Foula Fest 2019

A fantastic weekend of music and exploring the island of Foula, famous for its spectacular sea cliffs and seabirds. The Foula folk hosted a very memorable weekend. I hope this short film captures a flavour of it.

00:00 Foula Cliffs, Shetland Reels
02:29 ‘Come ta da Hills wi me Dearie’ Foula Band
06:52 Dancing ‘da Shaalds’ in Foula Hall
09:51 Jim Gear plays ‘Champagne Polka’
11:34 ‘Waltzing Matilda’ Kenneth Gear
16:00 Andrew Gifford plays ‘Ria’s’
16:13 ‘Silver River Cruise’ and Farewell

The footage was shot on an iPhone and DJI Osmo Pocket.

Music Featured

Andrew Gifford, Maurice Henderson, Ewen Thomson and Ella Robertson
'The Full Rigged Ship' - Traditional Shetland
'Unnamed Reel' - Traditional Shetland

Foula Band
Jim Gear, Kenneth Gear, Penny Gear, Fran Dyson Sutton joined by Ella and Martha Robertson
'Come to da Hills wi me Dearie' words James Stout Angus put to music by Jim Gear

Maurice Henderson, Ella Robertson and Kenneth Gear
'Da Shaalds' - Traditional Shetland
Da Shaalds danced in the Foula hall to the traditional tunes 'Fields of Foula' and 'Da Shaalds'

Jim Gear, Kenneth Gear and Amy Ratter
'Champagne Polka'

Kenneth Gear, Jim Gear, Fran Dyson Sutton and Penny Gear
'Waltzing Matilda' - Banjo Paterson

Andrew Gifford and Ewen Thomson
'Ria's' - Andrew Gifford

Jenny Henry, Ashley Leaper and Ewen Thomson
'Silver River Cruise' - Jenny Henry

[DavidHartley]

A lovely twenty minutes.
Thank you, Maurice.

[hayleyjane]

Hello!
I recently did an ancestry dna test and discovered that 42% of my dna comes from Shetland and Foula with a few markers in Skye. I live in the United States and have always been told we are Irish and english. I took the test and discovered that I am hardly English at all in comparison to what I’ve been told. This video is lovely. I’ve enjoyed doing research and learning of my lineage.

[gustindun]

Just found your video Maurice it is well shot thank you will settle down and watch again this afternoon. Unfortunately no Shetland Folk Festival this year miss my YH roommate Davie Henry and Jan from Holland . Didn't spot Davie in the video ! We are in a kind of Lock Down at the moment around Newcastle Upon Tyne. Keep well Austin

[bruh-bmhe]

This is amazing.. love the dancing, reminds me of childhood. Do they still do Foula Fest today?

[ivanleudar]

and the session on friday was memorable Ivan

[bruh-bmhe]

Also im curious about the Canada flag. Is there a connection to say small Canadian Islands?