All-Irish line-up for country fest
SHETLAND Country Music Club continues to promote live performances and is holding a Mini Country Festival following on from the success of last year’s pilot project.
This year sees an all-Irish line-up and the headline for the weekend is Susan McCann. She is celebrating 30 years on the music scene and should be no stranger to Shetland audiences. However, her last visit was 12 years ago so she is long overdue a return.
Accompanying Susan and her band will be brother and sister duo Dermot and Pauline McQuaid. Together they do a fine mix of music and song country style.
The third act is Roy Ballantine who hails from Dungannon in County Tyrone, the town which hosted this year’s Irish country festival.
On Friday 19th September Susan and the band plus the McQuaids are appearing in Sound Public Hall. With the Garrison Theatre being unavailable this year the second choice was Sound to cater for all the country music followers who like to sit and listen concert style without the need for refreshments from the bar, or partake in any dancing.
Tickets for Sound (£9/£7 concessions and £4 for school children) are available at High Level Music or from Islesburgh Box Office. Later in the evening Roy Ballantine will be playing and singing in the Noost Lounge Bar in the town centre – no ticket required there.
On Saturday night there are two venues. Susan and the band are in the Walls Public Hall, again along with the McQuaids Duo, at a supper dance starting at 9pm.
Tickets are available from the Walls Shop and Isleburgh (£9/£7 concessions and £4 for school children).
The second venue is the Scalloway Boating Club where people can enjoy the sound of Roy Ballantine. It was originally planned to have him in the Lerwick British Legion but it was decided to move out of town to give a wider spread to the festival since there was a venue available.
Tickets (priced at £5) are available from the Scalloway Boating Club and transport can be provided to and from Scalloway from Lerwick by phoning 07917 850607.
On the final night on Sunday all three acts will appear in the Lerwick Royal British Legion, starting at 8pm. Tickets (priced at £9) are available at the Legion door.
Spokesman Brian Robertson said: “The club continues to depends on the support of the country music followers and we have some fine artistes lined up for the coming months. So please make the effort to get out and enjoy some of this fine music and song country style.”
