Is there any nightlife in Shetland?

Shetland is well-known for its musical tradition, and this heritage of music is still very much alive in the culture today.

Many of Shetland’s pubs still feature local musicians. Halfway up Mounthooly Street, the Lounge Bar is probably the best place to find impromptu live music sessions – usually on Wednesday and Thursday night.

There are numerous festivals and annual events that celebrate Shetland’s musical roots. None mark Shetland’s contribution to music more than the annual Folk Festival. The Folk Festival is held every spring and features a line-up of folk artists and musicians from all over the world.

The fiddle is the most synonymous instrument with the isles, and this is celebrated in the annual Shetland Accordion & Fiddle Festival, held in autumn over five days. This festival also attracts musicians from all over the world, and there is a real focus on Scottish Dance music.

There’s also the Folk Frenzy, a summer festival and the Guitar Festival that celebrates the work of Peerie Willie, a talented Shetland musician.

No matter what season you visit Shetland, you’ll find a celebration of music and folk tradition in some form or another.

For a quiet cocktail and fine food, Lerwick’s Dowry provides a modern Scandi space serving a selection of beers and cocktails and providing a fantastic social hub in the evenings and weekends. The Dowry is always busy so if you want a meal before your cocktail evening, be sure to book.

Mareel is a purpose-built music venue and cinema run by Shetland Arts. They run various events and gigs throughout the year, and it’s worth checking the What’s On guide before you arrive to see if there are any gigs that you fancy attending while in Shetland.

If you want to hear renditions of Don’t Stop Believin’ and Livin’ on a Prayer, then you want to head to the Douglas Arms (better known as the Marlex) on Saturday night. Weekends are busy. If karaoke is not your thing, you can head next door to the bar and have a game of pool or darts.

Across the road from the Douglas Arms is the Lerwick Legion which often has local or visiting bands playing. It’s worth looking out for posters or checking the local press before you arrive to see if any bands are playing.

Shetland has two nightclubs that are open every weekend until 3 am. Posers Nightclub is located off Commercial Street, behind the Grand Hotel and features a resident DJ playing a selection of chart hits and dance music. Da Wheel Bar is just off the main Commercial Street, on Lerwick’s Commercial Road, and has a late-night weekend licence. By day this is a busy pub, and in the evening, the upstairs transforms into a nightclub featuring a light-up dancefloor and DJ. Both are loud and lively, with a young crowd.

Outside of Lerwick is quieter in terms of nightlife, although if you’re staying in Scalloway or Brae, you’ll find a few pubs and a local community feel.

If you’re visiting between January and March, check out when the local Up Helly Aas are, as these are always lively and raucous affairs.

Perhaps you won’t find a bangin’ nightlife in Shetland with throngs of clubbers lining the night streets, but what you will find is a real sense of authenticity and deep-rooted musical culture that is far greater than many other areas. If you can find some local music, tap into it and let yourself get drawn into the magic of the isles.