Shetland Arts is delighted to announce the line-up for Fiddle Frenzy 2013, its week long Fiddle School and celebration of traditional Shetland musical culture running this year from Sunday 4 to Sunday 11 August. The star-studded line up includes Fiddlers’ Bid, Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham, and Lau. This year’s festival is curated by Shetland fiddle stars Jenna & Bethany Reid. Tickets for The Full Frenzy and tickets for the Week of Classes are already on sale. Tickets for the individual concerts will go on sale on Wednesday 24 April.

Fiddlers’ Bid will open the festival with a concert on Sunday 4 August in Mareel. They are known internationally as leading exponents of Shetland’s rich fiddle tradition and are global ambassadors for Isles. Since forming in 1991, they have established an identity as a unique band with a harmonious sound developed though many years of playing together. Their 4 fiddle frontline showcases some of Shetland’s finest fiddlers – Chris Stout, Kevin Henderson, Andrew Gifford and Maurice Henderson, joined by a fantastic backing band featuring harpist Catriona McKay, guitarist Fionan De Barra, and bassist Jonathan Ritch, creating a display of stunning virtuosity at every concert.

Aly & Phil are the headliners for a concert on Monday 5 August in Mareel. No strangers to Shetland, Phil Cunningham and Shetland native Aly Bain have been playing, touring, and recording together since 1988 and to date have recorded four albums and played to thousands around the world. Shetland Arts is delighted to welcome them to perform in Shetland again, helping celebrate the 10th anniversary of Fiddle Frenzy 2013. They are also performing an additional pre-Fiddle Frenzy concert in Cullivoe Hall, Yell, on Saturday 3 August.

On Wednesday 7 August, Shetland Arts is delighted to welcome Lau to Mareel. Winners of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Group 2013, Lau are modern folk music’s most innovative band. Brilliant musicians, thrilling performers and free-thinking visionaries. Featuring the beautiful vocals and skillful guitar playing of award winning orcadian songwriter Kris Drever. Pioneering post-everything accordion and electronics from Martin Green and the timeless masterful and melodic creativity of scottish fiddler Aidan O’Rourke. They have long since established themselves as one of the most sought after and creative live acts performing today.

And finally, on Saturday 10 August, everyone is invited along to Mareel for the Fiddle Frenzy Finale: 10th Birthday Bash. This is an event jam-packed with local fiddle talent, performances from the Fiddle Frenzy students, and a party atmosphere, celebrating 10 years of Fiddle Frenzy.

Shetland Arts’ Marketing Officer, Lisa Ward, said: “The line up for Fiddle Frenzy 2013 really is something special, which is very fitting considering it’s the 10th anniversary of the festival. We are delighted that Jenna and Bethany have helped to organise such a fantastic week, to be hosting Fiddle Frenzy events in Mareel for the first time, and to welcome the hugely talented headliners to Fiddle Frenzy for its 10th anniversary.”

Tickets for these concerts will go on sale on Wednesday 24 April, and Fiddle Frenzy packages are already on sale, via Shetland Box Office in Mareel & Islesburgh, over the phone on 01595 745 555, or online at www.mareel.org and www.shetlandboxoffice.org

Source: Shetland Arts