Shetland Arts is gearing up for a busy Opening Weekend at Mareel over the weekend of 16 – 18 November. Events for the weekend include Shetland Meets Appalachia, Scottish indie-band Aberfeldy, the famous Dougie MacLean, a selection of local live music in the Café Bar, Opening Celebration speeches, an Exhibition Opening with Artist Callum Moncrieff, and other little forms of celebration to be revealed on the Saturday. Everyone is welcomed to come along and mark the moment.

Shetland Meets Appalachia – a exploration of our common musical roots featuring Bruce Molsky and Special Shetland Guests is a series of concerts across Shetland – in Muckle Roe on the 15th of November and Cullivoe on the 16th – which culminates in an Opening Weekend performance in Mareel on Saturday 17th. For his second visit to Shetland (his first was as part of this years’ Trans-Atlantic Sessions concert) Bruce will be teaming up and collaborating with some of Shetland’s finest home-based musicians such as Gary Peterson, Maurice Henderson, Maggie Adamson and Brian Nicholson, the Cullivoe Fiddlers, the Heritage Fiddlers, Lynda Anderson, Ryan Cooper, Freda Leask, Peter Woord, and Sheila Henderson to explore the roots and commonality between the North American and Shetland traditions. In addition to this, groups such as Hom Bru, Haltadans and Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag will also be joining Bruce to add further to the musical fireworks that are bound to be created during this visit.

Originally formed in 2003 Aberfeldy have consistently been hailed as one of Scotland’s leading indie bands. Their debut album Young Forever (2004) spawned the single Heliopolis by Night which NME nominated as their ‘Single of the Week’ while the album itself also entered the UK charts on its release. Further albums Do Whatever Turns You On (2006) and their more recent offering Somewhere To Jump From cemented the bands growing reputation and popularity, and secured them tour and support slots with the likes of REM, Blondie, and the Scissor Sisters. They have played Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party and entered millions of peoples’ homes thanks to their songs appearing on Argentinean beer and Diet Coke TV adverts.

Dougie MacLean is Scotland’s pre-eminent singer-songwriter. Perhaps his most famous composition is the near anthemic Caledonia – a song that has been covered by over 200 artists world-wide, including the likes of Ronan Keating, Frankie Miller, Paolo Nutini and Amy MacDonald. The song has even had a whisky named in its honour.

But Dougie is most certainly not a one-song-wonder – a fact supported by the many gold discs and other international awards and accolades he has collected throughout his career. Dougie tours globally on a regular basis, selling out large concerts the world over including venue’s such as New York’s famed Carnegie Hall. He was recently awarded an OBE for his contribution to music in the New Year’s Honours List.

During the day on Saturday 17th there will be live music in the Café Bar from midday, and Opening Celebration speeches from 6pm – 6.45pm. On Sunday 18th from 11am – 12.30pm there will be an Exhibition Opening with Artist Callum Moncrieff.

Shetland Arts’ Marketing Officer, Lisa Ward, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome such a diverse and talented group of artists, both visiting and local, to Mareel for Official Opening Weekend. The events planned sum up what Mareel is all about – showcasing excellent talent from Shetland and beyond, as well as emphasising Mareel’s links with venues around the Isles, as is the case for the Shetland Meets Appalachia events. The Official Opening Weekend is about celebrating with everyone, so we urge anyone interested to pop in and join us in marking the moment.”

Tickets for the Opening Season events can be purchased via Shetland Box Office in Mareel and Islesburgh, over the phone on 01595 745 555, and online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org and www.mareel.org. Tickets for the Muckle Roe event can also be purchased from the Muckle Roe Hall Committee and tickets for the Cullivoe event can also be purchased from the Cullivoe Shop.

Source: Shetland Arts