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Britpop legends Ash set to headline Shetland music festival

Cameron Angus-MackayBBC Scotland
News imageGetty Images Tim Wheeler of Ash wears a dark Kurt Cobain T-shirt and a pale wood guitar. He is on stage with a drummer behind him and the word ASH in red on a black screen behind himGetty Images
The Northern Irish band performed at Glastonbury last year

Britpop legends Ash and and indie pop group Pale Waves are set to headline an alternative music festival in Shetland.

Rising North kicked off on Thursday night and will run until Sunday, with bands taking over several venues across Lerwick.

The festival began in 2024 with the aim of attracting touring bands to Shetland and giving local artists a platform.

Organisers said they were expecting about 1,000 people at the Friday and Saturday night headline gigs in the transformed Clickimin leisure complex.

High-energy anthems from Manchester rock band Pale Waves will take over the sports centre on Friday, while Ash's career-spanning set will close out Saturday.

A total of 41 acts are set to perform at the festival, playing a range of genres from folk to metal, funk and pop.

News imageRoger Sargent Three men sitting casually on a pavement below a mural which says 'The Girl From Mars' in large red graffiti. They look relaxed.Roger Sargent
Ash's breakthrough hit Girl from Mars came out in 1995

Tim Wheeler, the lead singer of Ash, said he would be visiting Shetland for the first time and loved the variety of festivals.

He said: "You never quite know what it's going to be like. There's an element of surprise.

"We've played small marquees and huge outdoor stages. We're very adaptable."

While Rising North may be a "a bit of a trek" from his London home, Wheeler said he was looking forward to taking to the stage on Saturday.

Part of that journey will see the band's equipment take the 12-hour long overnight ferry from Aberdeen.

Ash enjoyed early success during the 90s Britpop era, with hit songs including Girl from Mars and Shining Light.

The band are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their debut album 1977, with plans to tour Australia, New Zealand and Japan later this year.

News imageA man grinning at the camera. He is bald and is wearing a black top. He's standing in front of scaffolding and musical equipment in a sports hall.
Festival director David Bisset says it's a great platform for local bands

Festival director David Bisset says running the event is "a lot of work, a lot of stress and a lot of reward".

He said it had been challenging bringing some of the acts to Shetland because of the archipelago's distance from the mainland.

Shetland is 216 miles (347km) from Aberdeen by ferry, but there are regular flights to Sumburgh airport from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen.

Bisset said the majority of the bands were local, and it's hoped they can grow from playing at the festival, as well as the chance to meet and learn from the headliners.

News imageA bald man with facial hair and glasses. He is looking at the camera and standing in a sports hall covered in musical equipment.
Centre manager Neil Moncrieff said a lot of work had gone into transforming the centre

Neil Moncrieff, assistant manager of the leisure centre, said a huge amount of work had gone on behind the scenes.

He said crews had spent two days converting the space into a music venue.

"You almost don't recognise it as a sports complex, it's incredible," he said.

A temporary floor has been installed in the main hall, with a stage and sound system put up at one end of the room.

Moncrieff said the indoor bowls hall had also being temporarily converted into a second stage.

Rising North, pegged as the UK's most northernly alternative music festival, will also feature free and family friendly events across the weekend.

Official after-parties will see sets from Scottish DJs including Franck and Saul Hardie.