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Swinging Fiddles Enlarge photo

Swinging Fiddles: Young people in Shetland grow up in a rich musical tradition.

Shetland offers many kinds of musical experience, whether you want to participate or just listen. All genres have a following, from baroque to hip-hop and bluegrass to jazz. Music is part of life all year round but features very strongly in several festivals. A great many people play music, thanks in large part to the availability of musical tuition in Shetland schools.  The Shetland Music website demonstrates the wide range of musical activity in the islands.

Traditional music is strongly fiddle-based, often with the addition of piano, accordion or guitar. The particular style of Shetland fiddle playing has many admirers and Shetland performers such as Aly Bain and Fiddlers’ Bid regularly tour world-wide.

Sharon Shannon with members of Mary Blacks band Enlarge photo

Session at the Folk Festival: Sharon Shannon and her band are joined by Mary Black’s band.

Some performances come in the form of major concerts and gigs featuring well known visiting artists; recent visitors have included Franz Ferdinand, the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and J.P Cormier. At the other end of the scale, there are regular jam sessions in local pubs, among which those in the upstairs Lounge Bar in Lerwick have become legendary. Either way, the musicianship is likely to be very impressive.

If you play an instrument or sing, you can usually find an outlet for your talent. The musical spectrum is covered by many local bands, a choir and an orchestra.

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