Along with a host of local artists, this year sees the largest number of visiting acts to ever perform at the festival. Nine bands from all across the country will be travelling to Orkney to add a little extra flame to the fire, as the rock festival celebrates its fourth year.

Saturday, September 2, will see six of these acts take to the stage at Matchmakers, or The Neuk at the Albert Hotel if you are a bit more modren, for The Main Event, the ticketed gig that is the showcase for the festival, and the means of letting it all happen again in the future- get you tickets in advance, and we'll announce here when they go on sale.

Check the The Bands page for more info, links and clips

This ticketed gig will include performances from:

The King Lot

This rock trio from the heart of Scotland, comprising Jason Sweeney, Chris Gillon
and Jay Moir, straddle a multitude of rock styles. Melodic, with a hard rock edge, they
are fast becoming known as ‘masters of earwormery’.
With their second album release in the works, the trio be treating the Orkney crowd
to a selection of their latest tunes

Fit To Work

Comprised of four Orcadian old school buddies, reunited and based in the Central Belt, Fit To Work will be dishing out lethal hardcore punk, so get your earplugs at the ready!

Dripping with venomous political invective, this self-described Quasi-Autonomous, Non-Governmental Punk Act is the sum of Harry Giles (vocals), Daniel Firth (guitar), Duncan Harcus (bass) and Iain Stewart (drums).

No Sweat

Shetland’s longest performing rock band will be thrilling the Kirkwall crowd with a selection of their well-crafted original material. Formed in Yell, back in 1980, this band has supported the likes of Status Quo, Showaddywaddy and Roddy Hart.

Trongate Rum Riots

Hailing from Glasgow, a city soaked in salty maritime tradition, this band originally formed as a sea-shanty band with hopes of reviving that rich and emotive form of music. Over the past four years, however, the band has evolved to incorporate the many influences its troupe of musicians bring on board. With a style ranging from sweaty punk to dirty folk, this eight-piece riot will be bringing their powerful style of joyous chaos to The Main Event this September.

Forgotten Sons

This four-piece force from Shetland, consisting of Birdy Burgess on lead vocals, Sandy Middleton on guitar and vocals, Danny Carter on bass and John Gair on drums is expected to deliver high-energy rock at its most elemental.
With melodic and distorted riffs, topped with harmonies and drum fills to make your heart explode, their sound shows inspiration from a wide range of sources, including Alkaline Trio, The Gaslight Anthem, and Biffy Clyro.

Iron Altar 

Formed during the cold dark winter nights of Edinburgh at the end of 2015, this band is a brutal combination of old-school and modern technical metal. With influences from Black Sabbath and Corrosion Of Conformity to Lamb Of God and Mastodon, Iron Altar aims to deliver sonic devastation to all at The Main Event.

On top of The Main Event, Orkney Rock Festival will also be treating local rockers to a further three visiting acts:

Aberdeen band Counterfall, lead by Orcadian guiarist Taylor Pirie; Portalooth, an Edinburgh fusion of funk and metal; and Delorean, an 80s-inspired pop and disco riot, are all set to play the various pub gigs throughout Kirkwall.