FIDDLERS’ BID FROM 30TH ANNUAL SHETLAND FOLK FESTIVAL ON BBC ALBA

BBC ALBA is delighted to announce today (April 27th) that it will be broadcasting a special programme from this year’s 30th Shetland Folk Festival.

A special one hour concert featuring the legendary Fiddlers’ Bid from Shetland, as they stage a very special performance live to their home audience to mark the 30th Annual Shetland Folk Festival, will be produced by Bees Nees for BBC ALBA.

The festival, showcasing the best folk music from around the globe, is taking place from 29 April – 2 May with Fiddler’s Bid performing at the sold out Clickimin Concert on Saturday 1 May. Popular presenter Mary Ann Kennedy will host the Fiddlers’ Bid show for broadcast on BBC ALBA on 31 July, the eve of the band’s 20th anniversary.

Alan Esslemont, head of content for BBC ALBA, said: “We are delighted to be working together with Bees Nees and the festival organisers to showcase folk music through coverage of this outstanding festival. Shetland is renowned for its unique musical heritage and rich fiddle tradition and we are extremely excited to offering a special one hour show dedicated to Fiddlers’ Bid, the leading exponents of Shetland’s folk music.

“In the year that the festival celebrates its 30th year we are pleased to be continuing our commitment to event-based music coverage which appeals to a wide audience base of music fans tuning in to BBC ALBA.”

Since their formation in 1991, Fiddlers' Bid has played an extremely important role in the success of numerous Shetland Folk Festivals. They have acted as global ambassadors for the Festival and Shetland as a whole, as they’ve astounded audiences all over the world with their expressive, high-energy music and performances.

With five albums to date, their most recent release 'All Dressed in Yellow' has won them the prestigious Album of the Year Award at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in November 2009. It has also garnered rave reviews as their finest album to date.

The Fiddlers’ Bid programme, produced by Bees Nees and directed by Bridget Caldwell, will be broadcast on BBC ALBA at 9pm on Saturday 31 July, offering viewers exclusive coverage of the band’s performance along with special interviews and audience commentary.