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Saxophonist Norman Willmore has won a £500 scholarship prize from the organisation Awards for Young Musicians (AYM).

Norman, 17, from Bixter, first achieved success five years ago when he was named Junior Young Musician of the Year in the schools music festival. Following that he appeared regularly with the young band Norman and the Folding Deckchairs while his latest group, MaSKArade, won Shetland’s recent Battle of the Bands competition.

During next month’s first Shetland Jazz Festival he will be performing along with Max Tyler in the band Troppo Funk, proving their own brand of youthful, energetic jazz.

The AYM gives grants of up to £2,000 each year to young musicians aged between five and 17 who are judged to display exceptional talent. The funding can be used to support music making in any genre, helping with costs such as buying an instrument, music lessons, course fees and travel.

Norman, a fifth year pupil at the Anderson High School, has been offered a scholarship through the Musicians Benevolent Fund, a charity providing essential help to musicians throughout their lives. This year the fund has enabled AYM to offer 12 additional awards worth a total of £10,000.

He intends to use the money to attend the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland’s summer school in July.

AYM director Hester Cockcroft said: “Once more we’ve had a very high number of applications for support from young musicians from across the UK, so Norman should be very proud of his achievement in gaining an award.

“Music is what defines these young people: it’s central to their life. We’re here to help them progress on their musical journey and give them the best possible chance of fulfilling their potential.”

The internationally-acclaimed group put on an inspirational and highly polished performance of a couple of hours of varied music, getting the audience – large but not quite a sell-out – to clap and sing.

The four men, who have recently played in Romania, Latvia, Australia and New Zealand, sang their own distinctive versions of southern gospel music, including their own compositions. They impressed immediately with their easy charm and precise vocal harmonies, and also demonstrated the chemistry between them.

Backed by four musicians on keyboard, guitars and drums (behind a screen) their repertoire showcased the talents of all, with frontman Ernie Haase doing the introductions. They sang numbers such as Since Jesus Passed By and others with catchy refrains, such as “Jesus died on a tree for me/And I’m going to live for ever.”

The songs chosen by the group, which includes lead singer tenor Devin McGlamery, baritone Doug Anderson (who has been with Haase since the group was formed) and bass Ian Owens, a relative newcomer, draw heavily on the sounds of the 1940s and 50s, but are right up to date as well.

Their energetic performances in four-part harmony were a joy and the varied tempo of the songs – at times plaintive and at others almost heavy rock – kept the audience engaged. One moving moment came when all four, looking immaculate in grey suits and red ties, sang without microphones and without accompaniment, which drew cheers from the audience.

Another highlight was the song Any Other Man, which Haase said was written to deal with anger. In this number the group sang seperately and together: it also featured the talents of their new guitarist. With coloured lights and billowing smoke the performance was extremely powerful and moving.

The group was accessible during the interval when T-shirts, CDs and DVDs were sold, and they used the evening to raise awareness of the plight of the Dalit community in India, where they will shortly be performing two concerts.

They were ably supported by the North Ness Boys, who opened with a short set which included a stirring rendition of the 23rd Psalm and the hymn Rock of Ages.

The event will begin with a visit by Mr Stoltenberg to the Scalloway School at 9am, followed at 9.30am by a parade from the school to the Shetland Bus Memorial. The parade will be headed by members of the local pipe band followed by flag bearers from the school. It will also include Mr Stoltenberg, all children from the Scalloway School, playgroup and day care facility as well as children from the Anderson High school who previously attended Scalloway School. A number of other local groups including the Shetland Bus Friendship Society, Scalloway History Group and Scalloway Jarl’s Squad will parade as well with a large number of visiting Norwegians.

A service of remembrance for the men of the Shetland Bus will take place at 10am, including a wreath laying ceremony. The parade will then continue to the museum which Mr Stoltenberg will officially open in a ceremony commencing at 10.45am.

The community party at the Muckle Yard at the harbour will begin following the opening ceremony with a line up of live music including Jenna Reid, Maggie Adamson, Alison Ramsey, Hansel and Margaret Scollay, Sheila Henderson, Lewie Peterson and Jonny Polson, Stewart and Betty Pottinger, Colin Dewar, Claire Laurenson and Keiran Topp.

There will be a barbecue selling local fish and meat products, locally produced cakes, a bar, soft drinks, teas and coffees. There will also be a variety of side stalls and two kubb courts to provide some Viking style entertainment. Mr Stoltenberg will visit the party which will carry on until 5pm.

