Rumbo North Isles Festival Connects Scotland’s Northern Isles With Argentina

Routes to Roots has announced Rumbo North Isles, a new cross-cultural festival that will bring musicians from Orkney, Shetland, and Argentina together for performances, workshops and creative exchanges to Scotland’s Northern Isles this August.

The festival follows the organization’s inaugural event, Rumbo Oaxaca, which took place in Mexico earlier this year. Routes to Roots expands its international collaboration program by connecting artists from Scotland’s island communities with musicians from Latin America. The initiative is led by Founder and Artistic Director Catriona Price, Creative Director Joni Strugo and Musical Director Juan Grabina.

Two main concerts will support the festival. The first will take place on 1 August at Mareel in Lerwick, while the second is scheduled for 9 August at The Marquee at Picky in Kirkwall. Both events will feature collaborative performances alongside individual sets from participating artists.

Among the visiting acts are Argentine duo Lohdóh, whose work combines contemporary songwriting with electronic influences, and El Guapo, which combines Latin American traditions with rock, funk, and jazz.

The line-up also includes several artists from Scotland. Kris Drever, a prominent figure in contemporary Scottish folk music, will appear alongside Price, whose work with Fara and Twelfth Day has earned wide recognition.

In Shetland, audiences will also see performances from Amy Laurenson and Norman Wilmore and Skelpit. Meanwhile, the Orkney program will feature The Chair and emerging group Auskerry.

In addition, artists will perform in mixed ensembles throughout the festival, creating opportunities for collaboration.

Price said Rumbo North Isles represents a significant milestone for Routes to Roots, which officially launched as an organization in 2026. She noted that the festival follows the success of Rumbo Oaxaca, a Routes to Roots showcase at Celtic Connections in January, and a forthcoming intercultural performance at the Edinburgh International Festival later this summer.

Alongside its headline concerts, Rumbo North Isles will present workshops and community activities in Orkney and Shetland. Organizers said the program aims to encourage direct engagement between local audiences and visiting artists.

Joni Strugo, Creative Director of Routes to Roots said: “We’re thrilled with the line-up we’ve brought together for the first edition of Rumbo North Isles. It’s a real privilege to be welcoming Lohdóh – the incredible Argentine musicians Noelia Recalde and Jonatan Szer – to Scotland for the very first time. Alongside them, we have some of the finest musical exports from the North Isles, including Kris Drever, The Chair, Amy Laurenson & Norman Wilmore, and exciting emerging acts such as Auskerry and Skelpit, alongside the Routes to Roots team Catriona Price and my band from Argentina, El Guapo.

I’m so happy to be returning to Scotland. Since beginning to work with Catriona, I’ve spent a lot of time here, and it has become a very special place for both me and my El Guapo partner Juan. The North Isles in particular have a unique creative spirit and sense of community that we’ve fallen in love with.

It’s a pleasure to share our Latin American-rooted original music with audiences here, and even more exciting to bring artists together through Routes to Roots. We believe that when people from different cultures make music together, something truly special happens, and Rumbo North Isles is all about creating those moments of connection.”

Rumbo North Isles: Shetland
Sat 1 Aug 2026 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Mareel, Lerwick
Lineup (in no particular order):

• Lohdóh
• El Guapo
• Catriona Price
• Kris Drever
• Amy Laurenson & Norman Wilmore
• Skelpit

Rumbo North Isles: Orkney
Sun 9 Aug 2026 3:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Location: Marquee at Picky, Kirkwall
Lineup (in no particular order):

• The Chair (Douglas Montgomery)
• Auskerry
• Lohdóh
• El Guapo
• Catriona Price

Tickets for Rumbo North Isles are on sale now at routestorootsmusic.org