tour, ... A mainstay of the Orkney Folk Festival programme, since 2010, the Orkney

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All Sorts of FolkWelcomeWithin just a four day festival, we aim to cater for all sorts of folk – by both definitions. ‘Folk music’ means a lot of things to a lot of, well, folk, and so we’ve a programme bursting with events at all hours – from 10.30am to well after bedtime – and suiting all tastes.

Bring The FamilyA hit amongst our peedier festival goers – and those less so – Saturday afternoon’s Family Concert is always a hot ticket. This year we welcome back the fantastic New Rope String Band, on their farewell tour, offering audiences of all ages one last chance to be in stitches at this trio’s folk/cabaret antics.However, throughout the programme almost all events offer discounted tickets for under-16s, giving plenty opportunity to bring the entire family along to join in the festival fun!

Late Night RevelryAnd for when the bairns are long since tucked up in bed, we have a choice of three late night clubs on offer – each finely tuned to serve up a different flavour of the festival into the wee small hours.

Festival & Lunchtime ClubsThese chilled out concerts feature some of the best music and song on offer over the weekend, in an intimate atmosphere, and so at least one is a must in every festival-goers’ diary. With space for just 100, seated around tables to rest your glasses, they are often amongst the first events to sell out.

Song ClubsA haven for song enthusiasts and tradition bearers, our Song Clubs are part concert/part singaround – very much reminiscent of early Scottish folk clubs. Quiet songs and moving ballads, rousing choruses, and sing-along choruses are all at home here – as is just sitting back and lapping up the atmosphere.

Academy ClubFriday night’s late night club in the Stromness Academy offers night owls the chance to catch two stunning all-girl groups – Ward Thomas and Fara – in a fully seated concert, just later in the day. As you’d expect with a gig at 10.30pm, there may just be a bar too.

The Stomp is BackRenamed as Academy Clubs, so to group all late night events together, Stomps were a favourite festival event throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. However, with increasing demand for late night tickets, and Friday’s fixture now fully seated, and Saturday’s an all-standing affair, it was felt that we needed to differentiate between the gig set-ups. Many regular festival goers never fully bought into the new name, so why swim against the tide? Welcome back, Stomp, we’ve missed you!

Hello and welcome to our lovingly hand crafted Orkney Folk Festival, Episode 33. How much can you cram into one weekend? Quite a lot it seems. From the world of commercially successful folk we have three big hitters, Sharon Shannon, Seth Lakeman and Ward Thomas. But it’s not all about commercial success. Hard-working and talented local heroes hold on to the Orkney tradition and steadfastly nurture it and keep it alive. We try to represent them here too. You may not see them on the big stages, but that is not necessarily where they want to be. A bar, a ceilidh, a quiet corner is where you might find them, so keep your eyes peeled for them. Concerts, ceilidhs and the usual events are all in place plus a few new exciting bits and bobs sprinkled over for fun, and there you have it, OFF 2015 is just around the corner. Thanks for your continued support, see you soon! - Bob Gibbon • Festival Director

Stay ConnectedAfter 51 weeks’ build up, it often feels that the festival can go by in a flash; that if you blink you’ll miss it. Hopefully not, but with so much going on (and the limiting capacity to only be in one place at one time) it’s great to be able to stay connected, and share and relive each other’s festival experiences.Both our Facebook and Twitter pages are a hive of activity – not just in the lead-up to and cool down from the festival, but all year round. We share as many photos, videos, music clips, anecdotes, “how on earth…!?”s as we can lay our hands on, but it’s even better to see what you’ve been up to, and that may have slipped through our net. Head on over and join in the conversation.

/orkneyfolkfestival @OrkneyFolkFest #orkneyff15

See You SoonWhether you’re reading this pre or post festival, we’re looking forward to seeing you (again) soon. Given the high demand on accommodation in and around Stromness around the festival, many folk book to return the following year on their check-out – and, rest assured, we never take that for granted. As such, we are often asked for future festival dates long before we’ve booked any artists or venues! As a general rule, the festival is always the last full weekend of May, with the late spring Bank Holiday following. This year is a perfect example – whilst the weekend following the festival is still fully in May, the Monday is in June. Next year, however, we jump back a week.

Dates for your diaries:34th Orkney Folk Festival – May 26-29, 201635th Orkney Folk Festival – May 25-28, 2017

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Bob Gibbon

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Celebrating FolkThis year we have three unique events that each celebrate the life and work of unique individuals.

The Music of the Garson TrioThursday – Sandwick Community Centre – 7.30pmA mainstay of the Orkney Folk Festival programme, since 2010, the Orkney Heritage Fiddle Project shines a spotlight on some of Orkney’s best known musicians and traditional composers no longer with us. Each year a concert is dedicated to revisiting their music and styles of playing (which, particularly decades ago, can vary hugely amongst Orkney’s scene), celebrating their vast contribution to Orkney’s folk scene.Having previously focused on the work of Jim Craigie, Davy Eunson, Ronnie Aim, Allie Windwick and Gordon Harvey, this year the project looks at the much-loved west mainland three-piece, The Garson Trio – Iris Nicolson (accordion), her father, James Garson (fiddle), and her husband, John Nicolson (guitar). This concert will include music as played and arranged by the trio, as well as archive recordings of the trio in action. In the lead up, OHFP coordinator, Gemma McGregor, and fiddler, Laura Eunson, will provide workshops for young musicians, passing on the trio’s music, which will then be performed alongside compere and fiddler Graham Garson, accordion players, Isla Wallace and Dave Linklater, and pianist Steven Flett.

Out of my own LightThursday – Orphir Community School – 7.30pm“I’m so darned restless and unhappy these days: just can’t make a decision one way or another. If only I could get right away for a while I’m sure it would help. I’ll never get out of my own light while I continue here.”

– Margaret Tait, May 2, 1950In 1950, aged 25, Margaret Tait, from Quoyburray, set out from Orkney alone, travelling across the Atlantic and right across Canada, taking time out to consider her future. In 2013, also aged 25, fiddle player and photographer Louise Bichan set out on her own journey, retracing the steps of her grandmother, in a bid to fill in gaps in Margaret’s story created by the disappearance of a crucial volume of her diaries.Louise now presents a suite of music inspired by Margaret’s memoirs, the memories of elderly Canadian cousins who she tracked down and interviewed, priceless photographs which remain from her grandmother’s trip, and new images from her own voyage. Joining Louise are pianist Jennifer Austin, Mike Vass on fiddle and guitar, cellist Su-a Lee, Euan Burton on double bass, and percussionist Signy Jakobsdottir.

