After the procession is over, and the last torch thrown into the burning galley then continue your night’s entertainment by heading to the Garrison Theatre.

Sandy will be accompanied by two other professional comedians, Mark Nelson, Scottish Comedian of the Year 2006 and frequent performer at the Stand Comedy Club (you can view a video of Mark Nelson on YouTube), and Raymond Mearns, actor, comedian and compere, at the Stand in Glasgow.

Both Sandy and Raymond are regular contributors to Radio Scotland’s Fred Macauley Show. Raymond appeared in the BAFTA award winning short Home, directed by Morag McKinnon, and It’s A Free World and Ae Fond Kiss both directed by Ken Loach. In 2008 he appeared in Rab C Nesbitt’s Christmas Special and played Happy Boab in the BBC Scotland sitcom Legit.

Raymond is due to appear in all six episodes of this year’s Limmy’s Show and in One Night in Emergency, both for BBC Scotland. Also look out for his role in the national TV advert for ‘Cheesestrings!’

So instead of dancing the night away among the Vikings and cartoon characters of Lerwick’s squads, laugh your way by taking a rare opportunity to enjoy some of Scotland’s top funny men at The Garrison Theatre on the last Tuesday in January – 26th.

The show begins at 9pm with doors open from 8.30pm. Tickets can be bought from Shetland Box Office, at Islesburgh Community Centre, 01595 745555 and are priced £10. Please note the recommended audience age is 16 and up!

All over Shetland people have been surprised and delighted, over the past few months, to discover MirrieDancers illuminations, as they drive through the dark winter nights. These are part of a cross generational project that fuses traditional craft with new technologies taking place at 12 sites throughout Shetland over the winter of 2009/10. This innovative and inspiring project, conceived by artists Nayan Kulkarni and Roxane Permar, was commissioned by Shetland Arts and funded by the National Lottery Inspire Fund. ‘Mirrie Dancers’ is the Shetland term for the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis. Now, into 2010 five more sites are about to be illuminated.

The artists, Nayan Kulkarni and Roxane Permar, have been working on this project in response to a Shetland Arts’ commission to create public art for Mareel, using the medium of light. Residents of Shetland have attended light labs working with the artists to create light based artworks, not only for their locality, but also for a set of permanent art installations at Mareel, Shetland’s new cinema, music and education venue, due to open early in 2011. This venue will be a hub and a focus for the creative community and a catalyst for the emerging creative industry sector in Shetland so it is most appropriate that the people of Shetland help to light up this building.

The illuminations of the Floating Tin Shed in Lower Voe and of the Tin Shed in Haroldswick launched the programme, followed by illuminations at Da Giant’s Grave in Lochend and the Sand Dunes at West Sandwick, Yell. The fifth illumination, at The Glasshouses in Tingwall, took place over the holiday period and unfortunately suffered from some technical difficulties due to lack of wind. Although the snow meant fewer visitors viewing the glasshouses illumination, those that did venture out have seen effects caused by the ice and snow that the artists could not predicted.

Both Kulkarni and Permar have delivered projects in a national and international context and bring that experience to MirrieDancers. Multimedia artist Nayan Kulkarni’s work engages with ideas of site specificity, time, technology and perception. These themes are manifested in work that is generated from specific concepts, processes or places through diverse media such as light, video, installation, sculpture and photography. Over the last 15 years Kulkarni has developed a keen interest in the potential of site specific and collaborative practice.

Roxane Permar works in response to issues of location, history and community, using a variety of methods and media including film, textiles and social exchange to realise public art projects, events and sculptural installations. Her work often employs creative collaboration, networking and participation as well as gift-giving and exchange. Her involvement with Shetland began in 1985 and she works locally, nationally and internationally from her Shetland studio.

For full details of the project and to view photographs by Austin Taylor, Mark Sinclair, Davy Cooper and Duncan Turner go to www.mirriedancers.com or www.shetlandarts.org The images are stunning and inspiring. We invite you to visit the sites and see the illuminations for yourself.

Although the ideas are still at the conceptual stage, the proposal is to create a performance that takes the idea of promenade theatre to the extreme and transports the audience to various locations and scenes, culminating in a large scale theatrical event.

