Shetland Arts is pleased to announce the headline acts for Fiddle Frenzy 2012.
The week will kick off in style on Sunday 5th August with a performance by the Harris Playfair Big Band, this will be the culmination of 6 days intensive workshops with young Shetland Musicians led by the innovative Harris Playfair. Traditional themes develop in exciting jazz arrangements providing the audiences with a real musical treat. Reviewers of last year's Fiddle Frenzy described the event as “sensational.”
The Jenna Reid Band return to Fiddle Frenzy on Monday 6th highlighting material from Jenna's acclaimed new CD Morning Moon. Last seen in Fiddle Frenzy performing Jenna and Bethany's moving Shetland Bus suite the line up of, Jenna, Bethany Reid, Harris Playfair, James Thompson and Iain Sandilands are guaranteed to provide another memorable musical evening.
On Tuesday night Walls Hall will host the festival and be treated to the popular duo and top quality performances of Bryan Gear with Violet Tulloch. On Wednesday in Mareel, award-winning Maggie Adamson will headline with Brian Nicholson, and Ross Couper and Tom Oakes on fiddle and guitar will provide the high-energy highlights in Thursday night's concert.
The festival returns to the Isles for Friday night when Corran Raa will start the weekend with a performance in Burravoe Hall, Yell, and award-winning Scottish group, Blazin" Fiddles, will round off the week on Saturday night in Mareel.
The Festival Club will run from 10pm to 1am on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday nights at Mareel. There will also be post-concert dances on Sunday in Mareel, Tuesday in Walls, and Friday in Burravoe, Yell.
In May, Shetland Arts announced the tutors for Fiddle Frenzy. This year they will include sisters Jenna and Bethany Reid, alongside Angela Fraser, Pauleen Wiseman, Lois Nicol, Cathy Geldard, Helen Whitham and Ross Couper. This year's guitar tutor is John Hutchison. Jenny Bradley will be teaching knitting and Amy Fisher will once again be tutoring eager students in drawing and painting.
Lisa Ward, Marketing Officer, said: “We're very pleased to be announcing the headliners for this year's Fiddle Frenzy. The line-up is fantastic and I'm sure students and those attending the concerts will really enjoy the performances from these talented musicians.”
Fiddle Frenzy is a celebration of the music and the musicians that have made Shetland one of the world's most highly acclaimed fiddle playing regions. A must for all fans of traditional music; each year students come from around the world to experience this event.
A marathon seven-day and night event, Fiddle Frenzy offers students the opportunity to learn and immerse themselves in Shetland-style fiddle music with some of our best tutors and musicians. There are courses suited to beginners, through to more experienced players, as well as tutoring in other skills such as guitar-playing, knitting, drawing and painting.
To register as a student for Fiddle Frenzy 2012, you must pay a non-refundable deposit of £25 (£12.50 for >18s only). You can book for the full week or for part of the week – prices depend on the number of days or workshops you are attending (minimum charge £25 / £12.50). You can book now via Shetland Box Office at Islesburgh, online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org or by calling 01595 745 555.
The cost for the week is £400 (£200 for >18s). This covers the cost of workshops, trips and concerts, some transport around the Isles (to Walls and Burravoe) and some meals. It doesn't include accommodation or travel to Shetland. Prices for individual days/part weeks are available on application.
Please check Shetland Arts website, www.shetlandarts.org/fiddle-frenzy regularly for the full programme of events. The concerts will go on sale as individual events in July. Keep an eye on www.shetlandboxoffice.org for more details.