Community / UnstFest team keeping an eye on ferries as popular event prepares to return
Youngsters who have learned ukulele will also put on a show as part of the event
THE ORGANISERS of the returning UnstFest are keeping a close on the ferries to the island following the disruption of recent weeks.
The event, back for the first time since 2019 due to the pandemic, is taking place between 11 and 17 July.
With a packed festival schedule, many visitors are due to head to Unst on the ferry during the week.
The ferries to Unst, as well as Fetlar, have suffered significant disruption in recent weeks due to staff sickness.
With some vacancies in the service, this meant the Bluemull Sound route often dropped from two vessels to one.
However, the service has been operating as normal since 27 June.
UnstFest’s Karis Burns said the team had been in contact with the council to express its concern over the issues with Bluemull Sound, as well as Yell Sound, as the festival loomed.
“We will be keeping in touch with the SIC with our concerns and we hope they can keep any disruptions to an absolute minimum,” she added.
Meanwhile the family-friendly event should offer something for all: there is everything from games, a panto and walking tours to bairns yoga, a ‘teddy bear hospital’ and a Saturday night shindig in the Baltasound Hall with live music.
Also on the agenda is the Unst concert debut of a group of school pupils who have learned the ukulele.
Island Ukuleles is the brainchild of Unst-based Sunita Staneslow, who brought her long-time colleague Paul Moore all the way from the Galilee to teach ukulele to local children.
During the past two months the pupils of four schools in Yell and Unst have been developing their skills and preparing for their debut concerts in Cullivoe and Baltasound, for UnstFest.
This project is said to have not only developed the musical talents of the pupils, but enabled the children to learn and grow too.
It has received funding from a Creative Scotland scheme to support opportunities for young people.
Moore, who has been a fixture at festivals and venues across Europe, has also held classes for adults in Unst and has performed two local concerts with harpist Staneslow and fiddler Angela Fraser.
He said: “These kids continue to amaze me with their hidden talents that just need a little encouragement to shine through.”
More than one hundred pupils at the schools in Baltasound, Burravoe, Cullivoe and Mid Yell have benefitted from the program with many of them continuing onto rehearsals and concerts.
Each child who performs in a concert will receive a free ukulele.
A Cullivoe concert took place last night (Thursday), and the UnstFest show is being held at the Baltasound Hall on 17 July from 3pm.
There is no fee for the concert, but donations are welcome.
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