Supporting the gig will be The Eyland Project (Renzo Spiteri, David Boyter & Sophie Wishart) - a multi-cultural musical outfit that blends Scottish folk music with Mediterranean, North African and Middle Eastern rhythmic patterns.
Exploring the musical traditions of Shetland and further afield, Amy challenges the role of piano in traditional music by bringing it to the fore as a lead melodic instrument. With no fear of jumping fences and merging lines, she has developed a style which is incredibly descriptive of her artistic individuality. It comes from a place of love and care for the place of her upbringing, intertwined with a diversity which ebbs and flows between traditional, classical, jazz, and contemporary music.
Following success at the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023 award, Amy has toured with her quartet at festivals and venues throughout the UK such as Shetland Folk Festival, Edinburgh TradFest, Cambridge Folk Festival and the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards. More recently, she appeared with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Glasgow City Halls during BBC Burns Night 2024 celebrations. Her contributions to Scotland’s cultural landscape have seen her being named in The List’s Hot 100 in 2023.
Amy will bring to the stage music from her critically acclaimed album Strands as well as new music that hasn’t yet seen the light of day. Strands was recorded at Mareel with Tim Matthew during 2023, supported by the Shetland Musical Heritage Trust, and was launched at Celtic Connections during February 2024.
“As debut albums go, they don’t come much more impressive than this.” - ★★★★★ The Scotsman
“Strands, is nine spellbinding tracks of utter joy… What magnificent artistry!” - ★★★★★ FolkWales
“Unique and highly innovative, Amy takes her audience on a storytelling, emotional journey. Her use of expression and colour create spellbinding moments of utter beauty… our tradition is in safe hands.” - Marie Fielding
“Hugely impressive… Beautiful ideas played with great control and flair.” - Dave Milligan
Tickets for Amy Laurenson Quartet cost £18 and are available to purchase online from tickets.shetlandarts.org, in-person at the Box Office in Mareel, or by calling on 01595 745 500 during opening hours of 10am-9pm, Tuesday - Sunday.
