Shetland Fiddle Week 2026
Monday 3 to Saturday 8 August 2026 | Lerwick, Shetland
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS
Shetland Fiddle Week is built around a week-long learning experience, teaching the tunes and techniques of the Shetland fiddle tradition which dates back over 200 years. Pre-booking is essential. Click here for more info on our workshops packages and how to book.
CONCERTS
WORKSHOPS
WORKSHOPS
Shetland has a thriving music scene and many, many fiddlers! Our concerts offer a chance to sample some of the local fiddle talent and be part of a Shetland community audience. Open to all but limited tickets available so advance purchase recommended.. Click here to buy tickets for 2026 concerts.
SESSIONS
WORKSHOPS
SESSIONS
Providing a chance for students and local musicians to get together for informal tunes at the end of the day. A great way to try out learned tunes and pick up some news ones, and to meet local and play with local musicians. Sessions take place at Lerwick Boating Club - in the heart of Lerwick's historic waterfront. Open to everyone.
SFW 2026 Tutors
Jenna Reid
Kirsten Gifford
Kirsten Gifford
Jenna is co-founder of Shetland Fiddle Week and Creative Lead of the workshop team. She is one of Shetland's best known fiddlers and a highly respected teacher and composer. Born & bred in Quarff, Shetland, her fiddling began at a young age alongside her sister & brother, under the watchful eye of the late Willie Hunter.
She has played pr
Jenna is co-founder of Shetland Fiddle Week and Creative Lead of the workshop team. She is one of Shetland's best known fiddlers and a highly respected teacher and composer. Born & bred in Quarff, Shetland, her fiddling began at a young age alongside her sister & brother, under the watchful eye of the late Willie Hunter.
She has played professionally for over 20 years, touring the world and has recorded and released many albums as a soloist and band member. As a finalist of the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Award, Jenna has always composed & her 5th solo album ‘Working Hands’ is a stunning collection of her writing. She is joined by Mr McFall’s Chamber, Harris Playfair, Iain Sandilands & Stuart Semple, an incredible collection of the finest musicians.
Following this release, she was awarded Composer of the Year at the 2019 Scots Trad Music Awards following the release of her 5th solo album; Working Hands.
Jenna is a member of award-winning Scottish fiddle band Blazin’ Fiddles and appeared on the Transatlantic Sessions alongside Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas.
Kirsten Gifford
Kirsten Gifford
Kirsten Gifford
Kirsten is an experienced teacher and performer who is based in Shetland. She is one of Shetland Island Council's full time Traditional Fiddle Tutors and has taught many of Shetland's young players in recent years.. She has performed with many bands in Shetland, and recently recorded with local musician Adam Guest on his debut album.
Havi
Kirsten is an experienced teacher and performer who is based in Shetland. She is one of Shetland Island Council's full time Traditional Fiddle Tutors and has taught many of Shetland's young players in recent years.. She has performed with many bands in Shetland, and recently recorded with local musician Adam Guest on his debut album.
Having graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with a degree in Scottish Music, Kirsten has been teaching fiddle all over Shetland for the past 11 years. She plays regularly with a variety of local bands and is also an accomplished piano accompanist and composer.
Kirsten is heavily involved in promoting and supporting young musicians in Shetland, working with both the Shetland Youth Music Festival, and Shetland Accordion and Fiddle committee.
Lois Nicol
Kirsten Gifford
Lois Nicol
Lois Nicol is a fiddle player and teacher from Lerwick. She grew up in a very musical family and was steeped in the music of the Isles from a young age. Lois went on to study on the prestigious Folk and Traditional Music Degree at Newcastle University, before returning home and gaining a diploma in Secondary Education. She has extensive e
Lois Nicol is a fiddle player and teacher from Lerwick. She grew up in a very musical family and was steeped in the music of the Isles from a young age. Lois went on to study on the prestigious Folk and Traditional Music Degree at Newcastle University, before returning home and gaining a diploma in Secondary Education. She has extensive experience as an effective and inspiring music tutor, teaching through one-to-one lessons and workshops, as well as within the classroom. Lois has performed around the world, and recorded with bands such as Haltadans, Fullsceilidh Spelemannslag, and most recently as part of local bluegrass and Americana outfit, Kansa.
