Atlantic Edge Music Services

Tall Ships Shetland

November 9, 2011

This year's visit of the Tall Ships Races to Lerwick / Shetland has been hailed a terrific success by organisers and 'audiences' alike - despite cold and at times wet and generally pretty inclement weather during the four day event.

Around 70 large sailing ships, with approximately 3000 international crew members, created a genuine carnival type atmosphere throughout the event, despite the grey skies and cold northerly wind.

A huge influx of visitors, plus all the locals of course, created an incredible buzz around the areas where the vessels were berthed and throughout Lerwick as a whole - and indeed in more rural areas of Shetland into the bargain.

Davie Gardner of 'Atlantic Edge Music Services' acted as 'Entertainment Co-ordinator' for the event - which featured two large outdoor stages (one at Holmsgarth and another at Victoria Pier) plus, additionally, a number of more formal events and parties for crew members, not to mention a hugely successful 'Party Marquee' located on Laurenson Quay hosted by regular 'T in the Park' and 'Edinburgh Hogmanay' DJ Tam Coyle from Glasgow and also featuring local guest DJ's each evening.

Near on 70 local artists - both home based or alternatively returning especially for the occasion - and incorporating around 500 individual musicians - performed across the two stages during the four days, while headline acts, and international festival favourites, the 'Levellers' and 'Bjorn Again' performed the headline duties at Holmsgarth on the Friday and Saturday nights of the event - attracting a wonderfully mixed audience of old(er) and younger folk alike, totalling around 10,000 for the two nights.

Davie Gardner said "There was a great atmosphere and large turn-out's at both stages and in the Party Marquee throughout. Despite the weather folk seemed happy and determined just to get on with it, make the best of the situation and enjoy themselves, so we can only thank them for that, their support and perhaps most of all their good natured resiliance". 

He went on "It was especially great and enjoyable for me personally to see so many local artists, again of all ages, not only perform brilliantly at the event (meeting all our expectations of course) but also, more often than not, raising their game, literally performing out of their socks and giving it their all. They did themselves, us as organisers and Shetland as a whole really proud - and we should be equally proud of them!!!

A survey report following the event has shown that Shetland benefitted to the financial tune (pardon the pun) of £4m - for an overall public investment of around £1m - a great return in anyone's book!!! Read the full story of that - HERE.

Sail Training International, the organisers of the actual race itself, praised Shetland for it's efforts, commitment and quality of service delivery, saying they would welcome an application from the islands to be a host port again in the future.

Let's hope it happens again - and the sooner the better!!!

Check out the Levellers live at the Tall Ships in Lerwick - HERE

More live Levellers - HERE

And the Saturday night headliners - HERE

The Tall Ships leave Lerwick - with some musical help from Rock Salt & Nails - HERE