Mike Vass – In the Wake of Neil GunnSaturday – Stromness Academy – 11amIn 1937, Neil Gunn sold his house, quit his job and set off in a converted lifeboat for a summer to inspire his writing, voyaging around the west coast of Scotland. He wrote about the various communities he visited on the way, and went on to become one of Scotland’s most prolific and creative fiction writers. In May 2014, celebrated musician and composer Mike Vass, from Nairn, mirrored Gunn’s route, re-visiting the communities Gunn wrote about, and finding inspiration for his own composing.The project is Vass’s most ambitious venture to date, integrating traditional, classical and electronic elements with film, photography and spoken-word excerpts, vividly evoking the moods of the sea, weather and landscape together with the power of Gunn’s writing. On fiddle, tenor guitar and samples, Mike will be joined by Innes Watson on guitar, fiddle and percussion, and Euan Burton on double bass and percussion.“...a great ear for atmosphere and a knack for writing tunes that lilt and yearn” - The Guardian, 2015

Aff the Kuff (Orkney)Having entertained folk at functions and dances throughout the county for several years now, local players Jack Yorkston, James Groat, Fran Hollinrake, Tina Yorkston and Bettey Harvey will host our new club at the Reel, in Kirkwall, on Friday night. Come along and join in, or just enjoy the tunes.Barrule (Isle of Man)The first Manx act to ever perform at the Orkney Folk Festival, Barrule is an award-winning fusion of three distinct musical forces: Mabon front-man and accordion wizard Jamie Smith, gifted fiddler Tomas Callister and versatile accompanist Adam Rhodes (Mabon) on bouzouki. The trio’s fresh approach to traditional Manx music evokes an atmosphere that reflects the diverse natural beauty of the island, elevating its music to an exciting new level.Belt Hid Oot (Orkney)Making their first festival appearance this year, this band of students at Stromness Academy is the brainchild of music teacher and fiddler, Laura Eunson; herself a former student of Douglas Montgomery, and graduate of the very first incarnation of Hadhirgaan. With such a pedigree, expect cracking young players and winning multi-instrumental arrangements.Billy Jolly (Orkney)Billy is something of a legend in Orkney. Whether singing about a make-shift rubbish dump (amongst many other captivating topics), or keeping audiences spellbound with his ‘moothie’ (harmonica) skills, he never fails to add that special something to an evening’s entertainment. A favourite musician and story-teller within these islands, his gift for the stage can also be seen within the five-piece Hullion.Bryony Lyn Band (Orkney)Following her knockout return to the 2014 festival – having performed at many, throughout her early years – Orcadian Bryony MacGregor (nee Muir, but going by her middle name on stage) is back with her band and repertoire of all original songs, inspired by love, life, landscape and laughter. Through her involvement with Young Farmers Clubs, Bryony often entertains at agricultural events, delighting with lyrics that bring a smile and lump to the throat in equal measure.Bruce Mainland (Orkney)Orcadian Bruce is an all-round entertainer, and a regular face at The Reel in Kirkwall. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist alike – as showcased on his album, The Lang Road Doon – he certainly knows how to hold a crowd, with song topics ranging from the sublime to the bizarre.Bygdaklang (Norway)Bygdaklang is a mixed, community choir from Voss, Hordaland. In their thirtieth anniversary year, they are travelling abroad for the first time – including a stop at the Birsay Kirk on Saturday afternoon. The ensemble’s repertoire spans folk, pop, carols and evergreens, and regularly delights at major events throughout their home county. The Chair (Orkney)An eight-piece musical juggernaut, renowned at festivals the length of the country, The Chair will have even the most reserved audience beating a path to the dance floor. Orcadian melodies are mashed up with blues, dub and klezmer in a riot of fiddles, banjos, accordions and drums, approaching the dizzying energy levels of a rock gig, yet remaining acoustic at heart.Claire Hastings (Scotland)BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015, Claire Hastings is a Scots singer with a lifelong passion for Scottish music. An already seasoned performer, she has appeared on many nationwide radio and TV programmes, including The Culture Studio, Travelling Folk and Take the Floor, and has sung at many festivals and clubs. Originally from Dumfries, and now resident in Glasgow, she also holds a first class honours degree from the RSAMD (now the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland).Dallahan (Scotland/Ireland/Hungary)Incorporating Irish, classical, jazz, Balkan and Celtic influences, Dallahan’s unique arrangements and multi-layered sound has seen them rapidly established as an exciting new force in traditional music. The award winning musicians met each other through Edinburgh’s session scene, and, in less two years together, have already played some of the largest, most sought-after stages going, including Milwaukee Irish Festival, Copenhagen Irish Festival, Celtic Connections, and now Orkney!The Driftwood Cowboys (Orkney)Three musical veterans and one boy wonder, three parts Orkney and one part Nashville... However you mix it up, The Driftwood Cowboys sound like no other band in the isles today. Their songs and tunes portray a landscape of Shopping Week Queens, blackenings and barbed wire beer…local stories sung to the universal tune of the blues, old time country, and folk.Erika Shearer (Orkney)A well-known local fiddle player, Erika grew up surrounded by music. Her parents, Billy and Ingi Jolly, regularly welcomed the likes of Hugh Inkster, Davy Eunson, Tommy Mainland and Colin Pirie round for tunes, and it is these musicians, and the Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society, that inspired her. She can also regularly be seen playing with the Ronald Anderson Dance Band.Fara (Orkney)The highlight of many a 2014 festival-goer’s weekend, Fara brings together five young Orcadian musicians at the forefront of today’s Scottish folk scene. Jennifer Austin, Louise Bichan, Kristan Harvey, Jeana Leslie and Catriona Price’s four fiddles and piano produce a fiery sound, with vibrant arrangements full of rich harmonies, rooted strongly in their upbringing amongst the music of Orkney.

