The annual Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival held each October is equally popular, drawing huge audiences of locals and visitors. During the summer months Islesburgh's exhibition allows visitors the opportunity to hear the Shetland fiddlers, while local mini festivals, known as Foys, take place over weekends. Children are taught music in the schools and there are many accomplished players performing with youth bands. Craftsmen produce instruments on both a hobby and professional basis. Kenny Johnson of Skyinbow Fiddles, in Vidlin, makes wonderful, bright and exciting electric fiddles as featured in "Lord of the Dance".

The late Tom Anderson's life work was to collect and popularise traditional Shetland music and stories, and his collection can now be heard at Shetland Archives. Rock, heavy metal, experimental and avant garde music have their place, with two major rock marquee events and the Unst Rock Festival occurring in summer, featuring both local musicians and bands from south. Classical and choral music concerts take place more frequently during the winter months and again appear in the newspaper's listings.

DANCE
Shetland Folk Dance demonstrates weekly over the summer at Islesburgh Community Centre and travels outside Shetland to perform at festivals in the UK and abroad.

Weddings and socials throughout the isles have both young and old on the floor for the better known Scottish Country dances as well as Shetland dances such as the Foula Reel.

The Papa Stour Sword Dance has its roots buried in the past and is the only Shetland dance exclusively performed by men.