Orkney Folk Festival: Orkney Folk Festival

A captivating, rousing mix of international and UK artists, plus local talent.

The Orkney Folk Festival is widely regarded as one of the most prolific and special folk festivals throughout Scotland, the UK and further afield.

As such it is a firm fixture in both the Orcadian calendar of community events, and the UK calendar of must-visit folk festivals.

Entering its 31st year in 2013, the festival has become a sought-after stage amongst the best folk acts from around the world, yet it is equally the local, Orkney-based, acts and community support that make the festival what it is.

By showcasing home-grown Orcadian acts on a par with visiting musicians, renowned globally, the festival has become a much-loved event amongst locals and visitors alike.

The atmosphere that the festival creates in and around Stromness and the isles is second to none, so much so that many visitors return year after year to experience the fine mixture of music and hospitality. Many are musicians, storytellers or dancers themselves, however there are scores of others who simply come to enjoy the "craic".

Recently, the festival was named Event of the Year at the 2011 Scots Trad Music Awards, typifying its success as an event of national as well as local importance; a point emphasised when it gained a top five-star review from The Scotsman for its 2012 outing.

Artists appearing in 2013 include: Blazin' Fiddles, Rachel Sermanni, Boys of the Lough, The Henry Girls, The Chair, Orkney Folk: The Gathering, Wrigley and the Reel, Saltfishforty, and many more.