The Shetland Bus boats the Hitra and Heland, floating Norwegian museums Nybakk and Haugefisk, Norwegian Coastguard vessel Bergen and local vessels the Swan and Aith Lifeboat will be alongside the party at the harbour and will be open to the public. Some will also be selling Norwegian produce.

John Nicolson, secretary of the Shetland Bus Friendship Society which operates the Scalloway Museum, said: “This is a momentous occasion for both the society and the community of Scalloway. It has taken almost a decade of dedicated hard work to bring this project to life, and the museum truly is a wonderful asset for our community. We are absolutely thrilled that PM Stoltenberg is coming to the village to open the museum, a major part of which is dedicated to telling the story of the Shetland Bus, highlighting the bravery and sacrifice of all those involved. The opening day celebrations are open to everyone, so take the day off and come and join in the fun.”

The road into Scalloway will be closed from 9.15am until the parade is over, and the road to the harbour will be closed for the opening ceremony. Limited parking is available at the school and harbour, and a single file parking system will be operated in Castle Street. There will be no parking at the museum. Flags for the parade and other souvenirs will be available at the community party site from 8.30am.

A police spokesman said: “We would ask members of the community to consider the impact that these restrictions may have on their ability to get into and out of the village at these times and make appropriate alternative plans.

“Additionally, we would urge residents in the affected areas to ensure that their vehicles are removed from the road before the commencement of the closure ordrer, as police will have no option but to remove remaining vehicles at the owners’ expense.

“The police will work closely with Shetland Islands Council on the day to have roads opened at the earliest possible opportunity in order to minimise inconvenience to the community.”

Meanwhile in a separate move local promoter Davie Gardner’s company Atlantic Edge Music Services will be responsible for programming 20 concerts in the music venue each year.

DF is one of Europe’s leading arts and concert promotion companies, bringing the best live music and events to audiences in Scotland. It works with a huge number and a diverse range of artists, from cutting edge unsigned talent to the music industry’s biggest acts, across club, arena, stadium and green field shows. The company also owns the legendary King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut in Glasgow and organises one the world’s most successful music festivals, T in the Park.

DF’s partnership with Mareel will see a number of high-profile gig dates in Shetland and give Mareel access to early discussions with agents who are planning to tour acts in the UK. The agreement will also place Shetland in line for acts keen to start their UK/European tour in Scotland and who are looking for exclusive warm-up dates.

Shetland Arts director Gwilym Gibbons said: “I believe that our partnership between DF Concerts & Events and Mareel is a hugely exciting development in the life of this ambitious project.

“DF will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the success of Mareel and I believe Mareel will provide DF with a base in the UK’s most northerly music venue, in an extraordinary inspiring location that I hope in time will feel like a second home to their prestigious Glasgow-based venue King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut.”

DF chief executive Geoff Ellis said: “We are delighted to be working with Shetland Arts on what will be a really exciting project. Mareel is a beautiful venue set in a stunning location and will offer touring artists a unique live experience. We look forward to announcing a great bill of acts over the coming months.”

Mr Gardner, the former music development officer with Shetland Arts Trust, has been involved with the isles music scene for many years, organising and promoting a number of highly successful concerts and festivals.

He set up Atlantic Edge Music Services in November 2006. The business offers management and agency services to established musicians and helps to introduce new and exciting musicians and musical acts. The company not only represents artists from Shetland and Orkney, but musicians from Scotland, Canada and Scandinavia.

Mr Gardner said: “I’m delighted to have been asked by Shetland Arts to programme a series of events into the exciting and challenging project that is Mareel, as part of their overall monthly events programme.

“I also look forward to doing this in effective conjunction with others, both in and outwith Shetland, to ensure we deliver a dynamic, varied and popular programme that comfortably sits alongside other events in the venue and within the local community in general.”

Their electric guitars, bittersweet pop choruses and notable lack of any fiddles (except when Aidan O’Rourke joined from the sidelines for one song) meant this was not one for folk purists. That, and the weekday scheduling, perhaps explained the empty seats at the back of the cavernous leisure centre, but it was great to see the festival is willing to expand its reach nevertheless.

It is a pity for those who missed out, though, because Admiral Fallow more than justified the plentiful hype heaped upon their shoulders of late. Taking to the stage at 10.30pm, a tad on the late side for a school night, they kicked off at a stately, sedate pace with Sarah Hayes’ keys and vocals kicking off the opener from their gleaming new record, Tree Bursts in Snow.

