Shetland Folk Festival 2019

When I talked to the committee before shooting my first Shetland Folk Festival, they were very clear: they want photographs of the backstage banter and the sessions in the festival club as much as the onstage performances. Shetland is famous the world over for the welcome it provides for visiting artists. In the space of one sort week (or long weekend), friendships are built that last well beyond the end of the festival. The fact that most bands choose to stay on for the Final Fling on the Monday night - the thank-you party for the volunteers that make the festival possible - testifies to that.

Fair to say that this is one of my favourite weeks of the year. I’ll let the photographs explain why!