Chair (The)

Back once more at the festival where it all began in 2004, The Chair have gone from strength to strength in the past six years, consolidating their position as the Scots Trad Music Awards Folk Band of the Year 2008.

Danny Kyle Award winners in 2007, the Lazy Boys' debut CD Huinka was released later the same year to rave reviews up and down the country, increasing their profile on the festival circuit. Playing high profile support slots, through to their own headline gigs, they have set the floor alight with their unique brand of 'stomp' music wherever they have appeared. Prestigious festival experiences in the past couple of years include Cambridge Folk Festival, Celtic Connections, Hebridean Celtic Festival, the City of London Festival, Shrewsbury, Towersey, Shetland Folk Festival and, of course, Orkney Folk Festival.

As well as their Orkney Folk Festival gig, 2010 promises to be a big year for The Chair, kicking off with a headlining gig at Celtic Connections in January, in Glasgow's 02 ABC.

No dancefloor is safe!


The Chair are:
Brian Cromarty • Banjo & Vocals
Bob Gibbon • Accordion
Gavin Firth • Guitar
Erik Laughton • Drums
Chas Milne • Bass Guitar
Douglas Montgomery • Fiddle & Mandolin
Kenny Ritch • Fiddle
Robbie Thomson • Percussion

more @ www.myspace.com/lazyboychair

Fiona Driver and Graham Simpson

One of Orkney's finest fiddlers and prolific modern-day composers, Fiona has performed widely in the Northern Isles and beyond. As well as her exploits as a soloist and in her new duo partnership with Graham Simpson, Fiona also plays in the Western-themed group Lone Star Swing.

Her second CD, Orkney Fire, was released at the end of 2008; a follow-up to best-seller The Orkney Fiddler, released in 1997. Accompanied by Graham Simpson on guitar and percussion, Orkney Fire is somewhat different to her largely traditional debut - a collection of various styles executed with consistently evident expertise and finesse. In addition, Fiona Driver's Orkney Tune Book was released in 2007 featuring 70 of her own tunes alongside 30 by fellow local composers. 

Current projects include her second tune book and the Lone Star Swing Band. Also keep an eye out for some of Fiona's students in their group 'Fiddletime'.

On guitar and percussion, Graham is a versatile, complimentary accompanist. Another member of Lone Star Swing, he has also performed with local band SAS Blues and is currently recording percussion for Ivan Drever's latest CD.

more @ www.myspace.com/fionadriver

Hadhirgaan

Hadhirgaan are a group of young musicians from Kirkwall Grammar School led by instrumental instructor Douglas Montgomery (The Chair, Saltfishforty). The group, whose members range in age from 14 to 18, play modern and traditional tunes, as well as a number of their own compositions.

Since forming in 1998/9 for the Canadian Homecoming to Orkney, the group have gone from stength to strength in the last ten years. The original line-up toured Canada in the summer of 2000 and released their self-titled debut CD. However, being a school-based group, the majority of these players were soon to leave, to be replaced by newly emerging talents from the school. Back up to full strength, Hadhirgaan released their second CD, Keep It Up, in 2002, which received critical acclaim from national publications. This propelled them into gigs on Mainland Scotland, including the Scots Trad Music Awards ceremony in 2004.

The following year Hadhirgaan made a return visit to Canada, this time with the KGS Theatre Company, where they toured with a production showcasing Orkney's historical links with Canada - Gaan tae the Nor'Wast. A performance of this show was recorded in Calgary and released as a DVD/CD combination. Recent festival appearances have included the Scots Fiddle Festival, Celtic Connections, St Magnus Festival and Orkney Folk Festival. 

A fantastic flock of fiddlers backed by a solid rhythm section, the group never cease to amaze with their own, unique gutsy sound.

Jo Philby

Introduced to the folk scene at a very early age, Jo grew up in the south of England with music surrounding her. Although it wasn’t until her late twenties that she developed a love for traditional Irish music, since then she has grown as a performer in her own right. Since moving to Orkney in 2002, Jo has regularly appeared at the Orkney Folk Festival and numerous community events and concerts.

Although mainly an unaccompanied singer, Jo will be accompanied by some of the fine local musicians who appear on her debut CD, Saltwater & Stone, which she launched at last year's festival to a great reception, and has since been hailed as "a treasure trove of carefully chosen songs from the living well of folk music". She can also be heard on two local compilations: Orkney Sessions - Live from the Reel and Orkney Folk, made to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of this festival.

Since last year's festival, following her album's release, Jo toured the south of England with fellow Orcadian musicians, Fiona Driver and Graham Simpson. 

