Fresh from their opening slot for Snow Patrol at the Glasgow SECC in front of 10,000 people and their sell out headline Celtic Connections gig at the 02 ABC in January 2012, the Shetland Folk Festival have just booked the hotly tipped rising band Admiral Fallow. 

Booked for a one off gig on Thursday 3rd May, this performance will form part of the 32nd annual 4-day event.

Following Admiral Fallow’s sell out Glasgow show on 27th  January, a 5 star review in the Herald proclaimed how “There are very few occasions when one is lucky enough to be present when a band takes the step into the big league.  Friday night was one of these”. 

A group formed in 2007 by Scottish singer songwriter Louis Abbott (formerly known as Brother Louis Collective), Admiral Fallow’s richly distinctive mesh of acoustic and electric textures with multilayered harmonies has gained a fast-expanding fan base either side of the Pond, prominently including Guillemot’s Fyfe Dangerfied, Elbow’s Guy Garvey, Radio 1’s Huw Stephens and BBC2’s ‘Whispering” Bob Harris. 

With their orchestral indie folkpop repertoire, the band continues to attract admiring comparisons to Arcade Fire and Frightened Rabbit, while forging a sound that brims with originality. The single “Squealing Pigs” from their debut Boots Met my Face album was performed live on BBC television’s Hogmanay Live Show on 31st  December 2011 and has been used on NBC’s Chuck, featured in a commercial first aired at Super Bowl 2012.

As part of the Year of Creative Scotland, the organisers have received investment from Creative Scotland specifically to expand the Festival’s innovative programming in an attempt to deliver additional audience numbers from Shetland and further afield. 

Mhari Pottinger from the organising committee explains how “we are always looking for ways to enhance what the Festival has to offer and we hope that by booking a big up and coming, more mainstream group that this will grow our audience further.  Admiral Fallow have already secured a significant following in the central belt and won favourite new band status across a swathe of folk, pop and indie opinion.  Being able to market an act that are poised for the big time, as part of our visiting artiste line up, is a really exciting development for us.”

In awarding this investment, Iain Munro, Director of Creative Development of Creative Scotland commented: ‘This is great news. To have Admiral Fallow perform is a fantastic coup, and will draw ‘This is great news. To have Admiral Fallow perform is a fantastic coup, and will draw more people than ever to the festival. Scotland is a year-round festival nation, with an exciting programme of world-class events, festivals and culture for all to enjoy. We are delighted that through the Year of Creative Scotland many of these festivals have been able to expand their programmes. We look forward to an even  bigger and better Shetland Folk festival this year.’

Meanwhile, the Festival’s organisers have also just added another Scottish act to the mainstream line up - Ross Ainslie & Jarlath Henderson.  Arguably the most dynamic double-act on today’s Celtic Scene, this Scottish/Irish piping duo have won huge plaudits for their 2008 debut album, Partners in Crime, as well as for their brilliant incendiary live performances.

Advance Festival membership is now on sale and until the 2nd March, with membership forms/info available on the Festival’s website.  Tickets for all concerts will go on sale to advance members in the middle of March and to the general public from 6th April.  On that date, a ticket booking form will be downloadable from the Festival website and enclosed in every copy of The Shetland Times.