Shetland’s internationally renowned fiddler Chris Stout is set to make a welcome return to the islands next week when he and long term musical associate Catriona McKay (harp, piano) play two concerts in Shetland  as part of their Scottish winter tour.

The concerts, co-promoted by Atlantic Edge Music Services and Shetland Arts, will be held in the Baltasound Hall, Unst on Wednesday the 4^th November and again the following evening in Lerwick Town Hall. Both concerts start at 7.30pm and support will be provided by Shetland’s astounding young vocalist Erin Sandison, who currently holds the coveted title of Shetland ‘Young Musician of the Year’.

Chris and Catriona

The concert in Unst will be totally acoustic, and the duo will also be performing material from their new / forthcoming album, as well as popular material from their back catalogue.

Chris and Catriona have toured throughout the world as a duo for a number of years to ever-increasing acclaim, while both also maintain high profile and successful solo careers in their own right. Their musical association doesn’t end there of course, as both are also members of Shetland’s legendary fiddle group ‘Fiddlers Bid’, who last performed in Shetland during Shetland Arts ‘Fiddle Frenzy’ festival earlier this year’.

As well as being recognised as one of Scotland’s leading traditional fiddle players, Chris is also very much involved in the classical music world, having performed alongside the likes of the Scottish National Orchestra, the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and also the Singapore Chinese National Orchestra. Add to that his involvement with contemporary artists such as the Finlay MacDonald Band and Salsa Celtica, not to mention recent visits to Brazil to perform with prominent musicians in that country, and you will immediately realise that not only here do we have a hugely talented and diverse musician who recognises no musical boundaries, but also one who is continually challenging them.

Catriona is also a wonderful musician of international standing in her own right, recognised quite simply as perhaps the most exciting and dynamic harp player in the UK today. Again classically trained at the RSAMD in Glasgow, Catriona has forged a varied musical career for herself that again knows no boundaries. She has released two solo albums in her own right, the last of which, ‘Starfish’, received five star reviews throughout the UK and international media and was nominated as ‘Album of the Year’ at last year’s Scottish Traditional Music Awards. In 2007 Catriona won the coveted title of ‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ at the same ceremony. She has also collaborated with a variety of internationally recognised musicians, both on album and in concert

In short two astounding musicians in one small but incredibly dynamic and talented package.

Chris Stout said “We are really delighted to be home in Shetland again as part of this particular tour. We’ve been back recently with Fiddlers Bid for Fiddle Frenzy, and previous to that with my quintet for the 2008 Johnsmas Foy, but it’s great to be back with the duo this time as it’s been a long time since we’ve performed here in that particular format. I’m especially excited about getting back up to Unst after so long and of course playing the Town Hall in Lerwick is always a very special experience. It should be a great couple of nights for everyone concerned.

Bryan Peterson – Music Development Officer with Shetland Arts – said “It’s a pleasure to be welcoming Chris and Catriona back to Shetland. They’re both truly world-class musicians and Chris is perhaps Shetland’s finest ambassador for progressive folk music. Most people will be familiar with their roof raising performances with Fiddlers’ Bid, but their duet performances allow audiences to enjoy the more subtle and intimate aspects of their composition and performance skills”

Entry to the Unst concert is on the door on the night, while tickets for the Town Hall concert are available through the Lerwick Box Office at Islesburgh Community Centre or by calling 745555.

For further information or to arrange interviews with Chris and / or Catriona contact:

Davie Gardner – Atlantic Edge Music Services on (01595) 69 5675 or 07867 654 509

The 2009 Shetland Guitar Festival will take place between Friday 18th and Sunday 20th September with concerts in Unst, Lerwick, Brae and Bigton, educational events in schools throughout Shetland and the Classic Guitar Show and Trade Fair on Sunday 20th in Islesburgh Centre.

Known locally as the “Peerie Willie” Guitar Festival, the Shetland Arts event is dedicated to the memory of the late Peerie Willie Johnson, the highly regarded Shetland guitarist who pioneered the jazz influenced accompaniment style now prevalent in traditional Shetland music. Willie was influenced by the jazz musicians he heard on the radio as a young man, particularly guitarist Django Reinhardt, and this years festival has a “Gypsy Jazz” theme as tribute.

