The Shetland Blues Festival is now in its 11th year and will take place over the weekend of the 12 - 14 September with events taking place in Mareel and the Vidlin Hall. All visiting artists will be appearing at the Vidlin Hall over the Friday and Saturday nights and over three nights in Mareel. The Saturday pub trail will also take place with free gigs in the Lounge, the Wheel bar and the Douglas Arms though the afternoon. It's always a great atmosphere at the pub gigs, so be sure to pop along.
Headlining acts this year are Bob Malone from the USA and Hans Theesink from Holland. Hans Theesink is one of Europe's top acoustic blues players with a rich voice and will be playing material from his forty years as a blues artist. Bob Malone is taking in the Shetland Blues Festival as part of his UK tour and is a top keyboard player, currently his day job is playing keyboards in John Fogerty's band. Bob plays a mix of New Orleans and roots music and should get any venue jumping by the end of the night.
Other highlights include triple British Blues Awards nominee Half Deaf Clatch and from Northern Ireland the Kaz Hawkins band, who will be bringing there mix of gospel, rhythm n blues and soul to the festival. Return visits from Dale Storr and the King Bees with local band Sore Finger rounding out the festival line up.
Tickets are on sale from the Shetland Box Office either from Islesburgh or Mareel and online at shetlandboxoffice.org. A special weekend ticket for all three nights costs £35 with individual tickets costing £15. All the latest information will be available online at facebook.com/shetlandbluesfestival.