Drama Development Officer for Shetland Arts John Haswell said “The project ideas are still in their infancy but both Stuart’s family and Shetland Arts wanted to launch the idea to coincide with the second anniversary of Stuart’s death. We intend that the final project will feature themes that resonate with the aims of the ‘Slow for Stuart’ campaign but will be a dynamic artistic event in its own right. The first stage will be to create a small group of people to take the project forward. This group will feature those who can make an artistic contribution as well as those with a personal and social agenda. Our hope is that many of the people who worked with Stuart will contribute to the final performance.”

Supporting the project, Liz Henderson said “We, Stuart’s family and his fiancée Crystal, are delighted that Shetland Arts is planning to stage this play. This will further the aims of the ‘Slow for Stuart’ campaign. Last year we held a balloon launch on the first anniversary of Stuart’s death to highlight awareness of road safety. On this, the second anniversary, and with road accidents constantly in the news, we felt it was a good time for Shetland Arts to announce this project. Stuart was passionate about Shetland Youth Theatre and we are sure he would be happy that his friends and colleagues want to remember him in this way.

ENDS

Further information from
John Haswell – Development Officer for Drama
01595 743843
01595 743739(direct)
e-mail: john.haswell@shetlandarts.org

Tuesday 10th November will see the launch of a poetry anthology published in memory of, and in tribute to, the late Adrian Mitchell aka the Shadow Poet Laureate, who died in December 2008. The event will take place in Shetland Library and will begin at 7.30pm. An invitation is extended to all who will be made welcome at the event.

Adrian: Scotland Remembers Adrian Mitchell is published by Markings and edited by John Hudson and Chrys Salt. It features contributions from some of Scotland’s major poets, including Liz Lochead, Jackie Kay, Bill Herbert. Kevin MacNeil and Edwin Morgan also contribute introductions as well as poetry. The anthology also features work by people who knew Adrian, including Sir Paul McCartney. John Hudson is Shetland Arts’ Writer in Residence for November and, along with others, will take part in readings from the anthology. He will also talk about the book and how it came to be.

From a Shetland point of view, Kevin’s introduction is particularly poignant, given that it is largely drawn from his introduction of Adrian to the large audience at Wordplay 2008. In fact Adrian’s memorable performance at Wordplay, and his month long stint as Writer in Residence with Shetland Arts were to be his last major engagements because of the pneumonia, diagnosed on his return to London. Writer in Residence, John Hudson said “I feel honoured to be following in the footsteps of Adrian Mitchell in taking up the post of Writer in Residence in Shetland. Adrian was a mate of mine and a fabulous writer. When he died I was left shocked and deeply saddened. I immediately set about putting together a published tribute from Scottish writers among whom Shetland Arts’ own Donald Anderson features. It’s particularly fitting that we are launching the anthology here in Shetland so swiftly after our debut at the Scottish Poetry Library in Edinburgh and in my own home, Galloway, where Adrian was our special guest in 2007. I hope those who knew, met or respected the work of Adrian Mitchell will be able to attend this special event.”

The launch, which is organised by Shetland Arts and Shetland Library, in association with Markings Publishing, is free. Copies of the Adrian: Scotland Remembers Adrian Mitchell will be available to buy at the event.
Doors open at 7pm.

All the films will be introduced by festival director Lizzie Bisschoff, who will also give an introductory talk on the Friday evening. In addition, Lizzie Bisschoff will conduct a Q and A session at the end of Bamako on Saturday evening.

Films to be screened in Lerwick include the documentary Like A Man on Earth, made by a young man who fled Ethiopia to escape violent political repression, showing the tremendous struggles and suffering borne by refugees; Tilai (The Law) made by the acclaimed African director Idrissa Ouedraogo, which is the story of an illicit love affair and its consequences for a small village in Burkina Faso, and Bamako, an offbeat, satirical comedy written and directed by Abderrahmane Sissako, in which the director imagines how it would be if Western powers were forced to answer for the damage they have done in the Third World; in the courtyard of a shared house in a village in Mali, African civil society spokesmen decide to take proceedings against the World Bank and the IMF, whilst all around them, village life goes on.

There will also be a free programme of short, animated films for children and young people on Saturday, to which adults are also welcome!

Stuart Hubbard from Shetland Film Club said that the club was delighted to be able to assist in bringing African film to a wider audience. “As part of our outreach partnership work with Shetland Arts, we feel this is a perfect opportunity to celebrate the film makers of Africa, who rarely make it to the screen in the UK.” This leg of the festival has also been supported by Unison (Health Branch) and Shetland Amnesty International Group. The Film Club outreach work is funded by Shetland Arts, the Shetland Charitable Trust’s Arts Fund and by the Co-op Community Fund.

