21-24 May 2015 Supported by the National Lottery through Creative Scotland What’s On Where Concerts Birsay Ceilidhs Deerness Dances Harray Stomp Holm Clubs Kirkwall Pub Sessions Orphir Open Stage Quoyloo Family Concert Sanday Fiddlers’ Rally Sandwick Food Market St Andrews www.orkneyfolkfestival.com Exhibition Stromness Talks . Westray PROGRAMME Welcome All Sorts of Folk Hello and welcome to our lovingly Within just a four day festival, we aim to cater for all sorts of folk – hand crafted Orkney Folk Festival, by both definitions. ‘Folk music’ means a lot of things to a lot of, Episode 33. How much can you well, folk, and so we’ve a programme bursting with events at all cram into one weekend? Quite a lot it hours – from 10.30am to well after bedtime – and suiting all tastes. seems. From the world of commercially successful folk we have three big hitters, Bring The Family Sharon Shannon, Seth Lakeman and Bob Gibbon Ward Thomas. But it’s not all about A hit amongst our peedier festival goers – and those less so – commercial success. Hard-working and talented local heroes hold Saturday afternoon’s Family Concert is always a hot ticket. This on to the Orkney tradition and steadfastly nurture it and keep it year we welcome back the fantastic New Rope String Band, on alive. We try to represent them here too. You may not see them on their farewell tour, offering audiences of all ages one last chance to be in stitches at this trio’s folk/cabaret antics. the big stages, but that is not necessarily where they want to be. A bar, a ceilidh, a quiet corner is where you might find them, so keep However, throughout the programme almost all events offer your eyes peeled for them. Concerts, ceilidhs and the usual events discounted tickets for under-16s, giving plenty opportunity to bring are all in place plus a few new exciting bits and bobs sprinkled the entire family along to join in the festival fun! over for fun, and there you have it, OFF 2015 is just around the corner. Thanks for your continued support, see you soon! Late Night Revelry - Bob Gibbon • Festival Director And for when the bairns are long since tucked up in bed, we have a choice of three late night clubs on offer – each finely tuned to Stay Connected serve up a different flavour of the festival into the wee small hours. After 51 weeks’ build up, it often feels that the festival can go by Festival & Lunchtime Clubs in a flash; that if you blink you’ll miss it. Hopefully not, but with so These chilled out concerts feature some of the best music and much going on (and the limiting capacity to only be in one place song on offer over the weekend, in an intimate atmosphere, and at one time) it’s great to be able to stay connected, and share and so at least one is a must in every festival-goers’ diary. With space relive each other’s festival experiences. for just 100, seated around tables to rest your glasses, they are often amongst the first events to sell out. Both our Facebook and Twitter pages are a hive of activity – not just in the lead-up to and cool down from the festival, but all year Song Clubs round. We share as many photos, videos, music clips, anecdotes, A haven for song enthusiasts and tradition bearers, our Song “how on earth…!?”s as we can lay our hands on, but it’s even Clubs are part concert/part singaround – very much reminiscent of better to see what you’ve been up to, and that may have slipped early Scottish folk clubs. Quiet songs and moving ballads, rousing through our net. Head on over and join in the conversation. choruses, and sing-along choruses are all at home here – as is just sitting back and lapping up the atmosphere. /orkneyfolkfestival @OrkneyFolkFest #orkneyff15 Academy Club Friday night’s late night club in the Stromness Academy offers night owls the chance to catch two stunning all-girl groups – Ward See You Soon Thomas and Fara – in a fully seated concert, just later in the day. Whether you’re reading this pre or post festival, we’re looking As you’d expect with a gig at 10.30pm, there may just be a bar too. forward to seeing you (again) soon. Given the high demand on accommodation in and around Stromness around the festival, The Stomp is Back many folk book to return the following year on their check-out – Renamed as Academy Clubs, so to group all late night events together, Stomps were a favourite festival event throughout the and, rest assured, we never take that for granted. As such, we are 1990s and early 2000s. However, with increasing demand for late often asked for future festival dates long before we’ve booked any night tickets, and Friday’s fixture now fully seated, and