A fantastic addition to the Orkney folk scene, Jo's passion for English and Irish traditions, relayed in her pure vocal style, breathes new life into her chosen songs. Look forward to some honest story telling with sympathetic arrangements.  

more @ www.jophilby.co.uk

Saltfishforty

Saltfishforty are Douglas Montgomery (fiddle/viola) and Brian Cromarty (guitar/mandola/vocals).

Combining the traditional music of Orkney with original compositions, they released their debut album, Goose Music, to critical acclaim in May 2003. Their second album, Orkney Twister, followed in December 2005 to equally positive reviews.

In 2004 the duo were nominated in the ‘Up and Coming Artist of the Year’ category of the Scots Trad Music Awards, furthering their reputation as a fresh and dynamic live act. Firmly established on the Scottish festival scene, they have aslo performed at festivals in Spain, France, England, Ireland, Belgium, Norway, the USA and Canada, have made two trips to the Cannes Film Festival and an appearance at the 2008 Celtic Colours festival in Cape Breton.

A third Saltfishforty album is in preproduction and will be released in 2010.

more @ www.saltfishforty.co.uk

Shoot the Piper

Shoot the Piper have been playing music and growing together for years. Evolving from The Bridge Band, Kitty and the TomCats and other equally silly names to their present lineup.  Musicians who love to play whenever their day jobs allow, Shoot the Piper don’t get the chance to tour afar often but seriously enjoy playing whatever gigs come their way. World tours have also been planned to coincide with band members being issued their bus passes!  One down, seven to go!

The band have recently expanded their line-up to provide a bigger, dancefloor filling sound. Make a beeline for them to hear some cracking tunes, musicianship and banter from these seasoned players.

Shoot the Piper are:
Kitty Halcrow • Accordion
Ian Morrison • Uilleann Pipes, Scottish Border Pipes, Scottish Small Pipes, Low Whistles and Highland Bagpipes
Frank Keenan • Guitar and Vocals
Andy Trevitt • Mandolin, Mandola, Fiddle and Tenor Banjo
John Adams • Bass Guitar 
Mark Weymess • Highland Bagpipes
Cliff Seater • Drums


more @ www.myspace.com/shootthepiper

Songshop Choir

This local women's choir is the brainchild of Orkney lass, and former 'Anam' singer and percussionist, Aimee Leonard. With some stunning arrangements by Aimee, and vocal assistance from respected soprano Emily Turton, they have formed a much in-demand ensemble.

After going down a storm at both 2008 and 2009's festivals, there was no doubt in having them back once more - a truly fantastic, inspiring group.

more @ www.myspace.com/songshoporkney

Songshop Trio

Featuring Aimee Leonard, Sarah Jane Gibbon and Emily Turton, this trio is kept very busy throughout Orkney and beyond. From coming together in November 2007, they perform a wide variety of songs in three-part harmony at many local events. They also performed in Bergen at the Tall Ships Race, in 2008.

Inspired by the beautiful islands of Orkney on which they live, the songs they sing reflect the timelessness, tragedy, and romance of island life. All three ladies are also project coordinators of the hugely successful Big Orkney Song Project.

more @ www.myspace.com/songshoptrio

Shoramere

Shoramere are an Orkney group with a Shetland twist. Whilst all members of the young fiddle group live in the West Mainland of Orkney, their leader, Jenny Keldie's Shetland influences shine through creating a sound that is distinctly their own.

All members attend Stromness Academy where, in 2002, music teacher Jenny formed the group. An award-winning fiddler and singer from Burra Isle in Shetland, she was keen to get a fiddle group going in the West Mainland, following her experiences with the renowned Shetland Young Heritage group. Constantly evolving, the group has grown since its early days and at present contains 12 members. As members move through the school new pupils join the ranks, keeping a healthy core of players.

Shoramer play a wide variety of music with styles from all over the world, but their main sound comes from Orkney and, with Jenny’s influence, Shetland. Over they years they have played at a wide and varied number of events and have travelled to Norway, Shetland and Mainland Scotland.  To date they have also produced two albums - Shoramere and Still Around.

Frank Keenan

Frank's strong tenor voice and masterful guitar playing instantly enthrall audiences far and wide. Although Glasgow-born, Frank has proudly called Orkney his home for the past 20 years - so much so that his self-penned songs evoke and encapsulate the textures of island life and landscapes.

Having been composing his own music for three decades, his influences include both traditional and contemporary folk artists, including John Martyn, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, The Incredible String Band, Donovan, Pink Floyd, Dr. John, Bob Dylan and many others. In recent years, Frank has been playing to a wider audience, including the Orkney Folk Festival, Celtic Connections and Speyfest.

