Artists 2001

Catriona Macdonald Band - Shetland

The Shetland Islands lie in the North Sea between Scotland and Norway. The fiddle has always been the main instrument on these islands – singing its songs in a strong and solitary voice, and it has done so for centuries.

Through trading and fishing the people on the islands have established contacts with the Nordic countries, and this has influenced their playing style. The Scottish reels and jigs, however, set the beat.

Catriona Macdonald, along with Aly Bain, is the main bearer of this proud tradition. Catriona began playing early and became a star student of the late Dr Tom Anderson, MBE. She has established a worldwide reputation with her superb playing and great charisma, and she has played at the FFF before, at one time collaborating with Annbjorg Lien, from Norway. This year she will be teaching fiddle playing the Shetland way during the festival. Catriona is a very progressive and innovative player and she gladly lets herself be influenced by different styles and then mixes it with her own – she borrows from the music heard in the other Celtic traditions or in France, Spain or even Burkina Faso. Catriona is also involved in a project called the String Sisters – where she joins five equally exciting female fiddlers from the US, Canada, Norway, Ireland and Scotland.

With Catriona on the festival are bass player Conrad Ivitsky, who from time to time plays with Shooglenifty, James Macintosh from Shooglenifty and jazz piano player David Milligan.

| Saturday Main Stage 15.00 |

For additional information:
festivalen@falufolk.com