Be part of Shetland Fiddle Week 2026 - our concerts are open to everyone. See below for details & ticket links.
Tuesday 4 August 2026 - St Columba's Lerwick
Tuesday 4 August 2026 - St Columba's Lerwick
Tuesday 4 August 2026 - St Columba's Lerwick
The first of two concerts across the week, join us on Tuesday night at the beautiful St Columba's Church in Lerwick. The line up will feature Shetland Fiddle Week tutors - Lois Nicol, Kirsten Gifford, Alison Anderson, Jenna Reid and Robbie Leask, who are leading the workshops across the week. You'll get a taste for the exceptional and thriving talent among young players in Shetland with performances by winners of the 2026 Shetland Young Fiddler of the Year Competition.
We'll also have a performance by celebrated Shetland band KANSA, a collection of six talented acoustic musicians featuring SFW tutor Lois Nicol on fiddle. Known for their eloquent instrumental and vocal arrangements of Americana songs and melodies, they highlight the diversity and range of musical talent and taste in Shetland.
Friday 7 August 2026 - Gulberwick Hall
Tuesday 4 August 2026 - St Columba's Lerwick
Tuesday 4 August 2026 - St Columba's Lerwick
Our finale concert at Gulberwick Hall will feature Shetland Fiddle Week students - performing tunes they've learned across the week with Jenna Reid and Robbie Leask. Also performing are recently formed young band Laldy, made up of fiddlers Ami Grains (2025 Shetland Young Fiddler of the Year), Sinéad Jamieson, and Maisy Nicolson with Stella Manson on piano who give an energetic take on locals tunes and tradition.
Also performing is award winning Shetland fiddler Gemma Donald. Hailing from Whiteness, Gemma grew up in a musical family and developed her love of traditional music under the guidance of Trevor Hunter and her aunt, Judi Nicolson. After winning Shetland’s Young Fiddler of the Year at the age of 13, Gemma went on to enjoy success on the Scottish competition circuit, including winning the prestigious Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship in 2006. She was also a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition in 2015. Most recently, Gemma won the Dan R. MacDonald Memorial Scottish Fiddle Championship in South Carolina, USA, in 2025. As well as being an award-winning composer, Gemma has a deep love of Western swing music and formed Gemma Donald and Shetland Swing, an eight-piece ensemble blending the sounds of Western swing with Shetland’s rich fiddle tradition. She also performs alongside her husband, Alan Small, with the Lomond Ceilidh Band, bringing their music to audiences at home and abroad.
Whether performing in concert, for dancing or at festivals, Gemma is passionate about celebrating Shetland’s musical heritage while continuing to explore new musical ideas and collaborations.
The evening will close with a traditional dance led by young local band, Filskit - Kerem Tekcan (accordion), Jayden Moore (fiddle), Liam Slater (guitar) and Euan Slater (drums). All under the age of 21, they have impressed the music scene in their first few years with their skill and energy, performing widely within Shetland as well as visits to Denmark and Scotland.
Shetland Fiddle Week LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in Scotland.
Registered number: SO307901
Registered address: Norton House, Glencaple. DG1 4RA.