Frank’s debut release, Trick of the Light, received great critical acclaim, and his latest collection of self-penned material One has gone down a treat with audiences also, since its launch at the 2009 Orkney Folk Festival.

Wrigley Sisters (The)

Combining mastery with mischief, tradition with modernity, and technical maturity with youthful freshness, Jennifer and Hazel Wrigley are two of the brightest stars on today's international folk scene. Born, raised, and now re-settled in Orkney, the twin sisters began performing together - Jennifer on fiddle, Hazel on guitar and piano - when barely into their teens. Twenty years later, their fan-base stretches around the world, built up through many tours and festival appearances in Europe, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East.

This universal audience appeal reflects both the calibre of their music - a sparkling blend of traditional, contemporary and original material, invigorated with jazz, blues and ragtime flavours - and the effervescent charm of their performances. Their recorded output too (six albums to date) reveals their assurance and sophistication, with their own compositions, chiefly written by Jennifer, making up an ever-greater share of their repertoire.

With both lasses having now settled back in Orkney their attention has turned to managing the ‘Reel’ – the sisters’ Centre of Music on Broad Street in Kirkwall. The centre has experienced phenomenal success in the few years it has been open, to the extent that it has recently moved to the building formerly occupied by VisitOrkney, next to St Magnus Cathedral.

more @ www.wrigleysisters.com

Hullion

Firmly established as an institution in these islands, Hullion have been going from strength to strength in recent years, and are even roving ambassadors for Orkney tourism with trips to the Bath and West Show.

These seasoned multi-instrumentalists combine an array of instruments to great effect – Andy Cant (fiddle, mandolin and highland bagpipes), Billy Jolly (harmonica and vocals), Ingi Jolly (guitar and vocals), Micky Austin (tenor banjo and mandolin) and Owen Tierney (guitar, mandolin, bass and vocals).

Hullion are a real crowd-pleaser; fine songs and splendid tunes interspersed with great banter.

Stromness RBL Pipe Band

Celebrating their thirtieth year, the Stromness Royal British Legion Pipe Band was formed in 1980 by the late Bill Baillie. The membership initially came from the workforce of the Flotta oil terminal, and so the band took its original name from the then operators – Occidental. After a brief period as the Claymore Pipe Band (after an oilfield), the band extended its membership beyond Flotta and obtained sponsorship from the Stromness branch of the Royal British Legion in 1985.

Since becoming a Legion band the band have had the opportunity to display their talents on a national scale, having been invited to perform on the Scottish mainland several times. High-profile slots for the band have included Beating Retreat, on the Edinburgh Castle Esplanade, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee March on Princes Street, Edinburgh, and a Royal Parade at Holyrood Palace. More recently the band has performed at the granting of the Freedom of the City of Perth to the Royal British Legion Scotland and D-Day Commemorations. The band wears the Sinclair of Ulbster tartan (by permission of the Earl of Caithness) with black tunics.

During 2009, the band had the privilege of playing at several unique events; the unveiling of Hoy memorial to the seamen of the Russian Convoys, the visit to Orkney of Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and the launch of the Oyster tidal energy device by Scotland’s First Minister, Alex Salmond.

To date the band boasts the RBL Senior National Champion solo drummer (Clifford Seatter), twice RBL best overall band piper (Mark Weir), RSPBA North Scotland champion piper (Mark Wemyss), RSPBA North Scotland Grade 4 mini band champions and Grade 4 best drum corp.

more @ www.stromnesspipeband.co.uk

Stronsay's Silver Darlings

What makes this 21-strong community group of musicians from the island of Stronsay so special is that every member chose to be part of it because of both their love of music and the delight they take in sharing that love with their listeners. Special, too, is the age range: 9 to 63!

"Stronsay has a very exciting history, including the days of the herring fishing when up to three hundred fishing boats would sail out in the late evening to the herring fishing grounds to the east of Stronsay. After setting their nets, the fishermen would spend the night waiting for the early dawn when the nets could be hauled again. As the nets came to the surface the herring, or ‘Silver Darlings’ as they were known, could be seen shimmering in the early morning sunlight, and the weary fishermen would brighten up at the sight of a good catch. Today, Stronsay is again blessed with Silver Darlings in the form of the new band."
(Bill Miller)

After going down a storm in both Stronsay and Finstown at 2009's festival, we're delighted to welcome the Silver Darlings back, who promise lots of new material from their forthcoming second CD.

more @ www.stronsayssilverdarlings.co.uk

Skalder

Glasgow-based Orcadian group Skalder are multi-award winners; two of their number won the Orkney Folk Festival Open Stage in 2008 as a duo, whilst the whole group were Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Award winners in 2009.