The Artistes

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Barrule

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Hullion (Orkney)Firmly established as an institution in these islands, Hullion are a real crowd-pleaser; fine songs and splendid tunes interspersed with winning banter. These seasoned multi-instrumentalists - Andy Cant (fiddle, mandolin, bagpipes), Billy Jolly (harmonica, vocals), Ingi Jolly (guitar, vocals), Micky Austin (tenor banjo, mandolin) and Owen Tierney (guitar, mandolin, bass, vocals). combine an array of instruments to great effect. Jo Philby Band (Orkney)Originally from the south of England, folk singer Jo Philby has been a welcome addition and firm fixture in the Orkney folk scene for over a decade now. She has two CDs under her belt – Saltwater and Stone and Beneath the Starry Sky – with plans for a third in 2016, and regularly tours Scotland and England with her band, featuring Elaine Grieve and new recruit Tom Robinson, who accompany on guitar, dobro and mandolin.Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band (Orkney)Popular within the traditional dance scene in Orkney, this five piece band brings a special lilt to their repertoire of traditional Scottish, Irish, Cajun and self-penned tunes. Adopting the Norse word for Kirkwall as their name, The Kirkjuvagr Ceilidh Band are also known throughout Orkney as the Wood family.Louise Bichan (Orkney)Local fiddler, Louise Bichan graduated with a degree from the Glasgow School of Art in 2011, and has since been working as a photographer and musician. A regular face at the festival, this year she presents her own material, inspired by recent travels to North America. In 2013 and 2014 Louise retraced her Grandmother’s footsteps, across Canada, in a bid to fill in gaps in lost diaries.

The Lowland Linties (Scotland)With their rich, earthy harmonies, and a repertoire of funny and atmospheric songs, The Linties are favourites at festivals and singing events across Scotland. Presenting tight four-part harmonies, in both a cappella and accompanied arrangements, current members Morag Dempsey, Iyaah Warren, Helen Reid and Stuart Miller will be joined in Orkney, as they were on their second CD, Frae the Forth, by founding Lintie Lucy Pringle.Lyrie (Orkney)Two-times runners up at the Orkney Folk Festival Open Stage, Lyrie showcases the fiddling talents of some of Fiona

Driver’s students. Maya Tams-Gray, Mia McAllister and Anja Hall, alongside Fiona, create beautiful, all fiddle arrangements with a few self-penned tunes in the mix, all wrapped in a touch of humour. Melodies, harmonies, chords and accompaniment all come from fiddles, making Lyrie a unique addition to the festival. Michael Philip Scottish Dance Band (Scotland)Michael Philip has been part of the Scottish dance band scene for three decades. Whilst his band’s repertoire is deeply rooted in the traditional idiom, being a prolific composer in his own right, Michael’s compositions have provided fresh material, giving the band their unique style and sound. The band’s present line-up features all well-known musicians: Michael leads on accordion, accompanied by Nicol McLaren on second accordion, Margaret Scollay on fiddle, Dana Stewart on piano and Malcolm Ross on drums.Mike Vass Trio (Scotland)An award-winning musician and composer, Mike Vass is regarded as one of Scotland’s finest fiddle players and guitarists, and is in great demand as a performer, composer and teacher. He has toured extensively with leading Scots song band Malinky, in a duo with twin sister Ali, and with international super group Fiddle Rendezvous, featuring Bruce Molsky, Maryann Kennedy and Gerry O’Connor. In his trio, he is joined by Euan Burton on double bass and percussion, and Innes Watson on guitar, fiddle, and tenor guitar.The New Rope String Band (Scotland/England)

They’re back! But, for one last time… Visiting us on their farewell lap of honour, this truly unique trio splice elements of circus, vaudeville, clowning, slapstick, contortionism and downright tomfoolery with beautiful acoustic music, in precision-honed, uproarious performances. At a New Rope String Band show, your funny bones are helplessly at the mercy of three first class entertainers, who effortlessly meld superb musicianship with comic genius. No Soond (Orkney)An exciting young band whose first ever appearance was at the Orkney Folk Festival Open Stage in 2011, No Soond’s members bring many influences to the table, from straight up traditional tunes to rock, dance and jazz. As their debut CD, Stranded, showcases, feet-tapping and/or involuntary jumping around is guaranteed.

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Findlay Napier (Scotland)Findlay is one of the most highly-regarded performers and creative forces on the Scottish music scene. Having made his name with multi-award winning folk band Back of the Moon, more recently it’s been as a contemporary songwriter that he’s won praise and fans – with projects including Queen Anne’s Revenge, and The Barroom Mountaineers. His new album, VIP: Very Interesting Persons, contains ten songs about real life characters that have led very interesting lives. Fiona Driver Trio (Orkney)Local musicians Fiona Driver and Graham Simpson are well known in Orkney and further afield, having played together for nearly a decade. For this year’s festival they are teaming up with Stenness fiddler Nicholas Taylor, to create an exciting new trio. Harmony fiddling and guitar accompanies lovely tunes and arrangements from the USA to Orkney, and a few places in between.The Garson Trio Tribute Band (Orkney)A specially formed band, brought together for Thursday night’s concert in the Sandwick Hall, celebrating the music of the Garson Trio – Iris Nicolson, James Garson and John Nicolson. The 2015 tribute to the much-loved West Mainland band features local players close to, and relatives of, the trio. For one night only!Gnoss (Orkney)Graham Rorie (fiddle) and Aidan Moodie (guitar, voice) are two award winning Orcadian musicians, currently studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. The duo won a coveted Danny Kyle Award at Celtic Connections 2015 - their second (whilst not yet in their twenties), having already snapped up the prize in 2011, with Broken Strings. With a musical sensitivity beyond their years, Gnoss combine their rich Orcadian musical heritage with a flair for their own self-penned tunes.

Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys (Canada)Hailing from Prince Edward Island, on Canada’s east coast, the multi-award-winning Gordie MacKeeman and his Rhythm Boys serve up old-time roots music in an exhilarating live show. Whilst simultaneously playing the fiddle, MacKeeman’s thrilling ‘Crazy Legs’ dance style mixes with close-harmony bluegrass vocals, Peter Cann’s blistering guitar solos, and the lively multi-instrumental talents of Thomas Webb (vocals, banjo, guitar, pedal steel guitar and double bass) and Mark Geddes (double bass, drums, percussion, mandolin and banjo).