Tickets will be on sale from the Shetland Box office at Islesburgh from Monday 2nd November onwards, tel. 01595 745555. For those over 15 years old there is a festival ticket costing £10 (£7 concessions) which will get you in to all screenings and talks. Otherwise, individual tickets cost £4 (£3 concessions) and the young people’s animation session is free.

For further information contact Kathy Hubbard at Shetland Arts on 01595 743843 or e-mail kathy.hubbard@shetlandarts.org or Stuart Hubbard at Shetland Film Club on 01950 477235, e-mail skhubbard@btinternet.com.

John Hudson has been working as a freelance writer since 1980; he is extra mural lecturer in English for the University of Glasgow and has wide ranging experience of delivering workshops, creative writing courses and creative residencies in Britain and Europe. He is Director of Literature for the Bakehouse, in Dumfrieshire where he lives and the editor of Markings, a high quality literary magazine. He is also the author of several volumes of poetry, including Garden of Love (2009) WiderEye; and The Pumpkin Lantern (2008) Markings.

John will run two sets of workshops. The first, a series of four sessions, will focus on different aspects of creative writing: from developing ideas to creative detachment and editing. The second will run on Saturday 7th and Saturday 14th of November and will look at publishing – in particular internet publishing. The sessions will allow participants to develop the skills and the knowledge needed to make the most of modern publishing opportunities, particularly relevant to Shetlanders given their distance from markets and publishing companies. John will also be offer one-to-one sessions with local writers.

The residency is run by Shetland Arts and supported by funding from the Scottish Arts Council.  Literature Development Officer, Donald Anderson said, “ John Hudson is an immensely enthusiastic and highly motivational writing tutor, with a wealth of knowledge and experience. We are delighted that he has agreed to take up this residency and we hope that writers in Shetland of every level of experience will benefit from his input.”

In order to book a one-to-one session with John, phone Donald Anderson or Emily Sharp on 01595 743 843. For further information and to book a place on the workshops phone Shetland Box Office on 01595 745 555.

To compliment the Gunnister Man exhibition at Shetland Museum and Archives, Martin is devising an exciting and innovative new dance piece with young local dancers James Watt, Kara Manson, Chris Wright and Mhairi Coutts.  The piece is inspired by the exhibition and based on the dancers’ interpretations of the Gunnister Man’s mystery.  It is set to contemporary Shetland music from artists including Bongshang and Fiddler’s Bid.  Performances are free and will take place in the auditorium of the Museum on Saturday 24^th and Sunday 25^th October at 2pm and 4pm and on Friday 30^th October at 7.30pm.

Martin Robinson was in Shetland last November with his dance company Martial Dance, performing the critically acclaimed The Other and Yin + Yan at the Garrison theatre and working with local young dancers.  Martin trained professionally in dance at the London Contemporary Dance School and began his professional career in 1991 with the Phoenix Dance company.  In 2002 he set up Martial Dance which integrates elements from formal dance techniques and social dance styles with a variety of martial arts disciplines. He also teaches and leads workshops all over the UK.

Martin said that “it is wonderful to be back in Shetland and it’s good to be working on something that’s special to the people of Shetland”.

Dancer James Watt said “I am very excited to be involved in a project exploring the ideas behind possibly the largest mystery in Shetland History and folklore.  It is fantastic to be working with a dancer of Martin’s calibre again. I believe everyone who sees the performance will be very enthused about the subject matter and will thoroughly enjoy it”.

Whilst in Shetland Martin will also be leading dance workshops with members of the Bridges project and in local schools.

Power of Place will run throughout 2010 and will help to raise the profile of architecture, design and construction within Shetland and place this in a national and international context. The events will also celebrate place-making and community in Shetland.

Events will include education workshops, articles, talks, an international architecture conference, a film festival and ‘POP’ projections of words, photographs and film showing what Power of Place means to Shetland people.

Power of Place want to know what Power of Place means to you. Does Power of Place mean people, places, words, memories? Or do you have a favourite Shetland building? Take part by texting words, sending photos or short mobile phone videos. These will be brought together and shown around Shetland. The POP Phone number is 0750 35 966 35. You can also send words or photos by email or post. Please include your name and where you are from.

Power of Place is part of the Scottish Executive’s Access to Architecture programme. It is a partnership between Shetland Arts, Shetland Architectural Society and Shetland Islands Council.

