Burray, Orkney Islands
22 – 24 August 2025
A huge moment for our new festival. Weekend, camping and workshop tickets for the first Water Sound Bluegrass and Roots Festival went on sale today!
We can’t wait and are delighted with the fantastic lineup of artists for our first festival.
Taking place at the Holm Community Hall, we organised an evening of bingo and bluegrass music for our next fundraiser! All those attending not only had a chance to show off their skill with a dabber but also to enjoy some classic bluegrass tunes from local duo, Marram Grass.
Brian and Douglas invited Pete from the festival committee to come in to the BBC Radio Orkney studio to play some banjo and talk about the festival. The studio was standing room only with the boys from Stoatfinger there as well as the Hot Club of Orkney and Dick Leven on mandolin. A fantastic hour of fun and great music.
Photo: Stoatfinger and Pete in the BBC Radio Orkney studio (L-R James Groat, Antony Hodgson, Dan Rhodes, Pete McAndrew)
Some amazing tunes, including some Flatt and Scruggs and a big shout out for Water Sound Festival on BBC Radio Orkney from Saltfish Sessions with Douglas Montgomery and Brian Cromarty. Thanks guys!
Another absolutely brilliant night of music, this time at the Burray Hall for the Burray Boxing Day Bash! A happy crowd eased themselves into Betwixmas with a huge roster of great musicians. Funds raised for the festival from the raffle but more importantly, an awesome night of boxing day fun was had!
Water Sound Festival fund raising concert held at King St. Halls in Kirkwall. Featuring a fantastic lineup of musical acts playing a diverse range of musical styles, from bluegrass through jazz, acoustic music and klezmer. Graham Rorie did a great job as MC for the night and all came away with a warm glow from a brilliant night.
We are delighted that following discussion with Burray Community Association and a vote of committee members, the Water Sound Festival Committee have formally been incorporated as a sub-group of the Burray Community Association. This means that the festival will be delivered through the Burray Community Association in collaboration with Orkney Music and Culture. A milestone for the festival.