Hadhirgaan (Orkney)A rolling army of young musicians who attend Kirkwall Grammar School, led by instrumental instructor/Field Marshall Douglas Montgomery, Hadhirgaan never cease to amaze with their unique, gutsy, contemporary sound. The first line-up of Hadhirgaan appeared at the festival some 15 years ago now, and since then the group has gone on to release three CDs and a DVD, and has toured Canada twice.Haltadans (Shetland)Individually no strangers to Orkney, Haltadans brings together some of Shetland’s finest folk musicians. Maurice Henderson, Ewen Thomson, Lois Nicol, Grant Nicol and John Clark came together three years ago to revive long-forgotten tunes from the archives of the Shetland fiddle tradition. Since their debut at the 2012 Shetland Folk Festival, they’ve been performing regularly throughout their home isles, and are now headed south.Hannah Rarity (Scotland)A first time visitor to the festival, Scottish singer Hannah’s spellbinding voice, warm stage presence and thoughtful interpretations of material both new and old have seen her perform a number of exciting gigs, including the 2014/15 ‘Hogmanay Live’ on BBC1, live from Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket. She is accompanied by Innes White on guitar, who played at the festival in 2014 with both the Mischa Macpherson Trio and Feis Rois Ceilidh Trail.The Hot Seats (USA)Making their first visit to Orkney, on their seventh UK tour, Virginian livewires The Hot Seats are hard to classify yet instantly identifiable. Appalachian

old-time blends with left of centre bluegrass, the rhythm of old time, the jerky bounce of ragtime, and the swagger of good old rock and roll. Ultimately, The Hot Seats make music that they want to hear - the fact that audiences and critics alike have embraced it is, in their words, a wonderful coincidence.

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Findlay Napier

Gordie MacKeeman & his Rhythm Boys

Haltadans

Hannah Rarity

The Lowland Linties

The Hot Seats

Michael Philip Scottish Dance Band

New Rope String Band

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Sharon Shannon (Ireland)It is no stretch to say that Sharon Shannon has achieved legendary status throughout the world, making the much-maligned accordion officially ‘cool’. The genre-defying star has garnered multi-platinum album sales, with her ‘best-of’, Galway Girl, going four-times platinum, and the title track being the Ireland’s most downloaded song for two years running. Sharon’s back catalogue of collaborators speaks for itself – Steve Earle, Bono, The Waterboys and Sinead O’Connor – to name just a few, whilst on top of countless worldwide tours, she has entertained two US Presidents; Clinton and Obama. Sharon will be accompanied by multi-instrumentalist, Alan Connor.Song Shop Trio (Orkney)Featuring the close harmony vocals of singers Aimee Leonard, Emily Turton and Sarah Jane Gibbon, accompaniment on guitar by Alex Leonard, the Song Shop Trio perform a variety of traditional songs inspired by their love of Orkney. Stromness RBL Pipe Band (Orkney)The Stromness Royal British Legion Pipe Band prides itself in being a community band, with membership open to all. As such, the thriving band is made up from folk in all walks of life – school bairns to pensioners – who have won a host of accolades, including the RBL overall championships, North of Scotland Quartets and Miniband champions in Grades 4 and 3.Stronsay’s Silver Darlings (Orkney)A thriving and vibrant community group, Stronsay’s Silver Darlings have followers far and wide and are a regular crowd-pleasing act at the festival. Their multi-instrumental sets and evident joy at performing together combine to form a winning act, as showcased on their three CDs and busy diary.Teebro (Orkney)A year since their debut performance at the 2014 Orkney Folk Festival, Teebro mixes the young and not so young talents of Gavin Firth (Guitar), James Watson (fiddle) and Dan Rhodes (double bass). These well known local musicians and festival regulars combine self-penned titles with Scandinavian, Balkan, Scottish and Irish tunes and influences.Three of Bu (Orkney)Siblings James, Jake and Bea Watson, from Rendall, combine fiddles, guitars and flute with electronics, bending their collective sound beyond the ‘traditional’ idiom. Traditional titles meet self-penned tunes and songs in genre-fusing performances that leave you wanting more.

Tim Edey (England)Originally from Broadstairs in Kent, a long time past resident of Dingle, Kerry, and now based in Perthshire, Tim Edey is a multi-instrumentalist and singer of immense repute. Titled ‘Musician of the Year’ at the 2012 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Tim is renowned for his masterful instrumentals – whether on guitar, melodeon or whistles – and his live solo shows are a stunning mix of world music, virtuosity, passion and unadulterated musical genius.Ward Thomas (England)Twin sisters, Catherine and Lizzie Ward Thomas have fast become one of the UK’s top country acts, receiving regular BBC Radio 2 daytime airplay. Their debut album, From Where We Stand – recorded in Nashville – was crowned UK Album of the Year at the 2014 British Country Music Awards, having entered the top 20 of the UK album charts the day after its release, and the iTunes country chart at number one. One listen to their vocal cadences

and close harmonies, and Nashville and their home county of Hampshire don’t seem all that far apart.West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society (Orkney)Having recently celebrated their diamond jubilee, the West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society are your hosts for the annual Orkney Folk Festival Fiddlers’ Rally. From small beginnings, the society now welcomes more than 50 fiddlers and accordionists, aged 8 to 80+, to their weekly rehearsals and performances throughout the county.The Wrigley Sisters (Orkney)Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley are an internationally acclaimed Orcadian fiddle and guitar duo. Having toured the world several times over, they have been resettled back in Orkney for over a decade now, running The Reel, their hugely successful music centre and venue, in Kirkwall. Together they combine boundless musical dexterity and vitality with Orcadian wit and good fun – an altogether class act.