Alison Anderson
Alison Anderson
Alison Anderson
Alison grew up in Shetland’s vibrant musical community, steeped in the islands’ fiddle traditions, and has developed a style deeply rooted in that distinctive sound. She has performed with a wide range of groups, bringing Shetland music to audiences across Scotland, Norway, Sardinia, Ireland, andEngland.
In 2014 she performed at the Royal
Alison grew up in Shetland’s vibrant musical community, steeped in the islands’ fiddle traditions, and has developed a style deeply rooted in that distinctive sound. She has performed with a wide range of groups, bringing Shetland music to audiences across Scotland, Norway, Sardinia, Ireland, andEngland.
In 2014 she performed at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo with Hjaltibonhoga, returning for six more Tattoos and showcasing Shetland andScottish music on world stages in Australia, New Zealand, Oslo, andDüsseldorf.
She has collaborated with her daughter Yelena and Penicuik’s pianist Graham McDonald and performs with folk band Beltane Ree and her recently formed group, Arvra.
A dedicated teacher for eight years, Alison loves bringing young players together. Last October she led a Shetland fiddle workshop in Switzerland and is delighted to return as a tutor at Shetland Fiddle Week 2026.
Robbie Leask
Alison Anderson
Alison Anderson
Robbie is from Lerwick, with family roots in Whiteness and Unst. His first instrument was a guitar, from Santa, but his principal instrument while at school was cello, enthusiastically taught by Mrs Merle Ingram.
Robbie left Shetland to study Chemical Engineering at Edinburgh University and during his time south developed an interest in t
Robbie is from Lerwick, with family roots in Whiteness and Unst. His first instrument was a guitar, from Santa, but his principal instrument while at school was cello, enthusiastically taught by Mrs Merle Ingram.
Robbie left Shetland to study Chemical Engineering at Edinburgh University and during his time south developed an interest in traditional music and finger style guitar.
After graduation, returning to work back home gave Robbie an opportunity to reacquaint himself with Shetland’s traditional music.
Following a move to Aberdeen to develop his engineering career, he took fiddle lessons with West Coast player, Jean Ann Callender and began writing his own compositions.
Robbie played fiddle in Hogtie, an Aberdeen-based ceilidh band, for a number of years, is guitarist in the quartet Corran Raa, playing mainly self-composed music, and collaborates in a duo with Shetland fiddler and songwriter Claire White focusing on new and traditional Shetland music and songs.
SFW 2026 Schedule
Monday 3 August 2026
Welcome day at Shetland Museum & Archives (full week package students only (£395). Introduction to fellow students, talks and workshops including a workshops by Shetland Fiddlers' Society & Shetland Folk Dance. Evening session at Lerwick Boating Club - open to all..
Tuesday 4 August
Workshops at Islesburgh Community Centre 10am - 4.30pm (full week or day package students only (£70)). Concert at St Columba's Lerwick - open to all, tickets required (£18/£12 U16s). Late session at Lerwick Boating Club - open to all.
Wednesday 5 August 2026
Day out to Bigton. Workshops and trips (full week and day package students only). Evening session at Bigton Hall - open to all.
Thursday 6 August 2026
Morning workshops at Islesburgh Community Centre (full week and day package students only). Afternoon bus tour of North Mainland homeland of Dr Tom Anderson (students only).
Friday 7 August 2026
Workshops at Islesburgh Community Centre 10am - 3.15pm (full week or day package students only). Concert & dance at Gulberwick Hall - open to all, tickets required (£18/£12 U16s).
Saturday 8 August 2026
Session at The Lounge Bar Lerwick 2-5pm.
Shetland Fiddle Week 2026 is kindly supported by
Shetland Musical Heritage Trust will fund workshop places for 8 of Shetland's Young Fiddler of the Year competition winners. They also fund and guide the North Mainland bus tour.
