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Shetland Music
The Shetland Islands - which lie to the far north of Scotland, geographically (and perhaps even spiritually) as close to Norway as they are to the UK mainland - is a vibrant community already famed for its rich musical heritage.
The promotional CD ‘Music from Shetland’ , which was distributed with issue 73 of Songlines magazine, provides you with a current snapshot of the musical diversity and talent that exists within that small community, courtesy of some of its more recognised artists of today. Music continually influenced and shaped by the surrounding environment – land, sea, sky and especially its people.
This section of the website provides further information on the artists featured on the CD.
Believe it or not this is only a very small part of a much larger musical story just waiting to be explored.
Information on Shetland's annual music events and festivals can be found in the events section of this website.
Shetland Groups and Musicians
Shetland’s internationally renowned fiddle band who redefine the term "traditional". Their performance style has been compared to “....playing likes angels and devils at once”
View More InfoChris Stout (fiddle) and Catriona McKay (Scottish harp) have been hailed as a “musical collaboration made in heaven”. A hugely innovative duo who continually challenge existing boundaries of traditional music.
View More InfoHailing from the remote island of Fair Isle, Inge explores innovative vocal harmonies and multi-instrumental textures. Her group ‘Harem Scarum’ recently collaborated with Will Oldham, aka Bonnie Prince Billy
View More InfoA heady gathering of top Shetland musicians who collectively, it’s said, “…have a passion for Nordic and Celtic traditions, Shetland music and rhubarb”. An explosive live band into the bargain
View More InfoA Shetlander who genuinely needs no introduction. Internationally the most prominent artist ever to emerge from the islands much lauded music community - and still setting benchmarks after all these years!!
View More InfoThe uber-dynamic front-man of Shetland’s international musical ambassadors ‘Rock Salt & Nails. Now also making waves as a solo artist - here featuring a track from his debut solo album’
View More InfoA hugely acclaimed sisters pairing and group, they recently released their emotive new album ‘Escape’ - music inspired by the famed ‘Shetland Bus’ operation between Shetland and Norway during WWII
View More InfoAnother high profile, internationally acclaimed ‘name’ from Shetland. A wonderfully dynamic and expressive fiddle player Catriona is also part of the international super-group / collaboration ‘String Sisters’
View More InfoA writer and singer of contemporary songs, Malachy recently, and highly successively, supported ‘Runrig’ during a massive UK tour - directly at the behest of the band themselves
View More InfoUnquestionably one of the most technically gifted fiddle players to emanate from Shetland in recent years, Bryan is joined by Violet Tulloch – Shetland’s internationally lauded piano accompanist (Aly Bain, Tom Anderson etc)
View More InfoA live taster from Shetland’s marvellous, traditionally inspired ‘underground’ band, currently returning following a five-year hiatus. Expect a new sonic eruption from this sleeping giant very soon. Ground-breaking sounds!!!
View More InfoPreviously the front-lady of ‘Goya Dress’, Astrid has more recently been forging a very successful solo career for herself. ‘Paperbacks’ is taken from her forthcoming, as yet untitled, new album
View More InfoAward winning young fiddle prodigy Maggie Adamson and local guitar maestro Brian Nicholson join forces to deliver some of the finest traditional fiddle / guitar music emanating from the islands today
View More InfoA group more than well established on the international festival and music scene - their hallmark being their whirlwind live shows, which usually leave both them and their audiences breathless
View More InfoFilska’s world-wide reputation is built on Shetland’s fiddle playing tradition – with wonderful songs for good measure too. 'Filska' is local dialect meaning 'high spirited'. No more need be said!
View More InfoSinger, songwriter and poet Lise Sinclair also hails from Fair Isle. Her contemporary work, currently attracting increasing international recognition, features the authentic music and language traditions of the Northern Isles
View More InfoHailing from Unst (Shetland’s, and therefore the UK’s, most northerly island) Steven is one of Shetland’s foremost composers, as well as being a wonderful fiddle player in his own right
View More InfoLegends on the international folk scene, Hom Bru have been entertaining audiences with their own brand of music (and humour) for over 30 years, and they show no signs of stopping!
View More InfoThe music section of this website is managed in partnership with Shetland Arts. For general enquiries on music in Shetland contact Bryan Peterson, Shetland Arts’ Music Development Officer - bryan.peterson@shetlandarts.org
On This Site
- Discover more about Shetland's eclectic culture
- Why not plan a visit during one of the music festivals in Shetland?
- Listen to some inspiring Shetland Music on 60-NORTH FM, whilst browsing our popular Webcam network
From Other Sites
- Learn much more about Shetland Music