Front man Louis Abbott joined in after the opening few bars, pronounced Scottish accent very much to the fore as he intoned “my body is broken and bruised”. Here, and elsewhere in the set, there were hints of the baroque chamber pop with which Belle and Sebastian made their name.

Their formula essentially buttresses the standard indie-rock lineup with clarinet (Kevin Brolly), flute and accordion (Hayes). The latter’s Northumbrian tones dovetailed neatly with Abbott’s to provide a marked, yet harmonious contrast.

On the brink of unleashing their second album, Admiral Fallow are probably still growing into their sound, but this was a highly assured, confident performance showcasing genuine textural depth and intricate interplay so often absent in mainstream rock groups.

After dispatching Subbuteo (the only song out there to name-check plastic table football?), their two singles lifted the tempo and prompted a smattering of folk to start jigging. Beetle in the Box is a jaunty, jangling little gem of a pop song, and was followed by the rollicking, radio-bothering rock of The Paper Trench.

The dance area then emptied as swiftly as it had filled, Abbott sending a few boisterous young bucks back to their seats as the pace receded for the graceful Old Fools. That set the tone for something of a stop-start rhythm to the set, as the band oscillated between majestic, wistful moments, audience singalongs and pulsating rockers.

The plaintive refrain of Isn’t This World Enough?? had the crowd murmuring along to its chorus, before O’Rourke – one of the three baldies playing with flute-oriented trad support act KAN earlier in the evening – joined in for the near-orchestral elegance of Dead Against Smoking, distinctly un-rock’n’roll title notwithstanding.

More sparkling, fizzing pop songs followed in the shape of the effervescent Guest of the Government and the thunderous clatter of another newie, Brother, whose drumbeat propelled the band along for a fairly raucous ride.

There is a healthy tension between Admiral Fallow’s folk leanings and their knowing knack for hook-laden pop songs. They are often likened to Mumford & Sons, but the comparison only rings partially true on Squealing Pigs, their best-known song which was deployed to ensure the night finished on a buoyant note.

Abbott, who had been eager to return having sampled a first taste of the festival 12 months ago, relished the whole atmosphere. He seemed to enjoy engaging those down the front in a bit of banter, only at one stage seeming a tad weirded out, joking “what a creepy guy” in reference to one overenthusiastic reveller.

The band hung around long enough for a sweaty late-night set in the festival club at Islesburgh in the early hours of Saturday, before dashing off to play London’s Camden Crawl that evening. Rest assured we’ll be hearing plenty more from these guys in the years to come.

Earlier in the evening, KAN had provided a showcase for the virtuoso flute and whistle playing of Flook’s Brian Finnegan, along­side O’Rourke’s outstanding and advent­urous fiddle playing. More than just Irish and Scottish influences abounded: there were hints of jazz and other global influences from a line-up completed by drummer James Goodwin and guitarist Ian Stephenson.

This year’s guitar tutor is John Hutchison. Jenny Bradley will be teaching knitting and Amy Fisher will once again be tutoring eager students in drawing and painting.

Fiddle Frenzy is a celebration of the music and the musicians that have made Shetland one of the world’s most highly acclaimed fiddle-playing regions. Each year students come from around the world to experience the marathon seven day and night event.

Fiddle Frenzy offers the musicians the opportunity to learn and immerse themselves in Shetland-style fiddle music with some of our best tutors and musicians. There are courses suited to beginners, through to more experienced players, as well as tutoring in other skills such as guitar-playing, knitting, drawing and painting.

Shetland Arts marketing officer Lisa Ward said: “Fiddle Frenzy is an event unlike your average fiddle school. Not only do we deliver exceptional fiddle and guitar tutoring from local musicians, we also offer our students the best in a truly unique Shetland cultural experience.

“We pride ourselves in offering the flexibility of tailor made workshop packages so students can fully immerse themselves in all strands of a traditional Shetland experience, above and beyond their expectations.”

Fiddle Frenzy will run from Sunday 5th to Sunday 12th August. Registering requires a non-refundable deposit of £25 (£12.50 for under-18s only). People can book for the full week or for part of the week – prices depend on the number of days or workshops (minimum charge £25/£12.50). Bookings can be made now online at www.shetlandboxoffice.org or by calling (01595) 745555.

The cost for the week is £400 (£200 for under-18s). This covers the cost of workshops, trips and concerts, transport around the isles and some meals, but does not include accommodation or travel to Shetland. Prices for individual days/part weeks are available on application.

