Music lovers will be able to get their hands on tickets for the largest-scale live events to take place in Shetland for over a decade when the Tall Ships concert programme goes on sale next Friday.
This summer’s Tall Ships Races will see a host of high-profile acts perform in a 5,500-capacity temporary arena at Holmsgarth in Lerwick – including headliners Tide Lines and Peat & Diesel.
With 40 ships now confirmed for the event, taking place from 26-29 July, organisers expect tickets for the packed Thursday, Friday and Saturday night line-ups to be in high demand.
Tickets go on sale through the Shetland Arts Box Office, online and in person at Mareel, from 10am next Friday (12 May).
Shetland Tall Ships Ltd project manager Emma Miller said: “Our music programmer Tim Matthew has put together a fantastic range of acts and we’ve had such a great response since the line-up was announced.
“We’ve been getting so many enquiries on a daily basis about buying tickets, so we’re really pleased to be able to offer them for public sale now.”
She added that organisers had sought to keep ticket prices as affordable as possible, and with five acts performing at each of the three ticketed nights, the offering represents “fantastic value for money”.
One of Scotland’s leading young rock bands, Tide Lines, headline on the Thursday. Joining them on the bill are Orcadian party favourites The Chair, the Edinburgh-based Saltire Street Band and local acts Rack ‘n’ Ruin and Just Another Cake Fridge.
The following night will see Stornoway sensations Peat & Diesel make their long-awaited live bow in the islands. The Friday line-up also features much-loved Shetland covers band First Foot Soldiers along with Big Time Quell, Husfu and Queen of Harps.
The week’s festivities clue up on Saturday night with tribute band Queen II topping a bill including heavy rockers Ten Tonne Dozer, Shetland’s own Fleetwood Mac tribute act The Chain, the Tennessee Wannabes and the Donald Anderson Band.
Late night revellers will be able to continue the party each night with Mareel opening as a late night DJ venue. Open until 1.00am on Wednesday night and 3.00am Thursday to Saturday. This event will be over 18's each night.
A proportion of tickets have been set aside to accommodate visiting ships’ crew members, but the majority of spaces are going on general sale. Miller said that organisers would look to release additional tickets if possible.
There is no age restriction, but anybody under the age of 15 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. There will be a purchase limit of six tickets per person, per gig.
Access to the Holmsgarth arena on the Wednesday night following the opening ceremony will be free, with the Peatbog Faeries headlining and The Revellers among the acts performing.
The daytime programme at Holmsgarth, along with all the music and entertainment at Victoria Pier throughout the four days, will also be free to access.
- Tickets to all three Tall Ships Lerwick concerts will be available through Shetland Arts Box Office from Friday 12 May. Prices will be as follows: Thursday 27 July (headlined by Tide Lines) £20; Friday 28 July (headlined by Peat & Diesel) £25; Saturday 29 July (headlined by Queen II) £10; All Mareel nights £10.