Throughout the celebrations community groups and individuals can explore the importance of the places we inhabit, the effects they have on our lives and how architecture and place-making is used to support, maintain and develop a sustainable, thriving Shetland.

Events will run for the whole of the calendar year of 2010 and will include an international conference – Building Resilience in Island Communities (17th -18th September). Professional organisations and individuals are also invited to submit presentation proposals for the conference.

Are you a member of a community group? Would you like to take part in Power of Place? The programme of events is still being developed so if you have any ideas for events or activities please contact us.

For further information on Power of Place of any of the events you can contact Karen Emslie/ Power of Place Co-ordinator: powerofplace@yahoo.co.uk/ or 07786541065.

Their month-long tour, which started in Cambridge on Thursday 17 September, has offered fans a final opportunity to see this uniquely talented and diverse group and hear tracks from their latest and much-revered album, The Silimbo Passage.

Seckou will stay on in Shetland for the week following the concert to participate in a range of school and public workshops as part of the national Black History Month activities; the first time the event has been celebrated in Shetland.

Whilst many great African musicians have put the Kora, a 21-string West African guitar-like harp, firmly on the map, few have seen it fashion a new style in the way Seckou has. Through his blend of traditional and contemporary influences and experimental tunings, he is one of the most innovative and creative Kora players in the world today, shifting the Seckou Keita Quintet into a music category all of its own. Counting Richard Bona, Bela Fleck and Bobby McFerrin amongst his influences, the music of Seckou Keita and his band cannot be confined to any one genre, dipping comfortably in and out of jazz, classical, Flamenco, with hints of rock and reggae contributing to their captivating, contemporary and diverse sound.

Led by Seckou himself, the international Quintet comprises Davide Mantovani from Italy on double bass, Surahata Susso from The Gambia on an eclectic assortment of percussion instruments, the distinguished sound of Samy Bishai from Egypt on violin and vocals, and the enchanting voice of the gracious Binta Suso, also from The Gambia and most recent addition to the band. The result is an entrancing authentic yet modern sound with melodies that capture the imagination and mine the rich depth of human emotion.

Of particular interest to the many Shetland fiddle players and fans is Egyptian violin player Samy Bishai whose fluid style incorporates elements of jazz, pop, electronica, classical and hip-hop. He is an active session musician who has played with luminaries including Tom Jones, Gwen Stefani, Basement Jaxx, Asian Dub Foundation and the Alexandria Chamber Orchestra.

Bryan Peterson, Shetland Arts Music Development Officer said, “This is a rare opportunity for Shetland audiences to experience one of the world’s most innovative modern Kora players, playing with a band that includes an eclectic cross section of unique and talented musicians. This really is a concert not to be missed.”

Championing ‘eco-friendliness’ through CO2 Balance UK, the Seckou Keita Quintet are minimising their carbon emissions and offsetting their unavoidable CO2 residue by producing all their marketing materials on recycled paper or paper from sustained forests. They also offset all their tour emissions by donating a portion of their ticket income towards East Africa Energy Efficiency and contribute to tree planting in the UK.

What continues to set this band apart is their powerful presence on stage and how well they work together visually, sonically and spiritually – the result of continuous hard work with over 350 shows in 20 countries, perfecting their musical rapport into an “infectious live experience”.  This will be their last UK tour until their next album due out in late 2011.

Tickets are available from Shetland Box Office, Islesburgh Community Centre, Lerwick, priced £12/8. Tickets can also be purchased by phone and picked up at the event by calling 01595 745 555.

Biographies

Seckou Keita – composition/ kora/ percussion/ voice

Seckou Keita was born in Ziguinchor, Senegal on 14 February 1978 in a griot family (hereditary musicians). It was under the guidance of his uncle, Solo Cissokho, that Keita launched his international career in 1996, with appearances at Norway’s Forde Festival in a successful collaboration with Cuban, Indian and Scandinavian musicians.

In the years that followed, Keita relocated to the UK, while touring regularly in Spain, France, Portugal, Greece and Czech Republic as well as playing at festivals including Womad and Glastonbury, both as a solo musician, and in collaboration with acclaimed figures like Indian violinist Dr L Subrimaniam. He became a member of the popular world music group Baka Beyond in 1998, contributing to their well-received East To West album, and in 2000 began to record his own solo debut Baiyo (re-titled Mali for a later release through Arc Music), which encompassed his musical journey to that date, from Africa to Europe, via India.

