Homecoming concerts

SHETLAND fiddle star Catriona Macdonald is to make a trip home to play two concerts next week as part of her “Over the Moon” Scottish tour, aimed at promoting her new album of the same name.

An ex-holder of titles such as Shetland Young Fiddler of the Year and the BBC Radio 2 Young Tradition Award, Catriona has subsequently toured the world in her own right and additionally as a member of internationally renowned groups such as Blazin Fiddles, who celebrate their 10th anniversary this year, and String Sisters, an all female fiddle super-group, not to mention many other high profile international projects.

Catriona is also highly regarded as a music tutor, having tutored at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama and also at the Universities of Limerick and Stirling. More recently she has been a core lecturer on the Bmus Folk and Traditional Music course delivered in Newcastle University.

Catriona’s two Shetland appearances will be in the Fair Isle Hall next Thursday and the Sound Hall, Lerwick, next Friday. The Fair Isle gig will be a pay on the door event, while tickets for the Lerwick concert are now on sale from Islesburgh Community Centre. Tickets can also be purchased by calling the centre on (01595) 692114.

For both concerts Catriona will be joined by two other internationally recognised musicians – pianist David Milligan, who is heavily involved in the Scottish jazz scene, and Conrad Ivitsky on double bass, a former member of Shooglenifty.

While in Shetland Catriona will also be delivering fiddle workshops in several local schools.