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Every bit as important to the success of the festival are the local acts. Some of these performers have taken part in the festival from the very early days and its great to see them keeping the tradition alive. Always good to see new acts on the local scene also, many of whom have formed as a result of taking part in the larger music groups: Pipe Bands, Strathspey and Reels, Accordion & Fiddle Clubs, Shoramere, Hadhirgaan and of course the Orkney Traditional Music Project which is vital in nurturing and encouraging new musical talent. 

As other names are confirmed they will be added along with biogs and photos hopefully.

The Chair

With a heady mixture of traditional tunes and grooves, The Chair are gaining a huge fan base.  They become “Danny Award” Winners at the 2007 Celtic Connections Festival which meant a return gig for 2008. Their debut at the Shetland Folk Festival in 2007 met with such enthusiasm they have been booked to appear again in 2008. This year promises to be another busy one for the boys, with more festival dates on the horizon.

Fiona Driver

Fiddler Fiona Driver from Rendall is well known to Orkney audiences for her talents as a composer and performer and has been busy recording her second CD with Graham Simpson, which should be finished in time for the festival! This year they will be appearing together as a fiddle/guitar duo and playing tunes from the CD, so look forward to some exciting and beautiful arrangements.

Hullion

Fast becoming an institution in these islands, Hullion go from strength to strength and have been roving ambassadors for Orkney tourism with trips to the Bath and West Show. Fine songs and splendid tunes interspersed with great banter.

Billy Jolly

Billy has been quietly enjoying a bit of success of late having performed at Celtic Connections, Cullerlie and Stonehaven as a solo singer. Although well known as being a cornerstone of local stalwarts, Hullion, Billy is an accomplished solo singer in his own right. As you can imagine Billy’s songs are laced with humour and passion. We thought it was about time we showed off his talents to the full!

Frank Keenan

Frank’s keen ear for a good melody and simple turn of phrase have made him a popular singer over the last few years. He is an evocative and expressive singer and it’s difficult to hear him sing without tasting the salt spray of the sea or smelling the tangles by the beach. Now working on his hotly anticipated second album, Frank always goes down well at the Festival.

Kirkwall City Pipe Band

A thriving pipe band with a clutch of awards under their sporrans, KCPB are an exciting and dynamic band whose music adds the colour to many a Kirkwall event throughout the summer.  Their appearance at this year’s Up Helly Aa in Shetland was certainly a highlight in the band’s calendar.

Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller

 

Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller are both powerful singers, fine piano and fiddle players and Siobhan step-dances. Jeana and Siobhan have just won the BBC Youth Folk Award 2008. Students of Scottish Music at the RSAMD in Glasgow, Jeana, from Kirkwall in Orkney, has toured Canada with Hadhirgann, performed solo at Orkney Folk Festival and was twice semi-finalist in the Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award. Siobhan is from Penicuik.

Orkney Accordion & Fiddle Club

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Orkney Strathspey & Reel Society

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Orkney Traditional Music Project

An ever-growing ensemble of young musicians, showing that the tradition is in good hands. The project has helped to nurture many fine fiddlers and accomplished accordionists. Don’t miss their collaboration with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra on the Friday evening

Orkney West Mainland Strathspey & Reel Society

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Jo Philby

A singer whose passion for song lies in the Irish and English traditions. Jo has a skilful way of holding an audience spellbound as she weaves tales with her pure vocal style. Her fine song selection shows how an unaccompanied set can have new life and vibrancy.

Quarterdeck

After making their debut appearance at last year’s festival, Quarterdeck have supported Aly Bain & Phil Cunningham and performed at the Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival. With a mix of accordion, fiddles, bodhran and guitar, their repertoire is wide ranging from traditional to Cajun!
Don't think Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham are actually in Quarterdeck, but if your going to name drop, who better?

Saltfishforty

Roving ambassadors for Orkney, these talented chaps having been travelling the world playing at several high profile festivals including Celtic Colours, Lorient Interceltique Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Hebcelt etc etc. In high demand for their powerful and tender interpretation of modern Orkney folk music. Impossible to pin down, but healthy lashings of folk and blues with Douglas Montgomery on fiddle/viola and Brian Cromarty on mandola/guitar.

Shoot the Piper

Shoot the Piper have been playing, evolving and developing their vibrant and exciting sound to high aclaim. Their present lineup of highly experienced musicians love to play whenever their 'Day Jobs' allow. They dont get the chance to tour afar often but when they do, audiences love them and their variety of great music.

Shoramere

Born out of the West Mainland Strathspey & Reel Society, Jenny Keldie teaches and manages this young fiddle sensation as they skip and slide their way through a wide selection of island and Scottish tunes. An Orkney tradition with a Shetland twist.

Song Shop Ladies Choir

The Song Shop Ladies Choir devised by respected local singers Aimee Leonard and Emily Turton, The Song Workshop celebrates the unique relationship shared by women through song.  With great solos and excellent harmonies, they should not be missed.

Stromness Royal British Legion Pipe Band

After a brilliant performance at the opening concert last year, we felt we would give them another shot!  Many of their pipers and drummers have won awards at competitions South and there may even be a chance of some highland dancers at the concert!

Mudskipper

New duo comprising of well known musicians Graham Simpson and Roger Philby. A blend of traditional and contemporary songs sung by both, accompanied by Graham’s percussive guitar and Roger’s crisp rhythmic bodhran. Don’t miss this exciting duo at their first Orkney Folk Festival!

Bruce Mainland

Bruce has been building quite a name for himself in the regular singers sessions at the Reel in Kirkwall, but not only for is vocal abilities, he is also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist. He certainly knows how to entertain audiences, singing songs from the sublime to the bizarre!
Bruce will be launching his debut CD 'The Lang Road Doon' at the Festival Club in the Stromness Hotel on Friday 23rd from 12 noon. Bruce has choosen to perform tracks on the CD by Burns, Dick Gaughan and Eric Bogle, among others, and with 15 tracks in all there is surely something to please everyone.

Hadhirgaan

A rolling army of trainee musicians from the ranks of Kirkwall Grammar School. The group consists of flock of fiddles, a guitar here and there, bass guitar, clarsach, bodhran, piano/keyboard, mandolin and banjo, which creates their own unique gutsy sound. Under the leadership of Douglas Montgomery, they have conquered many far off shores on the Scottish mainland and Canada.