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With support slots to luminaries like Salif Keita and Youssou N’Dour, solo slots at London’s Jazz Café and at Ireland’s Sacred Music Festival, and a nomination in 2001 for BBC Radio 3’s prestigious World Music Award, it’s clear that Keita’s many collaborations have fed and extended rather than diluted the African mainspring of his music.

“Everything in music has to be honest, and the deeper meanings of the songs and melodies must be preserved”, Seckou explains. “This is why it’s important that collaborations should be right for the music, and there are connections between, say, Cuban and Indian sounds and the repertoire of the Kora that can be explored without losing the distinct flavours of the different traditions and styles”.

Seckou is an active educationalist regularly holding drumming and Kora workshops in schools, arts centres, festivals working with organisations such as Music For change, Creative Partnerships and Womad. Seckou is also a regular guest leader for Sewabeat, a company, which offers alternative training packages for Commercial Corporations.

“Seckou Keita is a brilliant live performer with stacks of charisma, and one of the few champions of the less-known and rhythmically rocking Kora repertoire from Casamance in southern Senegal where he is from.” – Lucy Duran – Radio BBC3

“an inspired exponent of the Kora that can makes the West African harp-lute sound like a small band” – Robin Denselow – Guardian

Binta Susso – Vocals

Born in The Gambia in a griot family (hereditary musicians), Binta started singing at an early age. She toured the UK in 2003 and 2004 as part of Jalikunda Cissokho’s. Then she went on an international exchange programme to study at the Sund Folk in Norway. Binta sang “Tounga” in the first Seckou Keita Quintet album. Her voice, which gives new rich colours to the band, attracted praises from press and media. In early 2006 Binta returned to her native Gambia and started working with various local musicians from traditional to hip-hop. She joined the Quartet (now quintet) in their 2006/07 Senegalese and Gambian’s tour.

Davide Mantovani – Double Bass/ Electric bass

Born in Ferrara, Italy, Davide took up the bass in 1982, after early training on piano and guitar, and in 1991 relocated to London. He has since built a formidable reputation as both performer and composer. His own jazz quintet’s Square One album was issued in 2001, and an experimental collaboration with violinist Roberto Manes led to the release of Polaris in 2004. He has also been in demand as a composer of soundtracks and incidental music, with Drawing Horizons receiving a commercial release in 2002, and commissions from artists like Shobana Jeyasingh and George Eugene. He travelled to Senegal with Seckou Keita to study Mbalah rhythms in 2002, and his double bass has been a key component of the Quartet and now the Quintet, since the start.

Samy Bishai – Violin

Samy grew up in Alexandria, Egypt, and received a classical training on the violin. He began to play professionally at 18, working with Alexandria Chamber Orchestra while maintaining a lively interest in Arabic pop and jazz. In 2000 he moved to London, and has since forged a career as a live session player in fields as diverse as jazz, pop, electronica and hip-hop. Since then, he has worked with a considerably varied number of artists and projects, including the mainstream commercial, e.g Tom Jones, Gwen Stefani and Basement Jaxx; the more ethnocentric, yet culturally diverse, e.g. Asian Dub Foundation, Natacha Atlas, Seckou Keita and Yasmin Levy; jazz e.g Zoe Rahman, Julian Joseph and the F-ire Collective; electronica, e.g Digitonal, and remixing B12; a large number of stylistically diverse acoustic/folk singer-songwriters/bands, e.g. Aquilina, Julia Biel, and Kirsty Hawkshaw. He has also done a large amount of session work on assorted film scores, documentaries, short films and commercial advert music, for both British and non-British television/radio including BBC 1&2, ITV, Channel 4, Radio 1-4, XFM, ResonanzFM, Classic Fm.

He joined Seckou Keita in 2005, stepping into the shoes of Riti player Juldeh Camara, whose inspiration on his own distinctive sound within the group he is quick to acknowledge.

Surahata Susso – Percussion

Sura is a young percussionist and Kora player from The Gambia, a member of the well-known Susso griot family and half brother of Seckou Keita himself. He has been a member of Gambia’s acclaimed Kaira Youth Band for many years, and more recently branched out with his own Fisco Band. More recently, he has worked on the new album of askewandavis, a band that combines looping and vocal experimentation.

He was invited to join Seckou Keita and his new band, right from the start in 2004, and currently divides his time between The Seckou Keita Quintet’s work, to whose sound he brings a highly distinctive blend of African and Cuban percussion styles, and his own musical projects.

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