The festival gives audiences a chance to experience world-class performers playing a variety of styles on one of the world’s most popular and versatile instruments. As well as the visiting artists, the festival line up boasts some exceptional local players and young up and coming musicians.

Visiting artists

Visiting artists include: Lulo Reinhardt, great grandnephew of the late great Django; Itamar Erez, an Israeli guitarist, pianist and composer; Brian Gore, an American steel strung acoustic player; and Havana Swing, a Scottish ‘Hot Jazz’ quintet featuring three guitars, double bass and clarinet. Visit the Shetland Guitar Festival page for more information.

Concerts

On Friday 18th in the Garrison Theatre, Lerwick, Lulo Reinhardt, Itamar Erez and Brian Gore will play a range of solo, duet and trio pieces. The three guitarists are currently on tour together under the International Guitar Night moniker, a project that aims to bring together interesting and innovative guitarists to exchange musical ideas, highlighting the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar. Young local guitarists Adam Johnson from Brae and Jonny Polson from Lerwick will support them.

The festival will also be heading north to Baltasound Hall on Friday 18th where Havana Swing will perform their trademark brand of ‘Hot Club de Paris’ inspired jazz. They will be supported by last year’s Young Fiddler of the Year Maggie Adamson accompanied by well-known local guitarist Brian Nicholson, and young Unst guitarist Megan Burns who recently won over the crowds with her performance at UnstFest. The concert will be hosted by Unst based comedian and guitarist Sandy Nelson.

Then it’s south on Saturday 19th to the Bigton Hall where Lulo Reinhardt and Itamar Erez will headline, with support from Norman Goudie and Friends, a band rumoured to include prominent local musicians and jazz stalwarts Jack Robertson and Drew Robertson.

In Lerwick on Saturday 19th, in the opulent surroundings of Lerwick Town Hall, audiences will have another chance to see Havana Swing perform, supported by Maggie Adamson and Brian Nicholson.

Also on Saturday 19th, in the Long Room of Busta House Hotel, there will be a special acoustic performance by Brian Gore and Shetland Young Musician of the Year, singer Erin Sandison. The two musicians have been collaborating on songs by exchanging musical ideas across the Atlantic via the Internet and the Busta concert will be the first time they have played together. They will be supported by Adam Johnson and Jonny Polson.

All concerts except the Garrison Theatre will have bar facilities and under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Tickets

Tickets costing £12 (£10 concessions) for all concerts are available from festival sponsors High Level Music, 1 Gardie Court, Lerwick, 01595 692 618 and Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick – 01595 745 555. Box Office customers can buy tickets by credit card over the phone and collect them at the venue.

Classic Guitar Show and Trade Fair

As part of this year’s festival, the first Shetland Classic Guitar Show and Trade Fair will be held on Sunday 20th September. The show will feature a range of guitars including vintage, historically significant, hand made and unusual instruments. The trade fair will give visitors a chance to try out guitars, amps and effects pedals from manufacturers including Skyinbow, Moon Guitars, Ibanez and Fender. There will also be workshops hosted by artists performing at this year’s festival and an open stage concert to allow Shetland’s aspiring young guitarists to take to the stage and show off their skills. To exhibit guitars or perform on the open stage contact Bryan Peterson at Shetland Arts on 01595 743 843 or Brian Nicholson at High Level Music on 01595 692 618

There will be a £2 entry charge payable at the door.

High Level Music and the Research Fishing Company sponsor the Shetland Guitar Festival

As ever, it’s a packed program featuring some of the best music Shetland has to offer throughout each day and evening. For the full lineup visit www.flavourofshetland.com/music

Some of the many highlights I’m looking forward to include…

Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag, who are making two appearances this year; tonight at 22.00 and Saturday at 17.30 where they will release their new album. Entitled “Spreefix”, the recording was produced by omni-talented Jonathan Ritch (of Fiddlers’ Bid fame) at Wethersta Studio outside Brae.

Friday night is sure to be a spree with The Revellers and Hom Bru headlining.

Norman and the Folding Deck Chairs, Shetland’s young jazz prodigies take to the stage at noon on Saturday, with The Vinyls and Scaldin Bragg closing proceedings in the evening.

