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Fara | Pump House Music Works

Fara brings together four musicians at the forefront of todays young Scottish folk scene, Jennifer Austin, Kristan Harvey, Jeana Leslie and Catriona Prices three fiddles and a piano, to produce a fiery sound rooted strongly in their upbringing among the music of Orkney.

Having been friends since early childhood, the girls grew up under the musical guidance of Douglas Montgomery (The Chair, Saltfishforty) with the three East Mainlanders of the band in fiddle group Hadhirgaan at Kirkwall Grammar School, and Kristan, a West Mainlander, in Jenny Keldies Shoramere at Stromness Academy. The four girls then went on to study south, and hold degrees from The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Strathclyde University, The Royal Northern College of Music and The Royal Academy of Music. They have all since established themselves in the Scottish music scene winning prizes along the way which include the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, The BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, The Deutsche Bank Award in Performance and Composition, and the Danny Kyle Award.

The idea for the band came after several appearances as The Chairettes, The Chairs backing band. At one gig, the girls were asked to play a couple of sets on their own, and Bob Gibbon, The Chairs Accordionist and Orkney Folk Festival director, suggested they form a new band. To the Chairs disappointment they decided to loose the name, and Fara was born.

With vibrant arrangements full of rich harmonies, energetic fiddle playing and driving piano, Faras show is sure to be an exciting one. With a mixture of self-penned and traditional Orkney tunes as well as stunning vocals, the girls combined musical experiences and friendships produce an exciting and individual sound.