People can check at www.shetlandarts.org/fiddle-frenzy regularly for confirmation of acts, workshops, storytelling and trips as well as the full programme.

Scottish actor Douglas Henshall will take the lead role of Detective Jimmy Perez in the two-part drama, Shetland.

It has been written by David Kane, whose previous works have included two telly detective greats, Taggart and Rebus.

The powerful crime story sees the main character return home to his native isles after a long spell away from home.

Based on Cleeves’ Red Bones, the story focuses on the discovery of human remains by a young archaeologist. Envy, greed and bitterness quickly unfold as Perez and his team find themselves at the centre of two feuding families.

Perez is shown to possess what is described as “a bone dry sense of humour and an idealistic desire to protect his beloved Shetland Isles from inevitable change, making him a fascinating detective to watch and work”.

Director of Shetland Arts Gwilym Gibbons said he was pleased to hear Cleeves’ work would be televised.

“Shetland Arts is delighted to see the highly popular Ann Cleeves Shetland novels dramatised for prime time TV. We have always believed that Ann Cleeves’ characters, borne out of her deep understanding of our seascapes and landscapes, have the potential for the creation a high quality TV drama set in Shetland. Shetland also has new facilities like Mareel and local talent and expertise that makes the isles a very attractive place to set a new TV drama. We are very excited to be working with the Shetland production team.”

Shetland is produced as part of a collaborative effort by ITV Studios through BBC Scotland. Its producer Sue De Beauvoir has also been responsible for Merlin and Waterloo Road. The drama is directed by Peter Hoare. It is due to start filming in Scotland and will be shown later in the year.

Douglas Henshall said: “I am very much looking forward to working with David Kane, filming in Scotland and being back on BBC One.”

Elaine Collins, executive producer, ITV Studios, added: “We are delighted to be working with the BBC on this commission. Shetland combines eccentric yet warm characters and a classic murder mystery story with the beautiful landscape and rich history of the Shetland Islands and we believe it will be hugely popular with viewers.”

Christopher Aird, head of drama, Scotland, and executive producer for the BBC said: “Shetland has a fantastic combination of writing, acting, directing and producing talent. It is a hugely exciting story and part of a project to bring the very best drama to BBC Scotland in the coming years.”

Wilson began his musical career at the age of 10 when his father bought him his first accordion. After a few lessons from a local teacher he joined the family band playing local venues and further afield. One night he was asked to sing a song and everyone remarked what a great voice this young man had.

After a few years Wilson was signed up by the London-based Prism label and this was to launch him on the global market. Since then his life has been busy playing gigs all across the UK including a few trips to the USA and Australia.

Having recorded 26 albums and 10 videos he recently signed a deal with a new London-based record company. His current catalogue consists of a wide array of tunes on CD and DVD format. He is very busy all year round playing concerts and dances.

Wilson has visited Shetland on many occasions and the club is delighted to welcome him back for another tour. He will be appearing at the Garrison Theatre in Lerwick on Thursday 17th May at 7.30pm, the Brae Public Hall on Friday 18th May at 8pm and Quarff Public Hall on Saturday 19th May at 7.30pm.

It just gets better.

The line-up at the Clickimin Centre on Saturday night had, like a football team, the look on paper of a winning team. The coupon came in.

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The Hot Seats were up first, a kind of jug band version of last year’s Pokey LaFarge. This five piece band from Virginia must be one of the most versatile group of musicians around. I was confused at washroom time, you have to be quick so not to miss anything, but these guys almost had me heading for home in a state of dementia. When I left the hall, for a mere 30 seconds (I’m quick) the front man was definitely playing a banjo, you come back and it has grown into a double bass! Now, that’s versatile!

The set swung along in great style, a kind of 30s swing, prohibition classic style. Bass, banjo, guitar and the vastly underrated washboard provide a pounding rhythm section.

Peaches, a lovely swing number, wasn’t really about soft fruit, “innuendo by the punnet” as my faithful festival quote source quipped. The quick paced Looking for Money, a song recorded by the Chicken Chokers (I kid you not) back in the 80s, was brilliant. But, what made me nip up to reception and buy my first CD of the festival was the awesomely titled I Wouldn’t Take Her to a Dog Fight. The title line is followed by “not even if she had a chance to win”. That’s worth the few quid alone.

Alison Brown has visited these shores three times previously, she’s finger pickin’ good. Yes I know!

