Fire, Family and Finn Moray: Lisa Manson Takes Centre Stage at SMUHA

There are moments when a project stops being something you are building and becomes something you are living. Tonight is one of those moments.

The South Mainland Up Helly Aa (SMUHA) fire festival takes place this evening in the south end of Shetland — a torch-lit procession, a Viking galley set ablaze, and hours of performing and dancing in halls across the community. It is one of several Up Helly Aa celebrations held across the islands each year, and every one carries its own fierce local pride.

At the heart of this year’s festival is Lisa Manson and her family. Lisa is the Finn Moray singer performing Muddy Bay (Blood & Bone) on AON: THE GATHERING — the track rooted in the salt, stone and stubborn pride of Shetland. To see her and her family central to SMUHA tonight is a reminder that this project is built on real people, real places and real community.

Award-winning director Calum Youngson is helming the shoot for Finn Moray, with Eilidh Brown, Marketing Coordinator, alongside him. Calum, who joined as co-director during this week's Shetland location shoot, brings twenty-five years of global experience to the production. The footage from tonight will add a powerful cultural layer to the Shetland chapter of the album — fire, tradition and community captured in their rawest, most spectacular form.

Good luck to everyone involved in SMUHA tonight. We wish the festival every success and cannot wait to see the footage.