The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc (Shetland/Norway/Sweden)A meeting of three virtuoso fiddlers from different Nordic regions, Olav Luksengård Mjelva, Anders Hall and Kevin Henderson hail from Norway, Sweden and Shetland, respectively, uniting

to explore each other’s traditions, creating a sound that is ultimately unique. As renowned exponents of their region’s rich fiddling traditions, each member is in great demand - Anders Hall and Olav Luksengård Mjelva visited this festival in 2014 to great acclaim, with the cross-Scandinavian outfit, SVER, whilst Kevin Henderson can be seen in the frontlines of Fiddlers’ Bid, Boys of the Lough and Session A9.Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club (Orkney)The Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club has been playing together regularly since the late 1970s, and is a mainstay of Orkney’s traditional scene. The group welcomes players to meet in a friendly atmosphere, and throughout the summer they host monthly guest nights, which are often the hottest ticket in town.Orkney Folk: The Fiddle Gathering (Orkney)Showcasing several generations of these islands’ richly distinctive folk culture, ‘The Gathering’ brings together an expansive cast of Orcadian musicians, ranging from teenage rising stars to veteran stalwarts, all brought together in superb style by musical director and fiddler Douglas Montgomery. This year’s venture sees the project return home for a reprisal of Orkney Folk: The Fiddle Gathering, shining a spotlight on Orkney’s rich fiddling tradition - as originally curated for the 2014 Scots Fiddle Festival, at Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall.Orkney Heritage Fiddle Project (Orkney)Headed up by Gemma McGregor, the OHFP seeks to reintroduce forgotten tunes into the common Orcadian repertoire, whilst also shining a spotlight on some of the county’s most prolific players no longer with us. Since 2010, the project has focussed on the work of Jim Craigie, Davy Eunson, Ronnie Aim, Allie Windwick and Gordon Harvey, whilst this year they will be celebrating the popular Garson Trio.Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society (Orkney)The Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society is highly regarded as one of the county’s most respected and established musical groups. Having performed across the county throughout for nearly 70 years, they have also released a number of recordings – most recently, Itchy Fingers, in 2012.Orkney Traditional Music Project (Orkney)Community Project of the Year at the 2010 Scots Trad Music Awards, the OTMP has grown from small beginnings in 1998 to now having tutored well over 1,000 students. Demonstrating that Orkney’s traditional music is in very good hands, the project has helped to nurture many fine fiddlers and accomplished accordionists – many of whom now appear elsewhere in this programme.Raymond Chuchuk Scottish Dance Band (Scotland)Whilst his family name comes from the Ukraine, Raymond is originally from the little village of Wallyford, just outside of Edinburgh. Growing up surrounded by music, he first showed a gift for the accordion at just eight years old, when he was already performing at local shows and concerts. Raymond is a hugely popular choice for sequence, ballroom and Scottish dancing classes, appearing at venues all over Scotland, England and even annual tours of Kobe, in Japan. Robin Nicolson (Orkney)Orkney-born Robin has been singing locally since the tender age of seven. Since first stretching the vocal chords, he has undertaken many differing styles and singing collaborations, including musical theatre, choirs and alongside Scottish Country Dance Bands. From all of these, though, it is towards solo singing that he invariably returns, with a large section of his repertoire coming from locally-composed songs; “some humorous, some serious…”.Saltfishforty (Orkney)Douglas Montgomery (fiddle/viola) and Brian Cromarty (songs/guitar/mandola) brilliantly transcend the duo format’s conventional confines. Their focus on Orkney music takes in traditional, contemporary and original material, boldly cross-fertilised with influences from Americana to East European folk, plus a high-octane whiff of heavy metal. The result is a sound of equally thrilling raw attack and multi-dimensional richness, as vividly captured afresh – after three studio albums – on their debut live recording, released in July 2014.Sarah Jane Gibbon and Emma Grieve (Orkney)Sarah Jane and Emma having been singing together since they were bairns, performing with their mum as the Grieve Family and as solo singers. Now reunited for occasional performances, they have been delighting audiences with their beautiful close harmony renditions of traditional Orkney, Scottish and Americana songs like only sisters can. Scott Gardiner (Scotland)Scott is one of Scotland’s top traditional singers, and has been performing at concerts and festivals across the country since his schooldays. Brought up on a farm near Forfar, he is best known for singing the bothy ballads and songs of the north-east, having a particular love for his local Angus folk songs.

Seth Lakeman (England)A singer, songwriter, fiddler and multiple award winner, Seth Lakeman is one of the most renowned folk musicians in the UK. His 2005 album, Kitty Jay, was nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, whilst its follow-up, Freedom Fields, spawned the hit singles Lady of the Sea and The White Hare. For his most recent recording, Word of Mouth, he unearthed hidden histories and unsung everyday heroes from his native Devon and Cornwall, to commemorate in song. Seth will be appearing solo over the festival weekend.

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The Nordic Fiddlers Bloc

Sharon Shannon

Tim Edey

Seth Lakeman Ward Thomas9

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Joining InWhether you’re a dab hand on the accordion, fancy picking up some new skills on the guitar, or fancy lending your voice to a chorus or two, we’ve a good few events where the focus is firmly on taking part. It’s your festival, after all.

WorkshopsSong writing – Findlay Napier – Saturday, 11am (1hr)– Stromness Community CentreGuitar – Tim Edey – Saturday, 3pm (1hr) – Stromness Community CentreTo register for either of these sessions, please email [email protected] (places are limited).Orkney Folk Festival Choir - Orkney and BeyondWould you like to perform as part of the Orkney Folk Festival Choir? Sign up for two masterclass singing sessions, plus a chance to perform on stage at the festival. Day 1 – Saturday, 12-2pm – Stromness Community CentreOrkney and Beyond, with the Big Orkney Song ProjectDay 2 – Sunday, 12-2pm – Kristin Linklater Voice Centre, Quoyloo BirsayOrkney and Beyond, with the Big Orkney Song Project and a special session with vocal coach, Kristin Linklater.Register your interest with Aimee Leonard, at [email protected], and you will be sent the music to practise beforehand. Just £20 covers both days, payable on the door on Saturday.

Open StageThe Open Stage is – as it says on the tin – a stage open to all: soloists or groups; singers, musicians or both. With a slot at the following year’s festival up for grabs, it’s a hard-fought competition – and one that has been credited with boosting the profiles of many of its former participants, not just winners.Now in its tenth year, the Open Stage was introduced to the festival programme as a way of encouraging new musical talent to come forward, and now many of its former participants appear throughout the programme. If this sounds like something for you, register via our website – www.orkneyfolkfestival.com – before April 26. Good luck!.

Fiddlers’ RallyHosted by the West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society, the Fiddlers’ Rally brings together musicians from throughout Orkney and further afield, for massed performances of traditional tunes. It is open to all who want to participate – not just fiddlers – and is quite a spectacle to behold. If you fancy taking part, download a copy of this year’s sheet music from our website, head along to the Stromness Academy for a rehearsal on Sunday morning, and you’re in the band.

