Today's episode is centred around the upcoming HippFest 2024 opening night on Wednesday 20th March, The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric. Directed by Jenny Gilbertson, nee Jenny Brown. HippFest is proud to present this extraordinary film with the world premiere of our new music commission created by award winning multi instrumentalist and composer from Fair Isle, Inge Thomson, collaborating with another Shetland born musician, Catriona Macdonald, who is considered to be one of the world's leading traditional fiddle players.

Digital Content Manager Christina chats to both musicians about their upcoming collaboration, and conversation meanders from discussing Jenny Gilbertson's sensitivity when film-making, to the incredible skill of the Shetland fishermen and crofters who turned their hand to acting in the 1933 film, to particular sounds that viewers can expect during the performance (Shetlanders make note - the Unst Bridal March will feature), and the joy of this unique musical collaboration.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy, ahead of our second pre-Festival presentation premiering on Friday 23 February, which will dig a little deeper into the extraordinary life and career of Jenny Gilbertson...

Relevant links

• An English transcript of this episode is available here


• More about Inge Thomson⁠⁠


• More about Catriona Macdonald⁠

• Tickets for the in-person screening of The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric


• Tickets for the online live-stream of The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric


• Tickets for the online premiere of Jenny Gilbertson: 'A Real Illuminator'