Skalder formed in 2006, originally consisting of Orcadians, Jennifer Austin on piano, Louise Bichan on fiddle, Kevin Gray on drums and percussion and Finlay Bichan on accordion. They played for various ceilidhs, weddings and events around Orkney and further a field, including the Orkney Folk Festival Island Hop, which involved touring some of Orkney's smaller isles during the festival’s 25th Anniversary, Woodwick House's third Feast of Orkney Music and Song, on the Nation Geographic cruise liner while it was anchored in Orkney, at the 2007 Carnegie Book Awards.

In January 2009 Skalder, joined by new member James Lindsay on double bass, won the prestigious Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections. Following last year’s Orkney Folk Festival they embarked upon their first Scottish tour and, towards the end of the year, released their debut CD, Cora, to a great reception.

more @ www.myspace.com/skaldermusic

Billy Jolly

Billy is something of a legend in Orkney. Whether singing about a make-shift rubbish dump, or keeping audiences spellbound with his ‘moothie’ (harmonica) skills, he never fails to add that special something to an evening’s entertainment.

A favourite musician and story-teller in these islands, his talents can also be seen as part of the five-piece Hullion.

Bruce Mainland

Rousay-born Bruce has been singing for many years now. His recent album, The Lang Road Doon, has been very well received, and his songs are always a highlight of any concert. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist and vocalist alike, he certainly knows how to entertain audiences, with song topics ranging from the sublime to the bizarre!

Eric Linklater and David Delday

Rising stars of the local folk scene, both Eric and David are from Orkney’s East Mainland and attend Kirkwall Grammar School. Eric plays the fiddle and David the piano, performing a mixture of Scottish and Orkney tunes.

The lads have been playing as a duo for the past year, having come third in the Orkney Folk Festival Open Stage. Additionally, both are members of Hadhirgaan, Kirkwall Grammar School’s folk group, and Eric also plays with the Orkney Traditional Music Project.

Kirkjuvagr

Popular within the traditional dancing sector in Orkney, this four-piece family band brings a special lilt to their repertoire of traditional Scottish, Irish and Cajun tunes.

Adopting the Norse word for Kirkwall as their new name, Kirkjuvagr will be familiar to Orkney audiences as the Wood Family; Tina (accordion and bagpipes) and Dawn (fiddle), backed by Kathleen (guitar) and Johnny (drums).

Diane Kelday

A regular Orkney Folk Festival performer, yet making her first festival appearance as a soloist in 2010, Diane is a highly accomplished player. She is a long-serving member of Shoramere and the Orkney Traditional Music Project, with whom she now tutors, and is also a former leader of the Orkney West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society – so will be a familiar face, and sound, to Fiddlers’ Rally regulars.

Although primarily a fiddle player, Stenness-based Diane is a seasoned multi instrumentalist, boasting the piano, bodhran, guitar and piano accordion as some of her many talents. Having also picked up the bagpipes in her spare time, she has recently begun performing with the Kirkwall City Pipe Band. It is the Orkney style of fiddling for which she is best known, however, and this which she will showcase at the festival.

Diane will be accompanied by Shetland pianist Jenny Keldie.

Lone Star Swing Band (The)

The Lone Star Swing Band meld cool Orkney fiddle with hot Western swing. Taking inspiration from Buddy Ray, Bob Wills, Cliff Bruner and many other classic Western swing artistes from the 1930s and 40s, the band came together in the late 1990s under the guidance of Duncan McLean and his contagious love of the genre.

Originally a four-piece band with vocals, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, steel guitar and bass guitar, the line-up was completed in 2007 with the addition of drums. The Lone Star Swing Band have played at many varied events across Orkney, including supporting both Hayseed Dixie and Albert Lee, as well as at festivals in Edinburgh and Torshavn, in the Faroe Islands.

Additionally, the band recently teamed up with the National Theatre of Scotland to perform Long Gone Lonesome, a musical celebration of the life of Shetlander Thomas Fraser. This successful production will also play in Orkney the weekend prior to the festival. Following a Scotland-wide tour of the show, The Lone Star Swing Band are, within their own rights, earning a wide reputation as a first-rate band who mix great music with healthy sprinklings of comedy and fun.

more @ www.myspace.com/lonestarswing

Orkney Traditional Music Project

The Orkney Traditional Music Project was formed in 1998 by three music-playing societies in Orkney to revive the art of accordion playing; the Orkney Strathspey and Reel Society, the West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society, and the Orkney Accordion and Fiddle Club.

