We’re delighted to share that Orkney Folk Festival won Event of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Dundee this weekend. Our volunteer board and committee are thrilled to receive this recognition, and to round off a special year celebrating our 40th anniversary with you all. To even be nominated among… Read more »
Our Orkney Friends supporter scheme has reopened today. By joining, you can support our volunteer-run event and the part it plays in celebrating folk music. Your membership offers great benefits in return: Exclusive events during the festival weekend Early ticket access 10% off festival merchandise Discounts on travel to Orkney, subject to annual sponsorship. We… Read more »
Orkney Folk Festival has announced the first wave of artists appearing at the 2024 event, taking place between 23 and 26 May 2024. Leading artists from Canada, the USA, Australia, Ireland, Norway, England and throughout Scotland will join home-grown Orcadian musicians at the festival in its 41st year. Contemporary Canadian folk/pop band The East Pointers… Read more »
We’re very excited to announce that a mini Orkney Folk Festival weekend will take place in London, over February 16 and 17! As part of the Scotland Unwrapped series, running throughout 2024 at Kings Place we are thrilled to be presenting six shows – featuring Kris Drever, Saltfishforty, Fara, Gnoss, The Chair and the almighty Orkney… Read more »
Phew… what a weekend! Thank you to every single person who made the 40th Orkney Folk Festival such a roaring success. We are very proud to still be going strong at forty years young, let alone to have well and truly surpassed all previous attendance records in our anniversary year, with over 8,500 tickets sold… Read more »
The fortieth edition of the famed Orkney Folk Festival opens tonight, Thursday – and in triumphant style, with the event smashing all previous ticket records. For the first time in the event’s four decades, over 8,000 concert tickets have sold for the four-day island festival, representing an uplift in excess of 10% on the previous… Read more »
The full programme for the 40th anniversary Orkney Folk Festival has just been announced, with 48 acts from around the world set to converge upon Stromness, in Orkney’s west mainland, over May 25-28. Leading artists from the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, England, Wales and throughout Scotland will join 28 home-grown Orcadian artists at the… Read more »
The globally renowned Scottish folk group Capercaillie are set to appear at the 40th Orkney Folk Festival in May, in an unprecedented collaboration with a local orchestra led by Orkney Schools Instrumental Music Service, supported by players from Orkney Camerata and Kirkwall Town Band. Fast approaching their own 40th anniversary, Capercaillie join 24 acts already… Read more »
Orkney Folk Festival is launching a new supporter scheme, Orkney Friends, ahead of the 2023 event, giving festival fans the opportunity to play an important part in its continued success. As a charity, and entirely volunteer run event, the festival relies on the generosity of supporters and sponsors to produce a varied programme of visiting… Read more »
The first wave of artists set to appear at the 2023 Orkney Folk Festival has just been announced, with 24 acts from around the world revealed for the event’s fortieth anniversary. Leading artists from the USA, Canada, Norway, Sweden, Ireland, England, Wales and throughout Scotland will join home-grown Orcadian musicians – including a number heading… Read more »
Ahead of our fortieth anniversary in 2023, the Orkney Folk Festival has recently welcomed a new festival producer – with responsibility for the festival’s artistic direction. Craig Corse, from Kirkwall, has taken the reins of the award-winning festival, having served on the committee in a variety of roles since 2007. He takes the baton from… Read more »
After three long years, the Orkney Folk Festival returns to a full-scale live event this weekend, and in triumphant style – breaking all previous ticket records. For the first time in the event’s 39-year history, over 7,000 individual concert tickets have sold in advance of the Stromness-based festival’s opening, today, with 17 of the festival’s… Read more »
Tickets for the 2022 Orkney Folk Festival are on sale now! It’s been a long three years since our last live event, and we cannot wait to see everyone back in Stromness and throughout Orkney next month. As you might imagine after two years off, initial demand for tickets is quite high. If you’re thinking… Read more »
Sheet music for this year’s Fidders’ Rally, on Sunday 29 May, is now available! Hosted by the West Mainland Strathspey and Reel Society, the annual Fiddlers’ Rally brings together a great number of musicians from throughout Orkney and further afield, for massed performances of traditional tunes. A staple of the Orkney Folk Festival programme since our… Read more »
With the full line-up and festival programme announced, we’ve just updated our 2022 Spotify playlist! Over five and a half hours of tunes from visiting and Orcadian artists, as well as a few from the festival’s very own live Gathering recordings. Check it out here and get to know (most of) the artists heading to… Read more »
After two long years, we’re so excited to not only be back with a LIVE festival programme – but now to be able to share what’s in store. You can download a PDF of the programme brochure, view online here, or just scroll through the listings here. Festival Patrons will receive copies in the mail… Read more »
Stromness is set to come alive to folk music from around the world once again, as the team behind the Orkney Folk Festival have announced a return to a full-scale live event this spring. In the first wave of line-up announcements, 24 acts have been unveiled for the 39th outing of the award-winning festival. Musicians… Read more »
Hi aye folks, long time no speak… we just wanted to pop by and wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and all the best for 2022 when it comes. We can’t wait to see everyone back in Stromness, and in halls across Orkney, for a live festival next year! We’ll be back with more information… Read more »
Well there we go… thank you everyone! Needless to say this year’s weekend has been a peedie bit different – again. Whilst we cannot wait to get back to doing the real thing in person, one upside of this year’s festival has been that the committee has been able to sit back, relax and enjoy… Read more »
As part of next weekend’s Virtually Orkney Folk Festival, Kristan Harvey and Jeana Leslie from Fara have been out and about in the isles, getting to know some of the people behind Orkney’s rich folk scene. Following their hugely successful Orkney Series in 2020, where Jeana and Kristan travelled around the county uncovering the stories… Read more »
