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THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO 2018

The article below appeared in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo programme and media coverage.

Hjaltibonhoga - The Shetland Fiddlers

Hjaltibonhoga represents the finest in Scotland's fiddle tradition, all from the spiritual home of fiddle, Shetland. As the United Kingdom's most northerly region, the Islands have a unique identity and take immense pride in their local community.

 

A sea-locked, Island and archipelago situated 300 miles north of Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh, Shetland's location has nurtured a near unique style of traditional fiddle music with early influences steeped in Scandinavia.

The sea which surrounds Shetland is a lifeline for Islanders, an integral part of its history and its culture, and home to some of the most wonderful natural wildlife in Scotland.

The Sumburgh cliffs at the southernmost tip of Shetland are home to thousands of seabirds with Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars, Kittiwakes and Shags all residing there.

The Island of Noss is home to in the region of 20,000 Gannets, 40,000 Guillemots and 5,000 Kittiwakes which coat just over a mile of cliff face. This visual myriad and soundscape leaves the spectator astounded.

Hermaness and Saxaford, near the former RAF base in the most northerly Island of Unst, is home to over 100,000 Puffins living alongside Gannets and the Great Skua, locally known as the 'Bonxie', which is feared by bird and human alike for its predatory diving skills.

Hjaltibonhoga, which means 'Shetland, my spiritual home', first performed at The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in 2014 and are honoured to make their fifth appearance on the Esplanade, paying homage to nature and flight by performing 'The Order of the Storm Birds'.

Galleries

Here's some photos from Hjaltibonhoga's month on the Esplanade. 

Audio

Hjaltibonhoga's set - Order of the Storm Birds. 

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