This time the bluegrass banjo maestro was joined by hubby Garry West, Irishman John Doyle on guitar and vocals and Casey Driessen. All performed wonderfully. They were joined later on by Eammon Coyne from Treacherous Orchestra. He, as Brown put it, added “Catholic banjo” as opposed to the “protestant banjo” Brown provides – I never knew of such a thing but it makes sense, the former will presumably be freer of expression, take drink and be able to play on a Sunday.

The good old staples of the Temperance Reel and The Mason’s Apron were my highlight but many were blown away John Doyle’s solo.

Lewie Peterson had confessed to me earlier in the day to being a little, well nervous, about the prospect of being squeezed into a bill between big bluegrass hitters Alison Brown and J P Cormier. He did mention the brown stuff that sometimes hits air extractors. He needn’t have worried at all.

Local boys Väir were in good company but they were certainly on a par with them all. Pretty bloody good indeed for only their third gig.

Now, firstly, that tea chest Erik Peterson slaps, it looks damn good fun but Shetland’s number one would need to watch his hands.

Lewie and Erik are joined by Jonny Polson and Ryan Couper and the quartet opened my eyes with their range of skills. Erik has a voice akin to that of Neil Finn of Crowded House/Spit Enz fame, husky but tuneful and he sang Black is the Colour, the Damien Rice song popularised by the Christy Moore number, perfectly.

Väir are fresh but there is something inherently “Shetland” about the sound they produce. They were to pop up again later in the concert but look out for these gents.

J P Cormier and the Elliot brothers were here to stun us all again. I could have just cut and pasted the previous night’s concert words here but the show, setting and play list were different. He left out the big songs but filled the gaps with more of the same stunning picking and guitar duelling with Bill Elliot.

J P recalled two young boys at a guitar workshop from a previous visit to Shetland. He told us these boys were inspired by his playing and had had autographs given to them. He introduced them onto the stage to play alongside him, step up Jonny Polson and Ryan Couper, along with the Peterson brothers of course. A fitting collaboration and a treat for the audience.

The floor filled for the final act of the night. For the second night of watching, it was clear to see that Mànran are a band to dance to, no mistake. Multi-award winners, they were at their pumping best again, perhaps spurned on by the large dancing crowd at the front of the hall. A fine end to another fine concert.

The last great hurrah tonight, foy night.

Brian Johnston

Now, normally it might be secreted somewhere throughout or stuck on the end of a review, but the audience at the folk festival concert in Cullivoe last night deserve more than that. They, like the five acts on show, were simply first class.

Up first was local lass Lana Elaine, joined by uni pals Calum Morrison on accordion and Stephen Henderson on the drum kit. Lana kicked off – she was perhaps a little nervous but her sweet box playing, fast fingers across the keys, was a joy.

Lana clearly has wonderful imagination, not just as a composer but as a humourist. The titles of the first couple of tunes she enthralled the Yell folk (and guests) with said it all: Buckfast at Tiffany’s and Chunder Struck. The former was penned after a memorable evening out celebrating and the latter, well, after a similar event really. Brilliant stuff.

The trio’s work ranged from the quite tuneful to the surprisingly meaty; all three students of the art are more than ready for the big stage that the Shetland festival provides.

Next. I don’t pretend to be an aficionado of the blues genre, the ear drums have had many tunes from Doc Watson, J D Crowe and various other, mainly bluegrass singers and instrumentalists, pass by them – I know little but I know what I like. Rory Elis, Perry Stenbäck and Steffan Sørensen blew me away.

If stage presence ever made a difference then Australian Ellis had us hooked with that alone. His craic, quips and stories knitted into the set were a real belly laugh. Example: he had the crowd all pinned back with tales of “the one” and love. The song ground forward and midway through he uncovered the true focus of the love in question, a 65 Pontiac. Classic.

My better half described Ellis’s voice as “a proper man’s voice” and “fantastically melodic”. I couldn’t put it better. Is it like Seasick Steve or Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish at all? Maybe not and who cares?

This trio met at the Shetland Folk Festival in 2008 and now collaborate. As they said it’s tough to get together to practice given Ellis is down under and the other two live in Denmark. It works though, this was only the third gig together and they just go together.

Stenbäck plays electric guitar leads as good as Mark Knopfler and Sørensen’s base lines were a real treat, particularly on the lovely swinging The Gift, penned like them all by Ellis. It is a song about the beauty of getting older, you ain’t getting old at all you are “perfectly damaged”. I’m pinching that line.

