Welcome to the Shetland Folk Festival

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The 39th Shetland Folk Festival will be held between 2nd- 5th May 2019 and as the UK's most northerly folk festival, it is regarded as a prestigious event for performers, locals and visitors alike.

Organised by a voluntary committee (and run by an even bigger pool of volunteers) the Festival prides itself in reaching out to even the most far flung areas of Shetland. Concerts are organised throughout the isles, consisting of some of the best International, British and Shetland music that the world has to offer. In fact, visiting artistes are regularly dumbfounded by the quantity and quality of local musicians that our remote isles have to offer.

"This Festival requires a Government Health Warning - Nobody sleeps"
Dick Gaughan, 1981

For SFFS members, there is a Festival Club in Shetland's capital, Lerwick, where you'll find formal and informal concerts, workshops, a real ale bar and fantastic "sessions" that continue into the wee hours of the morning. Yes it's true - you do have to sleep quickly to witness the Full Festival Experience!

The event culminates with the Foy concerts on the Sunday night, where audiences have an opportunity of seeing most visiting acts in one evening. Held over three venues, the acts are shuffled between halls by mini bus and perform in each hall for around 15 minutes. It's crazy but it works!

So, if you're tempted to make your way to the most far-flung folk festival in the UK, join us for the unofficial opening on 1st May on an overnight ferry in the middle of the North Sea. An event in itself! Find information on how to travel to Shetland and how to purchase tickets.

Here's a little taster of whats in store .