If you’re visiting Shetland in spring, the Shetland Folk Festival is one of the most exciting times to be here. Held each year across the islands, it’s a lively celebration of folk and traditional music that brings together local musicians and performers from around the world. If you’re planning a visit, here’s what you need to know.
The Shetland Folk Festival is an annual music festival that celebrates folk, traditional, and acoustic music. It began in 1981 and has grown into one of the UK’s best-known folk events, while still keeping a strong local feel.
Each year, the programme mixes visiting artists with Shetland’s own musicians. You might hear anything from traditional tunes and Celtic folk to Americana or contemporary acoustic music.
The festival usually takes place over a long weekend in late April or early May. Concerts run from Thursday evening through to Saturday night, with music and informal sessions often continuing late into the evening.
Although the festival is centred around Lerwick, concerts and events take place across Shetland in a variety of venues.
Many performances are held in Lerwick at locations such as Mareel and Islesburgh Community Centre, but the festival also extends to community halls and local venues in villages throughout the islands.
This means visitors may have the chance to see a concert in a rural hall one night and a busy arts venue in Lerwick the next. The mix of locations is part of what makes the Shetland Folk Festival such a unique experience.
Tickets for the Shetland Folk Festival are sold through the organisers, the Shetland Folk Festival Society. Sales usually open in February and many concerts sell out quickly, especially popular shows in Lerwick.
Unlike some festivals, there is typically no single festival pass. Instead, tickets are sold for individual concerts. This allows visitors to choose the performances and venues that interest them most across the weekend.
Because the festival is so popular, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and book tickets as soon as they become available.
One of the most famous parts of the Shetland Folk Festival is the Festival Club in Islesburgh Community Centre. After the main concerts end each evening, musicians and festivalgoers gather in a more informal venue where the music continues late into the night.
The Festival Club is known for spontaneous jam sessions, guest appearances by visiting artists and lively ceilidh-style dancing. It’s often where audiences see performers playing together in unexpected combinations, creating some of the most memorable moments of the entire festival weekend.
You can only access the Festival Club if you are a Shetland Folk Festival member. Membership isn’t required to attend concerts, but it is if you want to enter the club or take part in its daytime programme.
Membership gives you access to the club during the day, where you’ll find sessions, workshops and live music happening throughout the festival. It also allows you to buy tickets for the late-night Festival Club events on Friday and Saturday.
For many people attending the festival, the club is a big part of the experience, as it’s where musicians and audiences mix together and the music continues long after the main concerts have finished.
Visitors to the Shetland Folk Festival can expect an energetic and welcoming atmosphere. Venues are often packed with enthusiastic audiences and the music ranges from intimate acoustic sets to lively concerts that have people dancing in the aisles.
One of the defining features of the festival is how close audiences are to the performers. Musicians often mingle with visitors in pubs and venues between shows, and it’s not unusual to find yourself chatting with an artist you’ve just seen on stage.
There is a strong sense of community throughout the weekend, with locals and visitors coming together to celebrate Shetland’s long musical tradition.
For folk music fans, the Shetland Folk Festival is reason enough to plan a trip. It’s widely regarded as one of the most celebrated folk festivals in the world, attracting outstanding musicians and devoted audiences to the islands each year.
If you’re hoping to visit specifically for the festival, it’s important to plan. Concert tickets are sold individually and many sell out quickly, so it’s best to check the programme and secure tickets before booking the rest of your trip. Accommodation in and around Lerwick also fills up fast during the festival weekend.
That said, late April and early May are a wonderful time to be in Shetland regardless. Spring brings longer days, seabirds returning to the cliffs and plenty of opportunities to explore the islands between concerts. If you’re visiting for the festival, it’s well worth setting aside some time to explore the islands while you’re here.