Whit’s on this weekend?

East Mainland Show

August 3, 2019

The 120th East Mainland Show will be taking place, this Saturday. This will be the second agricultural show of the season and is a great way to see some of the county’s very best stock ahead of the County Show, which takes place next Saturday, August 10.

Centred in Toab, the show may be small but it has a lot going for it. Entries at the East Mainland Show are well worth keeping an eye on, as they often go on to do very well at the County Show. Judging at the showground, located next to the old school house in Toab, runs from 9am. There were also be activities and refreshments, providing fun for all the family.

The East Mainland Horticultural Show will also take place in its normal venue of the St Andrews Community Centre on both Saturday and Sunday August 3 and 4, with baking, handicrafts, children’s work, photos, flowers, vegetables, preserves and
more.

Sanday Soulka

August 3, 2019

Sanday will play host not only to its annual agricultural show this weekend, but also to the third Sanday Soulka of
2019.

Following on from Friday’s agricultural and industrial show, Saturday will bring a sea-angling competition, sand castles and beach art, a crabbing contest, live music by Bad Apple, and much more.

The festivities will continue on Sunday, with an Orkney Feast by Jac and Co, an Orkney Rocks! workshop and concert, and the Soulka raffle.

You can keep up to date with everything Soulka on www.sandaysoulka.org and on the Sanday Soulka Facebook page.

Piano Bar

August 3, 2019

Orkney Sailing Club is set to be transformed into a piano bar, this evening, Friday.

Pianist Jose Luis Altamarino will be entertaining at The Girnel from 7pm, playing a broad repertoire of songs from classics to contemporary.

Jose first met club members when they visited Skudeneshavn in Norway for the Convoy Cup race in 2012.

“Myself and fellow crew Michael Miller, Harky Hutchison, Robbie Bruce and Mike Cooper sailed over on Catherine J for the race,” recalled Brian Kynoch, of Orkney Sailing Club.

“Events in Skudeneshavn surround the annual Skudefestivalen event, which combines a classic boat/engine show with a music festival. We met Jose Luis Altamarino in the Piano Bar in Skudeneshavn, where he plays during the festival — a popular meeting place for locals and sailors.

During subsequent years, Orkney members have always got a warm welcome when meeting up in the Piano Bar.

“In 2016, Jose invited Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Wallhead, who crewed with us that year with father Simon, to play during his break,” Brian explained.

“Charlie’s performance went down extremely well, I have to say.

“We have kept up our annual visit to Skudeneshavn to support the now Convoy Cup Rally, and discussed the possibility of Jose coming to Orkney for the 10th anniversary of the Convoy cup this year. He jumped at the opportunity, but could not make the dates for the reception here, so we decided to make his visit part of the Orkney Sailing Club’s 130th anniversary celebrations.

“And here we are, its happening — a great example of the Orkney Norway friendship that exists and is flourishing.”

CAS Neil Young

August 4, 2019

If you’ve been searching for a heart of gold, look no further — the music of Neil Young is coming to town in the form of the latest listening and appreciation session from Classic Album Sundays.

The nationwide event sees folk take some time to sit back, relax and enjoy a classic LP in all its glory. This month, Classic Album Sundays presents two legendary albums from singer-songwriter Neil Young — Harvest and After the Goldrush.

As legend would have it, in 1972, when the musician first shared Harvest with his friend and sometime collaborator Graham Nash, they rowed a boat out into the middle of the lake on Neil’s California ranch. The huge bank of speakers for the left channel was set up in Young’s house, with all the windows open, whilst the right channel speakers where over in the barn which was also a make-shift studio. After a few minutes, Neil is reported to have said to his friend: “It’s too house heavy,” before standing up in the boat and shouting at the top of his voice to his producer on the shore “More barn!”

Though Orkney’s Classic Album Sunday attendees won’t have quite as grand or adventurous a setting in which to listen, event curator Adrian Holmes hopes that music fans will join him to celebrate Neil Young, at The Sound Archive, Kirkwall, this Sunday, August 4, from 4pm. There, Adrian promises many more tales of one of rock’s most prolific, uncompromising and outspoken singer-songwriters. Afterwards, you’ll get the chance to listen to both albums on vinyl, uninterrupted.

To find out more about this event, you can search “CAS Neil Young” on www.seetickets.com or enquire at The Old Library, Kirkwall.