Eighteen acts from nine traditions, with performances spread across four islands in just four short days...yes, it's time for the 2016 Orkney Folk Festival!
For the 34th year in a row the pubs, clubs and streets of Stromness will be full of the finest folk music between the 26th and 29th of May as the Festival comes to town once again.
The organisers have announced their initial line-up for the four day festival, with Grammy-nominated Liz Carroll, Mercury-nominated vocalists 'The Unthanks' and the voice of Disney Pixar's 'Brave', Julie Fowlis, all heading to Orkney.
They'll be joined by some of the very best artists from as far afield as the United States, Finland and Ireland - not to mention Scotland, Shetland and the Hebrides.
Live Act of the Year at the 2015 Scots Trad Music Awards, 'Rura', The Glencraig Scottish Dance Band, Canada's 'Vishten' and Scottish fiddling sensations 'Session A9' will also appear on the bill.
And, as always, the cream of Orkney's music scene will be taking to the stage. Expect lively appearances from 'The Chair', 'Saltfishforty', Ivan Drever and The Wrigley Sisters.
Tickets
This year the Festival will feature over thirty ticketed events, with concerts and ceilidhs throughout Orkney.
Tickets will go on general sale in April - even earlier if you sign up to become a Festival Patron. Be quick as the 2015 event saw more than 6,000 tickets sold with the majority of performances full to capacity.
Orkney Folk Festival's Artistic Director, Bob Gibbon, said: 'We're really pleased with how this year's line-up is coming together. The artists announced today represent a very broad spread of not just international folk traditions and styles, but also the rich tapestry of Scotland's own folk scene.
'The term 'folk' means very different things to lots of people, and we aim to cater for as many of those varying strands and interpretations as we can. From jumping party bands to solo singers and musicians, and leading international performers to singalong family shows, there's something there for folk of all ages - and we can't wait to welcome them all to the festival once again.'
Have a look at our Folk Festival image gallery to get in the mood for the 2016 event.