From small beginnings the project has grown to now include nearly 200 students, mostly young, who attend weekly accordion and fiddle classes in Kirkwall and Stromness, traveling in from all over mainland Orkney and a few from the isles. Some 140 students, on average, attend the project's annual summer schools, and during the summer months the youngsters can be heard performing in the St Magnus Cathedral at Saturday lunch times.

This ever-growing ensemble of young musicians clearly shows that Orkney’s traditional music is in good hands. The project has helped to nurture many fine fiddlers and accomplished accordionists over its relatively short history - so watch out for yet more stars of the future! 

more @ www.otmp.co.uk

Kirkwall City Pipe Band

Kirkwall City Pipe Band (KCPB), lead by Pipe Major Raymie Peace, celebrated its 90th birthday in 2009. It was on November 23, 1919, that a pipe band in civilian clothes led a parade in Kirkwall to commemorate the Armistice of 1918. This was the first public appearance of what was to become the Kirkwall City Pipe Band.

Kirkwall City is now a thriving and sociable band of pipers and drummers, with members in their teens to their 70s. The band proudly wears the Mackenzie Seaforth modern tartan, with many Orkney men having been members of the former Seaforth Highlanders regiment.

Having been British Champions and third in the World Championships in their grade in 2004, the band has brought home silverware from several competitions since. Members have also recorded two CDs in recent years; Milestone, released in 2004 for KCPB’s 85th anniversary, followed by Anthems of a Peedie Nation in 2004. 

The last couple of years have proven very busy year for the KCPB. In January 2008 the band were special guests at Lerwick’s Up-Helly-Aa fire festival in Shetland. In June the same year they return hosted the Jarl’s Squad during the St Magnus Festival, and August saw the band then host Orcadian singer-songwriter, and former Wolfstone frontman, Ivan Drever for a concert in front of St Magnus Cathedral, drawing around 1500 to Broad Street. However it was a much larger crowd that greeted the return visit of the entire Shetland viking squad in a mini fire festival that included a torchlit procession and the burning of a galley at the Peedie Sea, echoing the traditions of Up-Helly-Aa in the streets of Kirkwall for the very first time.

In 2009 the KCPB performed at the Orkney Folk Festival's Pickaquoy Piping Concert, where they appeared in concert with the Stromness RBL Pipe Band, the Orkney Traditional Music Project and the visiting Robert Wiseman Dairies Vale of Atholl Pipe Band. A true community band, they can always be seen performing at local events and ceremonies.

more @ www.kirkwallcity.com

Fiddletime

Fiddletime are a group of 11 local, mostly young, fiddlers from the West Mainland of Orkney.

All pupils of Fiona Driver, who also accompanies them, Fiddletime delight in performing tunes from Orkney, Shetland, Scandinavia, the USA and Ireland. Their debut festival performance came in 2009, after two years of practising and performing together; with Fiona at the helm expect a strong, first-rate performance!

Fiddletime are:

Lauren Breck

Ingrid Kerr

Mia McAllister

Lauren Nicolson

Leona Nicolson

Alusha Romaniszyn

Halina Romaniszyn

Lotty Romaniszyn

Chrissy Stewart

Nicholas Taylor

Victoria Vincent

Stromabank Pub Choir

The Stromabank Pub Choir was the brainchild of two members of the Hoy and Walls community just over three years ago, and is coordinated by local musician and music teacher, Fran Gray.

The choir currently boasts around 35 members, who get together weekly to sing a variety of songs; ancient, modern, secular, sacred, rounds, Orcadian, Scottish, English, Caribbean and African.

Last year the folk festival invited them to perform on the mainland, however the group “didn't feel ready to do abroad". This year they returned the offer, by inviting the festival to come to Hoy! Happy to oblige, we took them up on it and are going across to Hoy on Sunday afternoon for a concert in the Hoy Kirk.

Amy & Jack Westwell

Amy Westwell (17) and Jack Westwell (14) perform at the 2010 Orkney Folk Festival as reigning champions of the Open Stage.

They first learned traditional fiddle from Jean Leonard, through the Orkney Traditional Music Project. They then went on to play classical, jazz and folk on clarsach, fiddle and piano, yet Orkney continues to influence their music.

In addition to their collective efforts, Amy won a gold medal at this year's Mod, whilst Jack was the Junior Fiddle Champion at the Musselburgh Festival. Together they won the Orkney Folk Festival Open Stage in 2009, and subsequently performed at Celtic Connections’ Open Stage.

The future looks bright for these talented youngsters; Amy hopes to go to music college in the coming years, and Jack hopes to run a steam train with a live band on board.