To round things off, Sunday afternoon features a bouquet of Shetland’s finest females singers including Sheila Henderson, Izzy Swanson (Mahogany), Freda Leask and Young Musician of the Year Erin Sandison.

Notable this year is the number of bands playing acoustic sets, in part due to Shetland’s most pervasive drummer, Archer Kemp, breaking his elbow a few weeks ago (wishing you a speedy recovery Archer).

See you on the pier…

Here’s a photo slideshow, which will be updated throughout the weekend, courtesy of Marvin Smith

Shetland Young Promoter’s Group (SYPG) will hold a fund-raising ‘Variety Night’ in the South Nesting Public Hall on Saturday the 11th of April.

The event will allow the SYPG to further work of promoting young musicians and bands, and giving the youth of Shetland greater access to well produced music events.

The evening, compared by Scalloway School teacher Patrick Robertson, will start with a concert followed by supper and a dance.

Concert performers include Shetland Senior Young Musician of the Year Erin Sandison, Shetland Schools Music festival award winning group “Norman & The Folding Deckchairs”, Kollifirbolli and “The Bryan McCaffrey Experience”.

There will also be comedy sketches by performers including Margaret Jean Robertson.

The dance will feature young bands “Brack da Bröd” and “Four Piece Suite” culminating with “Rachel Anne Williamson & Friends”

Chairperson Ryan Stevenson said, “We aim to promote young bands in all areas of music and we think the best way to introduce new dance bands is to give them a chance to play”

SYPG committee member Harley Gear said, “We’d like to thank all the local businesses who generously donated prizes for the raffle. We’re really grateful for all the help we’re getting from everyone”

Bryan Peterson, Shetland Arts Music Development Officer added. “It’s great to see the young promoters putting such effort into supporting the young performers and their local communities. Many of the promoters themselves are top class musicians, such as SYPG Vice Chair Lana Thomson, a Schools Music Festival Award Winner and finalist in the Young Musician of the Year competition. The SYPG gives them a chance to gain experience of the organisational side of events, which really complements their performance skills.”

The Variety Night will be held in the South Nesting Hall on Saturday 11th of April starting at 7pm. Tickets cost £8 for adults and £5 for children (under 16’s) and are available from the Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick – 01595 745 555 and the Robertson and Reid shop, South Nesting – 01595 890 374
Press release ends

SYPG Variety Night poster

Further information
www.bebo.com/sypg
SYPG c.o. Shetland Arts, Toll Clock Centre, Lerwick, Shetland
01595 743 843

Notes to the editor:
The group aim to build on the recent success of their over 14s alcohol free ‘Rock vs. Rave’ event at the Aith Hall on 20th February. This youth gig featured performances by local bands The Revellers, Pets In Jars and Happy Hour, together with DJs Nadia and Murray.

The ‘Variety night’ is the latest in a long list of events planned for the coming year including:

• Youth Music Forum Conference – Sat 16th May – Sandveien Community Centre – featuring a performance by Oscar Charlie

• Silent Disco – 22nd & 23rd May – Islesburgh Community Centre and Norscot Angling Club (a disco where no speakers are used as the audience hear the music through wireless headphones)

The Shetland Young Promoter’s Group (SYPG) is a joint initiative between Shetland Arts, The Shetland Youth Music Forum and Shetland Youth Services. SYPG is an enterprise to empower young people to stage music events and gain the real-world skills and knowledge needed to manage and promote their own concerts.

SYPG organise events in conjunction with experienced promoters, technical crews and music industry professionals in order to learn aspects of event management; including promotion, business skills, health and safety, sound engineering and lighting; and obtain practical experience of event management and promotion.

It also gives younger audiences a chance to experience live performances in a safe environment and provide young up-and-coming musicians, bands and DJs with performance opportunities.

SYPG is a self contained constituted group open to young people aged 14 to 18 who formed in late 2008.

The formation of the group follows consultation with the Shetland Youth Music Forum, a consortium of youth organisations, local agencies, music professionals and young people, intended to support and sustain youth music provision in Shetland.

The Youth Music Forum is an initiative sponsored by the Scottish Arts Council and administered by Shetland Arts.