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.

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
Fionn McArthur • Fiddle
Chas Milne • Bass Guitar
Douglas Montgomery • Fiddle & Mandolin
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 co-ordinatoors 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