Atlantic Edge Music Services

Tall Ships Contract

November 19, 2010

Atlantic Edge Music Services have been contracted by Shetland Tall Ships Race 2011 Ltd to create and deliver the complete music programme for the event - due to take place in the islands in July 2011.

The Tall Ships Races (organised by Sail Training International) takes place annually, visiting different ports around the world on a pre-planned route and schedule. The event first visited Shetland in 1999 and this visit will be the first since then.

Two large open air performance stages will operate throughout the four days of the event (21st - 24th July 2011), one located at Lerwick's Victoria Pier in the town centre, and another on the outskirts of the town in the Holmsgarth area of the harbour - both sites will be located adjacent to where the tall ships themselves will be berthed.

Each stage will have capacity for several thousand people and are expected to operate from mid-morning till late each evening.

In addition to the open stages there will also be a club marquee - location to be decided as yet - which will feature top national DJ's and run till the early hours of the morning, together with a number of other formal events that wil also extensively feature music programmes.

Manager of 'Atlantic Edge Music Services' Davie Gardner said AEMS were delighted to secure the contract for programming the event. "This is a huge and high profile event by Shetland standards, and we are really looking forward to both the spectacle of the event itself and also putting on a top quality, varied and dynamic entertainment programme to accompany it and to entertain the crews, visitors and locals alike" Davie said.  "It's a huge challenge for a small community, and indeed for us as a small local company, but we know we are up to the task. Thankfully we have a wealth of hugely talented and varied musicians and artists to draw from, so we should be able to create a terrific entertainment programme without any doubt" he said. "I think our visitors especially may be in for a very pleasant surprise - especially if the weather is good".  

 Davie went on to say that any programme would feature all types of music, not just that of Shetland's famous traditional heritage. He said it was also hoped to feature at least two major headline acts plus his aim was to have all of Shetland's own high profile artists back in the islands as part of any programme.

In addition to the Tall Ships programme in Lerwick, vessels will also visit Unst, Yell, Whalsay, Fair Isle and Scalloway during the Sail in Company leg of the race between Greenock and Lerwick. Further entertainment related events will take place at these locations into the bargain.