Fara
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FolkFara Biography
FARA are a powerhouse in the Scottish folk music scene, igniting stages with their magnetic blend of spellbinding vocals, intricate harmonies, and driving fiddle tunes rooted in the rich tradition of their homeland of Orkney. With three award-winning fiddlers—Kristan Harvey, Jeana Leslie, and Catriona Price—joined by the sensational Rory Matheson on piano, FARA deliver a sound that is bold, passionate, and unmistakably their own.
Steeped in the centuries-old musical heritage of the Orkney Islands, FARA breathe new life into existing melodies while crafting original compositions that push the tradition forward. Their signature style weaves fiery fiddle sets with lyrical songwriting and three-part harmonies that soar with emotional intensity, creating performances that are as stirring as they are unforgettable.
As well as securing a wealth of awards and accolades as a collective, each member of FARA brings musical pedigree to the stage in their own right. Kristan Harvey - also a member of Blazin’ Fiddles - has won the prestigious BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year award, while Jeana Leslie claimed a BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2008 alongside her singing partner, Siobhan Miller. Catriona Price is celebrated for her cross-genre collaborations and orchestral composition work with ensembles such as Routes to Roots and Thirteen North. Their newest member, Rory Matheson, is a BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 1/2finalist and one of Scotland’s most exciting pianists—his sensitivity, drive, and technical brilliance add a bold new dimension to FARA’s already distinctive sound.
Their live shows are a storm of joyful energy—part storytelling session, part roof-raising session— bursting with charisma, spirit, and Orkney soul. Whether playing to intimate folk audiences or festival fields, FARA charm and captivate, bringing audiences to their feet with every performance.
With acclaimed albums including Cross the Line, Times from Times Fall, and Energy Islands, FARA have earned critical praise and a loyal following at home and abroad. They are regulars on the folk festival circuit and have graced stages from their adopted Glasgow’s Celtic Connections, to Australia’s Port Fairy Folk Festival, bringing their Orcadian fire to audiences across Europe and beyond.
FARA aren’t just preserving tradition—they’re driving it forward with fearless creativity and fierce joy. For bookers and fans alike, this is a band that delivers every time: a sound as wild and windswept as their island home, and as rich and resonant as the history they celebrate.
Fara reviews
“Torch-bearers of a freshly reinvigorated tradition. . . one of the most exciting Scottish folk discoveries in recent years” AllMusic
“Gifted, imaginative, complex and engaging. . . a sound that just exudes joy” FRUK
“Bring contemporary fiddle music to new heights. . . enthralling vocal arrangements” Scotsman
“From delicate, elegant and beautiful to full and rich and fiery. . . spellbinding” Fatea
Fara availability
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