Shetland-Music.com

Da Fustra began when Douglas Johnstone and Cecil Hughson, then studying in Edinburgh, got together to play their native Shetland Music. Nearly twenty years later the impetus is stronger than ever, and DA FUSTRA maintains the momentum and style that is the Shetland country dance, the equivalent of the Scottish ceilidh.

Da Fustra, ("The rock in the foaming sea"), played it's first dance on 17th October 1969 in the Zetland Hall, Pilrig Street, Edinburgh. The first band was based in Edinburgh but also played regularly in Shetland.

Da Fustra normally play music suitable for a typical Shetland dance including two-steps, waltzes, marches, reels and jigs. It can also cope with ballroom, old-time and Scottish country-dances. The tunes used are mostly Shetland or Scottish in origin, with a number of compositions by Peter Wood featuring in each programme. Novelty two-steps such as "Chinatown, my Chinatown", and "Zip-a-dee-doo-dah" say much about the bands light-hearted approach to its music. The aim is to play music, which can be enjoyed, by listeners and dancers alike.

Peter Wood - (accordion & music arranger) is originally from Crawfordjohn. He moved to Shetland in the summer of 1996 having made a name for himself in the Scottish folk and dance scene as an accordionist, pianist and piper

Inga Wood  - Fiddle. Inga is from Kintore and was a winner of the Daily Record Junior Golden Fiddle Award

James Leask - Accordion. James has become quite well known as an accordionist in the Edinburgh area while studying there and has played with Iain MacPhail and on BBC Scotland's "Take the Floor" with Nicol McLaren and Sandy Legget.

Cecil Hughson - Bass. Cecil founded Da Fustra while a student in Edinburgh. He was, for many years, treasurer of the Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Club

Pauline Wiseman - Piano. She joined the band in 2001 after graduating from the Northern College of Education and the Open University with a BA degree in music studies. She has a grade eight in piano and also the flute. Pauleen teaches fiddle in several of Shetland schools and is a member of Shetlands Heritage Fiddlers.

Douglas Johnstone - Drums. Douglas is the only other founder member still playing.

The band have five albums and a live DVD available so if you can't get along to one of their famous dances (they are stalwarts at Shetland's annual Accordion and Fiddle Festival) then taking home some of their recordings is the next best thing. Party anyone?

Links

• www.puffinmusic.co.uk
• Da Fustra on Footstompin
• www.highlandermusic.com