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Promoted by Shetland Arts as part of our music development project Fiddle Frenzy is, according to those who have already taken part, a pretty apt name for this event. Part Shetland traditional fiddle school (days), part fiddle festival (nights), this event takes an in-depth look (or perhaps assault is a better word) at our most famous instrument and the culture and traditions that surround it - over a stamina demanding six day period.

Another session...

Once again the event will whisk you all over Shetland to visit the areas and meet the people synonymous with our fiddle tradition. Many of the venues used to host the various events that go to make up the 'Frenzy' are of significant historical interest in their own right.

Anyone who is anyone in Shetland fiddle circles takes part, either patiently teaching the tunes and the many individual styles that go to make up Shetland's varied fiddle heritage, or performing at concerts, dances and sessions in the evenings.

High quality musicians of all ages, and from all over Shetland, are involved to give the fullest flavour, to demonstrate the true origins of the Shetland fiddle style and indeed also show where it is now heading.

The emphasis is on total 'hands-on' involvement for the 'students' from start to finish, not only during the workshops (many of which are run by either trained fiddle tutors or our top traditional musicians), but you will also be offered the opportunity of regular participation in the concerts and, of course, the regular traditional sessions.

Through this approach you will be guaranteed the chance to perform alongside many of Shetland's finest musicians such as Fiddlers Bid, Filska, Rock Salt and Nails, Catriona Macdonald, Brian Gear, Violet Tulloch, Cullivoe Fiddlers and Aly Bain (the patron of our event), but perhaps not all in the same year. But hey, there's an excuse to come back next year, and many do.

If the fiddle is not entirely your thing, many of the evening concerts also feature some of Shetland's finest contemporary musicians such as Shoormal, Rock Salt and Nails and Frideray.

Then there's the 'International Dimension' where fiddlers (and occasionally dancers) from other fiddle-based musical cultures are invited to participate in this otherwise home grown event. In 2005 we featured the music of Norway and in 2006 the music of Quebec.

In addition to being immersed in all things fiddle and music related you will be offered 'escape committee' workshops every afternoon, featuring many other cultural activities (some music, others non-music related), guided tours, history, wildlife, story-telling etc etc., all aimed at providing you with an increasing knowledge of the islands and our culture.

You can mix and match workshops, concerts, sessions, tours etc to suit you own needs (and stamina) opting out to 'do your own thing whenever you wish'.

Our motto is 'Live Wir Tradition', and you most certainly will in the most active fashion, all bound together with a very warm welcome wherever you go and more than liberal doses of genuine Shetland hospitality, again in the traditional manner.

Fiddle workshop at the Booth

Call yourself a fiddler... well you probably can after an experience such as this.

Visit the Shetland Fiddle Frenzy website or Contact Us for the latest information

Read a review of the 2006 event courtesy of the Shetland Times - Click Here

And Marsali Taylors review of the Aith concert - again courtesy of the Shetland Times -

Click Here