Scran season 7: Exploring Shetland's food and drink

A member of the Junior Up Helly Aa reacts as he looks at a ship burning during the parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 30, 2024 during the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 'guizers' (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

placeholder image — A member of the Junior Up Helly Aa reacts as he looks at a ship burning during the parade through the streets of in Lerwick, Shetland Islands on January 30, 2024 during the Up Helly Aa festival later in the day. Up Helly Aa celebrates the influence of the Scandinavian Vikings in the Shetland Islands and culminates with up to 1,000 'guizers' (men in costume) throwing flaming torches into their Viking longboat and setting it alight later in the evening. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

On this episode of Scran I took the long trek north to experience a bucket-list event, Shetland's Up Helly Aa which takes place in Lerwick at the end of January each year.

I spent two days on the island learning about the festival and its long tradition as well as exploring Shetland's world of food and drink, both past and present. You'll hear an array of voices, music and sounds on today's podcast.

First up I met Ryan Leith of the Up Helly Aa Committee to learn more about the festival and the lengthy planning process it takes to run the event each year.

I went along to Lerwick's modern performing arts venue Mareel where a food and drink fair was taking place.

There she met with island producers and businesses to find out more about the island's food and drink heritage and what is happening in this vibrant, progressive community.

I spoke to Martin Watt of Lerwick Distillery, Mary Andreas of Shetland Food and Drink, Nicola Johnston of Island Larder, Mark Turnbull of Shetland Reel Distillery, Johnny Sanderson of Lerwick Brewery and David Parham of the Hand Made Fish Co.

You'll also hear chat from Kerry Redfern, a hostess at Sound Primary School which was preparing for hosting guests and the squads of guizers after the burning of the galley at Up Helly Aa.

Finally, you'll hear from the Guizer Jarl himself Richard Moar as well as some very important guizers this year - the first females ever to take part as part of the main Jarl squad, Sana and Zara.

Listen to the episode in full

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