Saltfishforty
Saltfishforty are a fresh and dynamic duo hailing from the Orkney Islands in the north of Scotland. Douglas Montgomery (fiddle/viola) and Brian Cromarty (songs/guitar/mandola) combine the rich traditional music of Orkney with original compositions.
The powerhouse partnership have won a devoted following throughout the UK and beyond, brilliantly transcending the duo format’s conventional confines. Linchpin figures in the currently flourishing revival of Orkney’s traditional music, they unite these deep-rooted sources with an exhilarating breadth of influence and expertise, catalysed by a creative empathy born from decades of friendship. The result is a sound of equally thrilling raw attack and multi-dimensional richness.
A partnership forged back in 2002 – more by accident than design – the two knew each other since primary school, and played together in sessions and various bands, until they were booked in a four-piece for a charity gig, and only the two turned up: “We decided to go on and just make as much noise as two people possibly could – which is kind of how it’s been ever since” they say.
Years later, Saltfishforty have delighted audiences at many of the world’s top folk festivals including Celtic Connections, Cambridge, HebCelt, Shetland, Lorient in Brittany and Canada’s Celtic Colours, as well as touring to the US and throughout Europe. Their focus on Orkney music takes in traditional, contemporary and original material, boldly cross-fertilised with influences from Americana to East European folk, plus a high-octane whiff of heavy metal.
The duo are working on a sixth studio release, and have five previous albums to their name: BERE (2017) LIVE (2013), Netherbow (2010), Orkney Twister (2005) and Goose Music (2003).
In 2024, The Creelman (Netherbow) was revealed in VisitScotland research as one of the top ten most popular Scots trad songs on Spotify.
You can see Saltfishforty perform at the Saturday night concert.
Douglas Montgomery
Orkney Tunes (Intermediate)
Learn tunes from the fiddle rich culture of Orkney with the current MG Alba Scots Trad
Music Awards Tutor of the Year.
Brian Cromarty
Accompaniment (Intermediate)
For players with a solid grasp of basic chords who want to expand chord choices and
explore different rhythmic patterns.
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