The Sound of Scotland: Shooglenifty + FARA + Heron Valley

Experience an evening of unforgettable live music as three incredible bands take to the stage to showcase The Sound of Scotland.
SHOOGLENIFTY
Shooglenifty was formed in 1990 by musicians from the Scottish Highlands, Orkney and Edinburgh. Its bright spark was the idea of fusing traditional and traditional-sounding melodies with the beats and basslines of a mixed bag of more contemporary influences.
As happy playing a small highland village hall as they are on an outdoor festival stage playing to tens of thousands, the Shoogles (as they’re known to their fans) have promoted Scottish music all over the world for three decades.
In a career spanning many firsts – the first band to incite a stage invasion at the Sydney Opera House, the first UK band to play in Cuba, and the first Scots to perform in the Borneo Rainforest – Shooglenifty blazed a trail that many other top Scottish traditional bands have followed. But they are still the original and best. They will get you on your feet with their electric new tunes and a full-on set of old favourites.
Joining the funky percussion and emotive Gaelic and English vocals of Kaela Rowan, Shooglenifty’s #10 frontline features the virtuosic skills of Eilidh Shaw (The Poozies) on fiddle and Ciarán Ryan (Dallahan / Ciarán Ryan Band) on banjo and mandolin.
Adding to this heady mix is the phenomenal bass and hair of Euan McLaughlin (Valtos / Ann Dansa Dub), who joins founding members James Mackintosh (drums) and the inimitable Malcolm Crosbie (guitar) in the rhythm section. What could possibly go wrong?
The band are currently recording their 10th studio album and are excited to celebrate their 35th year with some of their favourite gigs and festivals after releasing the magic early in 2026.
FARA
FARA are a powerhouse in the Scottish folk music scene, igniting stages with their magnetic blend of spellbinding vocals, intricate harmonies, and driving fiddle tunes rooted in rich tradition of the Orkney Islands. With three award-winning fiddlers—Kristan Harvey, Jeana Leslie, and Catriona Price—joined by the sensational Rory Matheson on piano, FARA deliver a sound that is bold, passionate, and unmistakably their own.
Steeped in the centuries-old musical heritage of the Orkney Islands, FARA breathe new life into existing melodies while crafting original compositions that push the tradition forward. Their signature style weaves fiery fiddle sets with lyrical songwriting and three-part harmonies that soar with emotional intensity, creating performances that are as stirring as they are unforgettable.
HERON VALLEY
Heron Valley have remained a driving force in the new generation of Scottish folk music since their 2014 inception — a band whose powerful sound has consistently ignited stages and hearts around the world.
Renowned for their exhilarating live performances featuring high-octane bagpipe and fiddle tunes backed by an unrelenting rhythm section, Heron Valley have electrified audiences everywhere across the globe.
Their sets race from reels and jigs to evocative Scottish songs and powerful original material — all delivered with a passion that’s impossible to resist.
Get ready to dance. Get ready to shout.