Gies a Tune or SongAs remarked upon time and time again, an enormous part of this festival is its sessions, which run throughout the weekend, breaking only (just) for sleep. We schedule bands to get them going but please do join them – it’s what sessions are all about – and when artists have to head off for sound-checks etc, it’s over to you to keep the tunes going. It’s not uncommon for a midday session to end at closing time, creating quite a few unique collaborations along the way. This year, as a special treat, the Driftwood Cowboys will be holding the fort on Saturday night at the Stromness Hotel. Gamely occupying the dangerous territory between session and gig they will be making sure the night goes with an extra Swing.

House of SongSpecially for singers, we also have this year The House of Song. Hosted by the inimitable Doris Rougvie, upstairs in Stromness’ Royal Hotel on Friday and Saturday at 2pm, these sessions are a quite haven for singers and song-lovers alike.

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Orkney AislesWhilst Orkney is widely known for its thriving folk scene – and the arts as a whole – so too is it renowned for its stunning produce, be it meat, fish, dairy, baking, confectionary, preserves or drinks, all making the best of the island’s resources. Born from a pristine environment of rolling green fields and clean seas, Orkney’s distinctive and remarkably varied range of food and drink truly encapsulates the essence of the islands, reflecting the character of an enterprising community where excellence really matters.Once again we are very pleased to be partnering with Orkney Food & Drink to bring a wide variety of local traders and produce to the festival, alongside world class music – offering the best of what Orkney has to offer on one plate.Thanks to extra funding support, as part of Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink 2015, this year we are delighted to host Orkney Food & Drink’s Orkney Aisles showcase at the festival weekend – a marketplace opening up Orkney’s larder for both takeaway and take-home food and drink, between 12-4pm on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at Stromness Pier Head.

There’s a refreshing honesty and authenticity about Orkney’s wonderful produce, from our locally reared premium beef and sustainably fished crab, lobster, scallops and salmon, to our award-winning beers, ice-cream, oatcakes, fudge, cheese, baking and whisky. Quality is the thread that runs through it all and we like to think the standards set by our dedicated and experienced producers are unrivalled.Needless to say, it all tastes great, but don’t just take our word for it, come and try for yourself.

Beer Here!Following the sell-out success of last year’s inaugural brew of Orkney Session (our very own ale!) we are delighted to be welcoming the limited edition beer back to the festival. Expertly produced by the Highland Brewing Company, at the Swannay Brewery, the beer is only available in casks, so can’t be bought in the shops or taken home - best make sure you try a pint or two whilst you’re here, and while stocks last.

HIGHLANDB R E W I N G C O M P A N Y

Made in Orkney at the Swannay Brewery, by Evie, Orkney, KW17 2NP

ABV 3.8%

Joining In

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7.30pm Opening Concert £18/16/10c.£8

1 Stromness Town HallSharonShannonTimEdeyTheNordicFiddlersBlocStromnessRBLPipeBandSponsor – The Stromness Hotel

7.30pm Deerness Concert £14c.£7

2 Deerness Community CentreDallahanHaltadansHannahRaritySponsor – J.W. Gray & Co.

7.30pm The Music of The Garson Trio £14c.£7

3 Sandwick Community HallA night celebrating the music of much-loved Garson Trio; Iris Nicolson, James Garson and John Nicolson, including sets from:OrkneyHeritageFiddleProjectTheGarsonTrioTributeBandGrahamGarsonBeltHidOotplusmoreSponsor – EIS

7.30pm Out of my own Light £10

4 Orphir Community SchoolIn 1950, 25-year-old Margaret Sarah Tait, from Quoyburray, travelled across Canada alone, taking time out to consider her future in Orkney. In 2013, Louise Bichan retraced her grandmother’s footsteps, at the same age, filling gaps in lost diaries whilst documenting both of their travels in music and photography. For more information, see page four. Sponsor – S. & J.D. Robertson Group Ltd.

7.30pm Westray Concert £12c.£6

5 Westray School HallTheNewRopeStringBandSponsor – The Long Partnership

10.30pm Festival Club £20

6 The Stromness HotelTheHotSeatsBarruleBruceMainlandSponsor – Highland Brewing Company Ltd.

10.30pm Song Club £7

7 Royal Hotel, StromnessFindlayNapierSarahJaneGibbonandEmmaGrieveHosted by ScottGardinerSponsor – Orkney Fishermen’s Society

£20 Lunchtime Club 12noon The Stromness Hotel 8 SharonShannon Haltadans ThreeofBu Sponsor – PatronBase UK

£16/14/10c.£8 Stromness Concert7.30pm Stromness Town Hall 9 SethLakeman Saltfishforty ClaireHastings Sponsor – ICIT, Heriot-Watt University

£16c.£8 Birsay Ceilidh7.30pm Birsay Community Hall 10 SharonShannon TheNewRopeStringBand ErikaShearer Teebro Dance–RaymondChuchukScottishDanceBand Sponsor – Highland Brewing Company Ltd.

£16c.£8 St Andrews Ceilidh7.30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Tankerness 11 GordieMacKeemanandhisRhythmBoys TimEdey NoSoond JamesNicolson Dance–KirkjuvagrCeilidhBand Sponsor – Scottish Sea Farms

£12c.£6 Sanday Ceilidh7.30pm Sanday Community Centre 12 TheHotSeats TheLowlandLinties Gnoss Dance–MichaelPhilipScottishDanceBand Sponsor – The Long Partnership

£20 Festival Club10.30pm The Stromness Hotel 13 TheNordicFiddlersBloc Dallahan JoPhilbyBand Sponsor – MV Radiant Queen & Divers Lodge

£7 Song Club10.30pm Royal Hotel, Stromness 14 HannahRarity BillyJolly Hosted by ScottGardiner Orkney PC

£12 Academy Club10.30pm Stromness Academy 15 WardThomas Fara Sponsor – Scotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd.

