Orkney Folk Festival: 24th - 27th May 2007

The beautiful Orkney Islands lie just off the northeast coast. There are more than 70 islands in the Orcadian archipelago of which 17 are inhabited. With more than five thousand years of human history, culture and architecture, the global significance of Orkney's Neolithic Heartland was recognised with World Heritage Site status in 1999, in common with Stonehenge and the Great Wall of China. Historic Scotland look after the World Heritage Site Neolithic Heartland, which includes Skara Brae stone village, the fascinating tomb of Maeshowe - older than the pyramids and with Viking graffiti you won't find in Egypt - the magnificent standing stone circle at the Ring of Brodgar, the stone village of Barnhouse, and the Stones of Stenness.

Orkney Folk Festival has been contributing to the musical and cultural life of Orkney since 1982 and has established itself as an important event in both the Orkney and Scottish folk calendars. This gem of a festival manages to continually delight packed audiences all over Orkney in schools, community centres, theatres, concert halls and pub sessions. Visitors come from all around the world, homing in on Stromness, where the Festival is based.

There is a deliberate policy in the festival to combine well established folk musicians, and emerging talents from outwith Orkney with the rnuiti-talented local musicians, some of whom are well known in their own right. Amazingly the committee who work so hard all year round to make the festival such a success are all volunteers. Many are musicians, storytellers or dancers themselves but others just "enjoy the crack".

Festival events include: Concerts, Ceilidhs, dances, stomps, Festival Club, Pub sessions, Fiddlers Rally, Youth events and more..

Visit: orkneyfolkfestival.com

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