Author: controlx

We’re thrilled to announce that Water Sound Festival will be back next year! The Water Sound Bluegrass and Roots Festival is officially set for 3rd – 5th July 2026. Mark your calendars, tell your friends, and start planning for three amazing days of music and summer fun!

Next year’s festival will once again bring together an incredible lineup of bluegrass, country, Americana, and roots artists from across Orkney, the UK and beyond. Whether you came to our festival this year or are planning your first Water Sound Festival visit, 2026 promises to deliver the same warm welcome, brilliant performances, and fun atmosphere that made this year’s festival such a success. 

Stay tuned for lineup announcements, ticket release dates, volunteer opportunities, and more. We’ve got a great programme of activities lined up and we can’t wait to share them with you.

Water Sound Bluegrass & Roots Festival

Friday 3rd – Sunday 5th July 2026

Let the countdown begin.

The Festival organising committee want to say a massive thank you to everyone who made the very first Water Sound Bluegrass and Roots Festival possible and such a huge success. There are too many supporters to name but special thanks has to go to Orkney Islands Council who were incredibly supportive through grant and visitor funding. Pentland Ferries and Sheila Fleet were our wonderful festival sponsors and many more contributed (e.g. Scottish Sea Farms, West of Orkney Windfarm), including generous donations to our big prize draw.

We’re grateful for all of the help provided, with loads of people volunteering and contributing their time to make it happen. In addition to all the brilliant musicians we had the best sound and lighting technicians, a brilliant crew that set up and took down the site, wonderful volunteers, and so many more. Thank you all! What a weekend!

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.

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)