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The Hot Seats

Claire Hastings

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10.30am Open Stage freeStromness Town Hall

11.00am Mike Vass - In the Wake of Neil Gunn £6

16 Stromness AcademyInspired by a sea voyage around Scotland’s West coast, retracing a route sailed by author Neil Gunn in 1937, award-winning musician/composer Mike Vass’s newest work integrates traditional, classical and electronic elements with film, photography and spoken-word excerpts, vividly evoking the moods of the sea, weather and landscape together with the power of Gunn’s writing. For more information, see page 4. Sponsor – Highland Park

12noonLunchtime Club £20

17 The Stromness HotelDallahanBarruleFionaDriverTrioSponsor – TwentyTwo Promotions

1.00pm Music in St Magnus freeSt. Magnus Cathedral, KirkwallOrkneyTraditionalMusicProject

2.00pm Family Concert £5c.£3

18 Stromness AcademyTheNewRopeStringBandFindlayNapierSponsor – PatronBase UK

2.30pmOrkney Folk: The Fiddle Gathering £12/10/8c.£6

19 Stromness Town HallA reprise performance of Orkney Folk: The Fiddle Gathering - a bumper cast of fiddlers alongside the festival’s acclaimed ‘Gathering’ house band, in a concert specially curated for the Fiddle 2014 festival, last November, in Edinburgh’s Queen’s Hall.Sponsor – EMEC Ltd.

3.00pm Pipe Band Parade freeStromness Pier Head (weather permitting)StromnessRBLPipeBand

£16/14/10c.£8 Stromness Concert7.30pm Stromness Town Hall 20 WardThomas Barrule Stronsay’sSilverDarlings Sponsor – Hamnavoe Hostel

£20c.£10 Pickaquoy Concert7.30pm The Pickaquoy Centre, Kirkwall 21 SharonShannon SethLakeman Fara Gnoss Sponsor – Scottish Sea Farms

£16c.£8 Harray Ceilidh7.30pm Harray Community Centre 22 TheNewRopeStringBand MikeVassTrio HannahRarity SongShopTrio Lyrie Dance–RaymondChuchukScottishDanceBand Sponsor - Barclay + Mathieson Ltd.

£16c.£8 Holm Ceilidh 7.30pm Holm Community Centre 23 TheNordicFiddlersBloc Haltadans TheWrigleySisters Hullion Dance–MichaelPhilipScottishDanceBand Sponsor – Clark Thomson Insurance Brokers

£20 Festival Club 10.30pm The Stromness Hotel 24 GordieMacKeemanandhisRhythmBoys TimEdey BryonyLynBand Sponsor – Lows

£7 Song Club 10.30pm Royal Hotel, Stromness 25 TheLowlandLinties RobinNicolson Hosted by ScottGardiner Sponsor – Burnside B&B

£12 The Stomp 10.30pm Stromness Academy 26 TheChair TheHotSeats Sponsor – Aquatera Ltd.

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Mike Vass Ward Thomas

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11.15am Morning ServiceStromness Church of ScotlandThe Sunday Service is a favourite with many festival-goers. All are welcome to sing hymns to traditional, well-known tunes, whilst various acts also feature in short spots.

2.00pm Sunday Supplement £16/14/10c.£8

27 Stromness Town HallWardThomasGordieMacKeemanandhisRhythmBoysTimEdeyHadhirgaanSponsor – Royal British Legion Club, Stromness

2.00pm Fiddlers’ Rally £7c.£3

28 Stromness AcademyWestMainlandStrathspeyandReelSocietyOrkneyStrathspeyandReelSocietyOrkneyAccordionandFiddleClubGuest:GnossSponsor – Northvet

2.00pm Sunday Song Club £7

29 The Stromness HotelHannahRarityTheLowlandLintiesClaireHastingsHosted by ScottGardinerSponsor – WHB Sutherland

2.30pm Sunday Tipple £10

30 Orkney Brewery, QuoylooFindlayNapierBarruleSponsor – Orkney Brewery

6.30pm Farewell Concert One £18/16/12c.£10

31 Stromness Town HallWardThomasGordieMacKeemanandhisRhythmBoysTheNewRopeStringBandTheNordicFiddlersBlocHaltadansHannahRarityTheLowlandLintiesSponsor – The Ferry Inn (Orkney) Ltd.

7.00pm Farewell Concert Two £18c.£10

32 Stromness AcademyTheHotSeatsTimEdeyDallahanFindlayNapierBarruleFaraOpenStagewinnerSponsor – Royal Hotel, Stromness

Sunday 2

4th May But Wait, There’s More . . .

In a bid to meet the ever-growing demand for festival tickets, we’ve managed to squeeze a few extra events into the festival weekend. These are either free, or by donation on the door – just turn up, and enjoy the craic.

The Reel ClubWith late night tickets often hot property, we are delighted to be extending a nightly serving of the festival to Kirkwall, from Wednesday to Saturday. The Reel – owned and run by Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley – provides the perfect setting to sit back with a dram and soak up the atmosphere, or join in with the host band for a tune or two. Wednesday – Orkney Accordion and Fiddle ClubThursday – Orkney Strathspey and Reel SocietyFriday – Aff the KuffSaturday – Open Session

BygdaklangSt. Magnus Church, Birsay (Palace Kirk)Saturday 23 May, 2.30-3.30pmConductor - Erlend Furuset JenssenPiano - Astrid GjestvangBygdaklang is a mixed, 30-strong community choir from Voss, Hordaland. In their thirtieth anniversary year, they are travelling abroad for the first time – including a stop at the Palace Kirk on Saturday afternoon. The ensemble’s repertoire spans folk, pop, carols and evergreens, and regularly delights at events throughout their home county. Saturday’s concert will present a variety of music, including folk tunes from Norway and the British isles. Many of the songs from the UK have been translated to Norwegian by the poet Johannes Gjerdåker, from Voss, who is well known for his translations of Robert Burns’ poetry. Amongst the programme is the folk song Velkomne med æra – O be ye most heartily welcomed, made famous by Geirr Tveitt, a composer from western Norway, and featured in his collection 100 Folk Songs from Hardanger, as arranged for choir by Per H. Indrehus. Astrid Gjestvang, on piano, will also be playing some pieces from Norway’s most famous composer, Edvard Grieg.

Out of My Own Light – ExhibitionPier Arts Centre, Stromness – all weekendAlongside the concert of the same name, taking place in Orphir on Thursday night (see page 4), Louise Bichan will be hosting an exhibition of some of the artwork that accompanies, and diary excerpts that inspired, her project.

