Festival organisers welcome extra sailings

News that Serco NorthLink Ferries are to put on extra sailings in the summer, as announced earlier this week, have been welcomed by festival organisers in Orkney.

Bob Gibbon, festival director for the Orkney Folk Festival, said: “Orkney Folk Festival are delighted that NorthLink Serco have listened to our concerns and put on extra sailings on the festival weekend.  NorthLink have sponsored the festival for many years and we are grateful for their continued support. They have recognised that Folk Festival weekend is one of the busiest times of the year for Stromness and with several hundred extra visitors it is encouraging that such an important ferry route is open to its full potential.”

Mike Henderson, secretary of the Orkney Blues Festival, said: “We very much welcome these extra sailings. Our festival is not run for profit, with predominantly free and donation-based events – it’s a  true community-based festival with an international outreach and following. We’re delighted at this latest support for what is widely regarded as the friendliest blues festival in Britain.”