PASSENGERS on a wind-swept ferry decided to liven up their journey by having an impromptu ceilidh.
The normally quiet car deck was transformed into a wild scene of dance and music on a journey between two islands on Shetland.
A group of musicians returning from a festival provided the music and weary travellers joined in one-by-one.
A video of the spontaneous party shows bemused ferry workers looking on as around 30 whooping passengers reel about the deck.
A full ceilidh band, including a fiddle player, guitarist and accordion, were returning the Shetland Folk Festival on the island of Yell to the main town of Lerwick.
The ceilidh apparently started on a band’s bus and transferred to the car deck for the entire 30-minute crossing.
The video was posted on the Facebook page of Edinburgh band Adam Holmes And The Embers.
Musician Adam Holmes, 23, from Edinburgh, said: “We were on the bus and Saltfishforty started playing a version of Highway to Hell, called Highway to Yell.
“There was quite a lot of drinking involved. It was just pretty mental.
“It was quite magical. It felt like the Titanic before it went bad. It was quite beautiful – one of those special moments.”
Ian Pearson, assistant marine superintendent at Shetland Isles Council, said: “It’s very entertaining. It kind of happens from time to time with travelling musicians or the folk festival.
“There are no safety concerns for dancing on the car deck – you can get out of your car
on these ferries. it’s usually done on a fine summer’s night so the ferry doesn’t move much.
“One time I was a crew member on a ferry and a Russian band started playing. Of course, they all started Cossack dancing.”
The video can be viewed here: https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=734901599893189&set=vb.177251088991579&type=2&theater