Orkney vs. Rest of the World Football MatchSunday afternoon (exact time to be advised over the festival weekend) – Stromness Market GreenRegular festival goers may have noticed a glaring omission – relegation, even – from Sunday afternoon’s programme, but fear not, our legendary (or so we’re told – we’re not quite sure how or why) football match is still there. Head along to the market green (turn left out of The Stromness Hotel, past the Ferry Inn, and just over the roundabout) to catch a weary, yet pride-heavy, battle between the festival’s finest folkie footballers, from home and away. After four days of festival exertion, it’s worth it for the gallant attempts at running alone.

The Wrigley Sisters

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Been There? Done That? Get The T-Shirt

No trip to a festival would be complete without a limited-edition piece of merchandise – and this year we are delighted to have partnered with the art and design students at Orkney College, to create a brand new t-shirt design.At the beginning of the year, students were given the brief to create a series of designs, using a range of methods demonstrating a personal, creative and expressive response to the theme of music, as well as colour and textile techniques. Course sessions included market research on the festival itself, the wider festival and music industry, as well as in-depth observations of musical notation and instruments - looking at colours, shapes and the detail of their construction.Each of the students developed their ideas over a number of weeks, before selecting one final design to put forward to the festival board to choose the winning artwork. We were genuinely blown away by the creativity and design processes, and the level of investment in this project. Choosing just one design was a tough decision, however we are thrilled to now offer Kelly Marwick’s t-shirts for sale – get yours from the festival shop, in the Pier Arts Centre, before they sell out.So impressed were we, in all the designs, that we have used a good few of them as backgrounds or textures throughout this year’s programme.

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Kelly Marwick’s Winning Design

The festival gratefully acknowledges the support received from this year’s sponsors:Aquatera Ltd.Argos’ BakeryAries ConsultingBarclay + Mathieson Ltd.Bayleaf DelicatessenBrowns HostelBurnside B&BThe Café Clark Thomson Insurance BrokersThe Diving CellarE. Flett ButcherEMEC Ltd.Ferry Inn (Stromness) Ltd.GroovesHamnavoe HostelHamnavoe RestaurantHighland ParkICIT Herriot-Watt UniversityJ. & S. AllanJ.W. Gray & Co.James Wilson (Orkney) Ltd.John KempJulia’s Café & BistroK4 GraphicsLoganairThe Long PartnershipLows Lyndsey’s BoutiqueMV Radiant Queen & Divers’ LodgeNorthLink FerriesNorthvetThe OrcadianOrcadian WildlifeOrkney Archaeology ToursOrkney CheeseOrkney Factors Ltd.Orkney Fishermen’s Society Orkney Office SuppliesOrkney PCPatronBase (UK)Pier Arts CentreQuernstoneThe ReelRoyal British Legion Club StromnessRoyal HotelS. & J.D. Roberston Group Ltd.Scholes Chartered AccountantsScotrenewables Tidal Power Ltd.Scottish Sea FarmsSoft Pink FlowersStockan’s Oatcakes Ltd.The Stromness HotelStromness TaxisTwentyTwo PromotionsVisitScotland WHB Sutherland Ltd.Wisharts

Patronage & Financial SupportNow in its 33rd year, the Orkney Folk Festival is an entirely voluntary-run event, and a registered charity. Like many others throughout the country, the festival relies upon the support from public bodies, organisations, companies and individuals, to keep up with ever increasing financial demands in bringing you the best festival possible.

Public BodiesFor more than two decades now, the festival’s main sources of funding have been from public sector bodies, namely Orkney Islands Council, Creative Scotland and previously the Scottish Arts Council, and the Educational Institute of Scotland. This ongoing support is crucial to the continued success of the festival.

Corporate & Event SponsorsWhen it comes to supporting the festival, Orkney’s local business community is second to none. In addition to corporate sponsorship of the whole weekend, which starts at just £50, many businesses also kindly opt to support individual events.

VolunteersThere are also those who give the festival a gift as equally precious as any financial returns, and that is the ever-growing band of volunteers (too many to name, unfortunately) who give their time, commitment, talents and enthusiasm in order to keep this vital event going.

You make this festival unique, and the envy of its competitors – thank you all.

PatronageFor many years now, the generosity of individual patrons has provided invaluable assistance in funding the festival. For a payment of just £20, patrons receive advanced access to ticket booking, discounted travel to Orkney with Northlink Ferries, 10% discount on festival merchandise, as well as a copy of the programme mailed out before its general release. Membership of the festival’s Patron Plus Scheme combines the benefits of individual patronage with the added bonus of a monthly prize draw, in return for year-round support. Half of the funds collected, monthly, go directly to supporting the festival, whilst the other half fills the prize draw pot. The minimum donation is just £5, and the monthly prize fund is now well beyond £140 – just for supporting the festival! For information visit: www.orkneyfolkfestival.com/patronage

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*Requiresanovernightstay.FerryticketsmustbebookeddirectlywithOrkneyFerries.

Off the Beaten TrackWhilst two thirds of all activity is based in the festival’s hometown of Stromness, so too is it important that the festival visits as many corners of Orkney’s many isles as possible. This year we have a bumper selection of parishes and islands to choose from, allowing you to experience a true country ceilidh and see Orkney’s fantastic landscape whilst visiting the festival.*Westray (Thursday) and *Sanday (Friday) are both northern Orkney isles. Orkney Ferries sail to both at least twice daily, from Kirkwall. Ferry bookings should be made directly with them, on 01856 872044 Theseeventsrequireanovernightstayontheisland.

Ticket SalesTickets will go on sale on Saturday 3 May, via our website: www.orkneyfolkfestival.comShould you not have internet access, you can call the festival office – from the same day – on 07543 013 006, where we will be able to take your order. We must stress that phone sales should only be used if you cannot get online, as these orders will be processed in the same system, and same queue, as those buying from the website.From Tuesday 19 May, we will operate a Box Office in the Pier Arts Centre, Stromness. Until this date, there will be no over-the-counter ticket sales.Please note that reduced-rate tickets are only available to children under the age of 16.

Contact Us Orkney Folk Festival, c/o Husbrek, Grimbister, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1TSt: 07543 013 006 e: [email protected]