Saturday’s artists or venues! As a general rule, the festival is always the last an all-standing affair, it was felt that we needed to full weekend of May, with the late spring Bank Holiday following. differentiate between the gig set-ups. Many regular This year is a perfect example – whilst the weekend following festival goers never fully bought into the new name, the festival is still fully in May, the Monday is in June. Next year, so why swim against the tide? however, we jump back a week. Welcome back, Stomp, we’ve missed you! Dates for your diaries: 34th Orkney Folk Festival – May 26-29, 2016 35th Orkney Folk Festival – May 25-28, 2017 2 3 Celebrating Folk The Artistes Aff the Kuff (Orkney) This year we have three unique events that each celebrate the life and Having entertained folk at functions and dances work of unique individuals. throughout the county for several years now, local players Jack Yorkston, James Groat, Fran Hollinrake, Tina Yorkston and Bettey Harvey will host our new club The Music of the Garson Trio at the Reel, in Kirkwall, on Friday night. Come along Thursday – Sandwick Community Centre – 7.30pm and join in, or just enjoy the tunes. Barrule A mainstay of the Orkney Folk Festival programme, since 2010, the Orkney Barrule (Isle of Man) Heritage Fiddle Project shines a spotlight on some of Orkney’s best known The first Manx act to ever perform at the Orkney Folk Festival, Barrule is an award-winning fusion of three distinct musicians and traditional composers no longer with us. Each year a musical forces: Mabon front-man and accordion wizard Jamie Smith, gifted fiddler Tomas Callister and versatile accompanist Adam Rhodes (Mabon) on bouzouki. The trio’s fresh approach to traditional Manx music evokes an concert is dedicated to revisiting their music and styles of playing (which, atmosphere that reflects the diverse natural beauty of the island, elevating its music to an exciting new level. particularly decades ago, can vary hugely amongst Orkney’s scene), Belt Hid Oot (Orkney) celebrating their vast contribution to Orkney’s folk scene. Making their first festival appearance this year, this band of students at Stromness Academy is the brainchild Having previously focused on the work of Jim Craigie, Davy Eunson, of music teacher and fiddler, Laura Eunson; herself a former student of Douglas Montgomery, and graduate Ronnie Aim, Allie Windwick and Gordon Harvey, this year the project of the very first incarnation of Hadhirgaan. With such a pedigree, expect cracking young players and winning looks at the much-loved west mainland three-piece, The Garson Trio – Iris multi-instrumental arrangements. Nicolson (accordion), her father, James Garson (fiddle), and her husband, Billy Jolly (Orkney) John Nicolson (guitar). This concert will include music as played and Billy is something of a legend in Orkney. Whether singing about a make-shift rubbish dump (amongst many arranged by the trio, as well as archive recordings of the trio in action. other captivating topics), or keeping audiences spellbound with his ‘moothie’ (harmonica) skills, he never In the lead up, OHFP coordinator, Gemma McGregor, and fiddler, Laura fails to add that special something to an evening’s entertainment. A favourite musician and story-teller within Eunson, will provide workshops for young musicians, passing on the these islands, his gift for the stage can also be seen within the five-piece Hullion. trio’s music, which will then be performed alongside compere and fiddler Bryony Lyn Band (Orkney) Graham Garson, accordion players, Isla Wallace and Dave Linklater, and Following her knockout return to the 2014 festival – having performed at many, throughout her early years – pianist Steven Flett. Orcadian Bryony MacGregor (nee Muir, but going by her middle name on stage) is back with her band and repertoire of all original songs, inspired by love, life, landscape and laughter. Through her involvement with Young Farmers Clubs, Bryony often entertains at agricultural events, delighting with lyrics that bring a smile Out of my own Light and lump to the throat in equal measure. Thursday – Orphir Community School – 7.30pm Bruce Mainland (Orkney) “I’m so darned restless and unhappy these days: just can’t make a decision Orcadian Bruce is an all-round entertainer, and a regular face at The Reel in Kirkwall. An accomplished multi- instrumentalist and vocalist alike – as showcased on his album, The Lang Road Doon – he certainly knows one way or another. If only I could get right away for a while I’m sure it would how to hold a crowd, with song topics ranging from the sublime to the bizarre.