Another local act filled the stage next. Haltadans looked strangely familiar. A band member prompted compére Davie Henderson: the new band were in fact not Fullsceilidh Spelamannslag but just Halfscelidh. Still, it was like the full fat version, playing good fulsome Shetland tunes and spree music.

The band are Lois Nicol, Maurice Henderson, Ewen Thomson on fiddles, Grant Nicol on guitar and peerie laughs and “man of few words but many tunes” John Clark on electric bass.

As wis locals would expect these guys were tighter than, well a camel’s nostrils in a sand storm. Some wonderful, new to me at least, sets of Shetland tunes and springs – one set from the wonderfully named Delting man Tammy o’ Wham. Nothing to do with George Michael.

I like tune names but can rarely remember many. Maurice was having a little difficulty on stage but Ewen helped him out. Maurice was amazed he could but Ewen quipped back “I hae dem written doon here”. Be prepared.

Haltadans is in fact a limping trowie dance, according to Maurice, he should know – some think he actually is one!

By this time the crowd had been well and truly warmed up by the first three acts. They were about to get frantic.

Mànran turned up the volume. They reminded me a lot of The Battlefield Band who were in Shetland many moons back. The Yell folks loved them, sales of the award winning first CD from the back of the hall told you all you needed to know.

A six-piece from the Scottish west coast, the band’s play list was infectious, very lively and mostly Gaelic. We’ll take it for granted that the lyrics were as singer Norrie MacIver introduced. It doesn’t really matter.

They swung into action with a set of reels and the crowd were hooked. I won’t attempt the tune or song names here but MacIver said “just use a mixture of vowels loudly when signing along, that’ll be fine”.

One song did have an English name, it was an English song after all. The Open Door highlighted the wonderful voice Norrie MacIver has. They proceeded with pipes, Scottish and Irish, wonderful box playing, standing up too and drums and electric bass in fine accompaniment.

A couple of wonderful quotes re Mànran. The first overheard from a local man, “boy, dir taall”, he was right they are big lads. The second came from a local lass the night before to box player Gary Innes: “Who are you boys?” We’re Mànran. “You’re Mànran, I’m man daft.”

The break provided a breather for all. The show was running a little late so an express raffle was necessary and when Davie Henderson rightly pointed out we would need to crash on because the acts, helpers and he had a ferry to catch at half past midnight, words of wisdom from the floor of “build a tunnel” were spat right back. Just in time for the new council.

Last on, who could possibly maintain the fire Mànran had started?

Well, back in 1997 I was looking forward to seeing a new face at the folk festival. A multi-instrumentalist from Cape Breton who looked, from the limited biography, like he played just my favourite kind of music. Turned out he did, finger picking bluegrass guitar, mandolin and banjo as well as the fiddle. Not only that his song writing and performing abilities were, and still are brilliant.

That was then, this is J P Cormier’s fourth visit and this time he brought, also from the Cape, the Elliot Brothers, Mike on electric base and Bill picking guitar. Together they were outstanding and topped a wonderful evening in Cullivoe.

They knew time was tight so didn’t waste time early on, just picked and sang their way through outstanding stuff. Treating us all, well me in particular, to Merle Travis’s song Nine Pound Hammer.

The late great Bill Monroe, the man who created bluegrass music, was J P’s inspiration and teased him about his picking abilities. I’ll stick my neck out and say J P is one of the best. Up there with Monroe and Doc Watson.

I clearly wasn’t the only fan in the room, I overheard a few murmur requests in hope. People were on their feet, clapping, whistling and stamping feet as the trio stunned us with the finger work. Back in 97 many in Shetland would have bought the new album Another Morning, after all he performed most of the tunes songs from it back then at the festival. Hoping he would indulge us with wonderful songs like Molly May, the haunting tale of a lost fishing boat, and the show stopping Kelly’s Mountain.

We did get Molly May but time was up and it looked like we wouldn’t be treated further but good old Davie Henderson took a gamble on the ferry and allowed a quick encore – we got Kelly’s Mountain! I went home very happy indeed and the hairy drive to Lerwick was brightened up by the album Return to the Cape. Snow in May – what’s that about?

J P, as he is known, told us he “was totally deconstructed by Shetland” has been on the road for 30 years. I for one sincerely hope this is not the last time we see him in Shetland.

Davie’s bus rumbled aboard the ferry with a minute to spare. Like the festival itself, just like clockwork.

Night three tonight. Off to the Clickimin, did I mention J P is playing?

Brian Johnston