Arts / People invited to share memories of folk festival on 40th anniversary
THIS weekend should usually feature toe-tapping tunes and late night sessions as Shetland becomes a focal point of the folk music scene.
However, after being cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, Shetland Folk Festival 2021 is also off.
The first festival was in 1981, meaning that the event is celebrating its 40th year.
In the absence of the festival, people are being invited to share their memories, photos and videos of the popular event.
They can upload them to social media with the hashtag #ShetlandFolkFestival, or tag Promote Shetland and Shetland Folk Festival.
People’s memories will then be shared by the folk festival team, while a Promote Shetland blog will also spread the joy.
Local folk music will also be celebrated tonight (Friday) with a concert organised in association with Edinburgh Tradfest.
It will feature Margaret Robertson, Chris Stout, Ross Couper and show curator Catriona Macdonald.
Tickets for the online concert can be bought here.
Meanwhile, BBC Radio Shetland aired a special programme last night exploring the history of the celebrated folk festival, which can be listened to below.
For those on music streaming platform Spotify, local musician Gary Smith has curated a 320-song playlist of the bands who have visited and performed at the folk festival over the last 40 years.
Find the playlist below.
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