Filska

This Scottish folk band was created in 1994 by Shetland resident Joyce Reid as a vehicle for the precocious fiddling talents of her teenage daughters Jenna Reid (b. Shetland, Scotland) and Bethany Reid (b. Shetland, Scotland). The Reids were joined by their friend Gemma Wilson to complete a three-fiddle line-up, with Joyce Reid accompanying the girls on piano at live appearances. Filska played at local events throughout the Shetland and Orkney Islands and made an early venture into the studio to record their debut, 1995’s Harvest Home. The album demonstrated remarkable skill levels for a band whose oldest member (barring Joyce Reid) was only 14 years old. The line-up was expanded in 1998 with the introduction of Andrew Tulloch (guitar/vocals), who had helped with the recording of the trio’s second album, Time And Tide. Filska remained an ongoing concern into the new millennium as the members reached maturity, with Joyce Reid increasingly taking a back seat. Despite their involvement in other projects, the quartet continued to tour extensively and in 2003 completed a new album for the Foot Stompin’ label.