The 3rd annual ‘Shetland Fiddle Frenzy’, Shetland’s very own traditional fiddle school and music / cultural festival takes place this year from 7th – 13th August 2006, in venues and areas all over Shetland.

Around 50 ‘students’ from all over the world will join with local musicians and audiences in a week long event featuring workshops (both musical and cultural) concerts, sessions, bus tours and boat trips – you name it Shetland Fiddle Frenzy seems to cover it.

Among the musical highlights this year will be two special Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain concerts. The first in Whalsay on Friday 12th August will feature many of the duo’s local musical friends, while a special ‘Shetland 60th birthday Celebration Concert’ for Aly, again headlined by the duo, will be held on Saturday the 13th August in the Clickimin Centre Bowls Hall.

Other concerts to look forward to over the week will feature Rock, Salt and Nails, Fiddlers’ Bid, Catriona Mcdonald, Christopher Stout and Catriona McKay, Quebecosse (a traditional fiddle group with step dancers from Quebec in Canada) and a host of top local artists such as Brian Gear and Violet Tulloch and Young Fiddler of the Year Ryan Couper, to name but two. Two of the concerts, in Aith on Wednesday the 9th August and Whalsay on the 11th will be followed by Shetland dances.

Perhaps the highlight for many though will be a very special ‘Tom Anderson Celebration’ concert in the Garrison Theatre on the afternoon of Sunday 13th August, to round off the whole Fiddle Frenzy event, featuring a host of ‘stars’ who figured very largely in Tom’s musical life.

The extensive workshop programme will feature a range of fiddle tuition classes for players of all ages and experiences lead by top local tutors including Jenna Reid, Catriona Macdonald, Kevin Henderson, Christopher Stout, Eunice Groat and Alex Hutchison.

Then there’s guitar (Alan Scollay etc) and piano accompaniment classes (Violet Tulloch) accordion classes (Phil Cunningham) North Isles fiddle styles, Quebecan fiddle and dance, traditional Shetland dance, storytelling, fiddle making, clarsach, local crafts, trips on the local viking long-ship Dim Riv (with possibly a chance to try your hand at fishing), cultural bus trips to the South Mainland and Westside of Shetland and…..well much much more besides, including, somewhat inevitably, nightly traditional sessions alongside some of Shetland’s finest musicians.

Shetland Arts music development officer Davie Gardner said “This year our line up seems to be stronger than ever, with many of our big names returning once again to support and take part in the event. We have rapidly increasing interest from outwith Shetland, while local interest and involvement is more intense than ever, so all this bodes well for the future of the event. Our aim of attracting people to Shetland from all over the world under a local cultural banner seems to be bearing fruit and I initially want to thank everyone who has agreed to participate in this years event for making it probably the most exciting to date”

A full programme of events will shortly be available from Shetland Arts in Pitt Lane, while detailed adverts will appear soon in the local press. You can also find out full details at www.shetlandfiddlefrenzy.com

Full week-long fully inclusive tickets and part time tickets for ‘Frenzied Followers’ can now be booked via Shetland Arts on (01595) 4001, while tickets for individual workshops and concerts will shortly be available from Shetland Arts in Pitt Lane and the local shops in Aith and Whalsay.

For further information contact Kathy Hubbard on (01595) 694001.