The second of Shetland Arts Trust’s live traditional sessions for young musicians (age 12 – 18) is set to take place in the upstairs Lounge, Lerwick’s  home of traditional music, on Tuesday the 30th November – St Andrew’s night.

This particular event is just one of many taking place across the country under an initiative promoted by national organisation ‘Hand’s Up For Trad’, aimed at raising the profile of, and promoting, traditional music on the country’s national day.

Simon Thoumire of ‘Hand’s Up For Trad’ said “We hope to turn St Andrew’s day into a sort of national traditional music day, so although I’m very well aware that many in Shetland don’t think of themselves as particularly Scottish, it would be unthinkable not to have Shetland involved in such an event. I’m particularly pleased that your event will feature young musicians learning the trade”.

The ‘Evening Sessions’, as the Arts Trust have labelled them, are aimed at showing young traditional musicians how to structure and participate in traditional sessions, a corner-stone of the local music scene. They also allow some of our more experienced young musicians a chance to perform together on a more informal basis and show off their skills to a wider audience.

The sessions will take place on the last Tuesday of each month over the winter (apart from Up HellyAa night of course) and a number of Shetland’s leading traditional musicians including Violet Tulloch, Peter Wood, Margaret Scollay, Alex Hutchison and Mark Laurenson will occasionally be on hand to provide guidance and play along with the young musicians. The Lounge will be alcohol free upstairs throughout the events of course.

The sessions run from 7pm – 10.30, and the first part of the evening will be given over to less experienced musicians of all capabilities. Experienced guidance and assistance will be on hand to help get things going, then later on in the evening more experienced young musicians will take the lead, although the less experienced will still be able to sit in on this part of the evening to gain further invaluable experience if they want to.

Shetland Arts Trust’s Music Development Officer Davie Gardner said “The over-riding aim of these events is to encourage young musicians to take part in and enjoy the world of traditional music and sessions in particular. It’s all about having fun in a musical context, in a venue renowned for supporting local music for many years. Anyone of any musical capability can take part, playing literally any instrument – fiddle, accordion, piano, guitar, bass, drums whatever, everyone is welcome to come along and join in. Nobody will be excluded and the early evening part of the session is specially structured to cater for those who are still learning to play their particular instrument and have little or no experience of session playing. We hope it will encourage them to take part and offer a very informal chance to meet and play with other young musicians, not to mention some of the legends of our traditional music scene. Who knows who might pop in?”

As well as the young musicians, audiences of all ages are invited along too and, as the events are totally alcohol free, under 18’s can attend the events as well even if they don’t play anything, but just want a different kind of night out with some good music as part of the experience.

“We would encourage mums and dads and all the family to come down and take part in the events” said Davie “It should be a lot of fun and will hopefully play a small part in keeping the traditional music fame burning for many years to come”

For further information contact Davie Gardner on (01595) 697550.