A group of highly rated Estonian musicians and dancers are set to visit Shetland as part of a national tour, organised by the Talinn Institute in Estonia, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) in Scotland and, in Shetland, by Shetland Arts Trust. The tour has the direct support of the Estonian Government, the Scottish Executive and the Estonian Cultural Commission in Scotland.

The group of largely young musicians are part of a much wider cultural event being promoted in Edinburgh and Glasgow, which will include high profile performances from the Estonian National Choir, among others. The overall aim of the visit is to create sustainable cultural links and ongoing exchange visits between the two countries.

While in Shetland the Estonian musicians will take part in, and perform at, a number of music events aimed at forging cultural and community based links between Shetland and Estonia, while creating a much better understanding of each others musical cultures.

On Saturday the 5th November the group will be hosted at a civic reception in Lerwick Town Hall, courtesy of Shetland Islands Council. On the same afternoon they will take part in a Shetland music session in the Lounge, which will be open to the public and free of charge, before moving on to the Cullivoe Hall in Yell later that evening for a concert and dance, where they will perform alongside the likes of Fridaray, The Cullivoe Fiddlers, Shetland Folk Dance and Unst fiddler Steven Spence. The evening concert will be rounded of with a dance featuring ‘Leeshinat’.

On Sunday afternoon, the 6th November, the group will host and deliver a traditional Estonian music session in the Lounge Bar from 3pm, again open to the public and free of charge. Local musicians are again invited to come along and take part.

On Sunday evening the group will perform in Lerwick Town Hall alongside Brian Gear and Violet Tulloch, Whalsay fiddler Gibby Hutchison, Hom Bru, Maddrim and whirlwind local ceilidh band ‘Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag.

Among the traditional Estonian instruments featured will be Estonian bagpipes, bowed harp, traditional fiddle, flutes, whistles, mandolin’s, guitar’s, harmonica’s Estonian melodeons and a wide variety of vocal styles. The group will also demonstrate some of the traditional dances of their native country.

Tickets for the above events are now on sale from RS Henderson in Cullivoe and High Level Music in Lerwick – priced £8 and £6 concession. Both concerts start at 7.30 with doors opening at 7pm.

Shetland Arts Trust’s music development officer Davie Gardner said “We are delighted that this group have chosen to come to Shetland for an event of this kind, especially as we are the only rural community they have elected to visit as part of their nation-wide promotional tour. I think that speaks volumes for the international perception and reputation of Shetland, its music and its culture. Hopefully we will forge meaningful and sustainable cultural links with Estonia as a result of this visit and tour, while making and hearing some great music into the bargain”.

The Estonian visit to Shetland will be rounded off with a visit to the Anderson High School in Lerwick and the Brae High School to deliver musical workshops and performances for the pupils of those schools.

For further details contact Davie Gardner on 07748-153-574 or Kathy Hubbard on (01595) 694001.