Orkney Folk Festival has announced the first wave of artists appearing at the 2025 event, taking place between 22 and 25 May 2025.
The festival is set to welcome a bumper contingent of islanders in the year Orkney hosts the International Island Games, which will see athletes from up to 24 island groups around the world competing in the county in July 2025.
Audiences can look forward to performances at the festival by artists from islands including Shetland; Skye; Arran; the Isle of Man; Ireland; Cape Breton; Prince Edward Island; Australia; and Manhattan.
The similarities and differences of music from Orkney and Cape Breton in particular will be celebrated as part of this year’s Gathering, as artists from each side of the Atlantic join forces.
There will be further celebrations as the festival marks the 30th year of Hadhirgaan, one of the finest and most inspiring examples of traditional music education in Scotland.
Having proudly flown the flag for Orcadian traditional music around the world, three decades of former Kirkwall Grammar School pupils will be invited to take the stage alongside current Hadhirgaan students and the group’s instrumental instructor, Douglas Montgomery.
Canadian celtic superstars and power-couple Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy are appearing at the festival as part of their first UK appearances in 25 years. They’ll be joined by their two eldest children, Mary Frances and Michael.
With more than a decade of making records and touring around the world behind them — as members of the award-winning Cape Breton supergroup Còig — Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen will visit the festival, with Zak Cormier from Prince Edward Island.
There will be further Cape Breton representation with esteemed singer-songwriter, Buddy MacDonald; master of the fiddle and piano, Troy MacGillivray, who’s originally from Nova Scotia but now living in the island; and Mac Morin, the step dancer and piano player.
New Nordic folk band Dreamers’ Circus are appearing at the festival as one of the few Scottish dates in their 16-year career, while Emil Kárlsen will also visit to promote Sámi culture through a unique blend of melodic pop and joik.
Sisters, Natalie and Brittany Haas, will unite at the festival for the first time having appeared in their own rights previously with Alasdair Fraser and Crooked Still respectively.
Finnish folk supremos Frigg will also make a return as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, while Orkney’s own Fara join to mark the 10th anniversary of them forming for the festival in 2015.
Orcadian folk music will be well represented with the return of Gnoss, JenEric, and Saltfishforty, who have all become familiar faces to regular festival attendees.
Two widely regarded Scottish artists and regulars on the UK folk festival scene, Findlay Napier, who’s based in Arran, and Paul McKenna, will appear as part of 2025’s line up, while Ireland’s Daoirí Farrell will head north to Orkney with his trio.
Award-winning singer and composer, Kim Carnie, who’s also known for her work with the bands Mànran and Staran heads to the festival for the first time, as do transatlantic folk band, The Magpies, who are quickly becoming one of the most exciting and innovative acts on the contemporary roots scene.
Innovator, award winning, multi-instrumentalist Malin Lewis, who recorded music for the soundtrack of the Orkney-based film which stars Saoirse Ronan, The Outrun, will visit the festival for the first time.
Next year’s furthest travelled act will be The Maes, who return to the festival from Australia to bring their modern folk to life with harmonies and acoustic mastery on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo.
Two-time Grammy nominee for Best Traditional Blues, Guy Davis, is also one of the festival’s furthest travelled islanders – jumping across the pond to join the line up from Manhattan, New York.
Closer to home, Laeverick, made up of Orkney and Shetland based artists, will return to the festival for the first time since the launch of their debut self-penned album.
There will also be Northern Isles representation with Léda, a contemporary folk duo based in Glasgow combining harp, fiddle, piano and voice with Shetland and Irish roots.
Festival goers looking to enjoy traditional dancing will be spoilt for choice with opportunities to take the floor to both the Glenfinnan Ceilidh Band and the Craig Paton Scottish Dance Band.
Those looking for some high energy contemporary folk music to dance to can enjoy performances from Scotland’s Project Smok, and Mec Lir, whose roots lie in the Isle of Man and Glasgow.
Orcadian teenagers Auskerry will return following their festival debut in 2024, while The Chair will be back in their infamous Saturday Stomp slot as they reach the end of their 20th birthday year.
Dragon Song Productions will visit the festival for the first time with their interactive productions for babies and children aged six and under, bringing simple, humorous stories to life through rhyme, original music, rich harmonies, and percussion.
More artists performing at the 2025 festival will be announced in the new year.
Next year’s event follows the 41st edition of the festival in May 2024. It was another record-breaking year for the festival, with 8,700 tickets sold and nearly 1,000 people taking advantage of the free digital streaming of events.
The festival also received external recognition by winning a Highly Commended award at the Highland and Islands Thistle Awards in October, in the Outstanding Cultural Event or Festival Category. This is the second award the festival has received in the last 12 months, after it was named Event of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in December 2023.
Orkney Folk Festival Producer, Craig Corse said: “As we reach the halfway point between Orkney Folk Festivals – with six months gone, and six to go – we’re thrilled to announce so many fantastic artists joining us in 2025.
“In the year in which Orkney throws open the door to island visitors on a scale never seen before, it’s particularly exciting to welcome a number of fellow islanders from across the world to enjoy the renowned Orcadian warmth, hospitality and craic over our festival weekend – from Shetland to Manhattan, Skye to Ireland, and Prince Edward Island to Australia (granted, some islands are bigger than others…)!
“A cornerstone of our annual programme, The Gathering has taken on various collaborations and themes since its debut in 2011, and having worked with colleagues in Cape Breton for a number of years to make such an edition possible, it’s particularly fitting that this partnership can happen in 2025, bringing a bumper contingent of Cape Bretoners to the festival.
“With all roads leading to Orkney in 2025, there’s also no better opportunity to celebrate connections with our Nordic neighbours; both our shared traditions and heritage, and the fantastically unique musical identities of our Danish, Finnish and Sami visitors.
“But of course, we couldn’t fully connect with any artists from afar were it not for Orkney’s homegrown musicians and singers so proudly welcoming their visiting counterparts to the county each and every year – and we’re delighted to announce just some of our Orcadian line up for 2025.
“It’s a personal honour to invite three decades of past and present members of Hadhirgaan together as the hugely formative youth group celebrates its 30th year, and I look forward to announcing lots more Orkney artists in the new year.”
Festival fans can play a part in the event’s continued success by joining the Orkney Friends supporter scheme from 1 December 2024.
For £60 per two adults, support for the volunteer-run charity offers great benefits in return, including: exclusive festival events; early ticket sale access; discounts on festival merchandise; and discounts on travel to Orkney, subject to annual sponsorship. Each Orkney Friends membership also offers early access to unlimited tickets for children.
Orkney Friends memberships will be on sale via the Orkney Folk Festival website between 1 December 2024 and 28 February 2025.