FolkWaves

The Banks of Ness / EuroJig by The Duplets

Banks of Ness, Traditional Eurojig by Fraya Thomsen Arranged by The Duplets. Brought up in the Highlands of Scotland, Gillian Fleetwood and Fraya Thomsen first met in musical workshops at Balnain House, Inverness. Both went on to study in Glasgow where their friendship and musical partnership continued to develop and resulted in the formation of […]

Barber Ave. by Scott Wood Band

Described as “a collaboration of the most promising young Scottish Musicians”, and fronted by one of the world’s leading young bagpipers, the band features finalists from the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the Year competitions. In 2014, they achivements were recognised when they were nominated as ‘Folk […]

All The Prayer by Gerda Stevenson

All the Prayer is track 4 from Gerda’s album of her own songs NIGHT TOUCHES DAY, described by Rory Macdonald of Runrig as “a new Humanist anthem, a really groundbreaking, important song”; by Folk Radio UK as “an ancient enchantment. Backed up by strings, drones and layered vocals, the song implores us to live for […]

Rough Diamonds by Alan Reid and Rob van Sante

Alan Reid wrote this song to celebrate the common folk, the workers and in this case the Lothian Miners and the ill fated coal industry in Scotland. Rough Diamonds refers to the “Salt of the Earth”, the honest working man.. Alan Reid and Rob van Sante joined forces in 2001 whilst working with Scotland’s finest […]

Thunderstruck by Tom Orr Band

This is the first track of the album and sets out exactly what it is all about. Very much Scottish Traditional Dance Music but with an interesting mix-up. Tom Orr is one of Scotland’s leading accordion players. His primary genre is Scottish Dance Music. It is not only Scottish Dance Music played to the very […]

The Smasher by RURA

An instrumental track from RURA’s five-star (Songlines, July 2015) album, Despite The Dark. Two tunes from members of the band – “The Boys of Ballydowse” by David Foley (bodhran, flute), and “The Smasher” by Jack Smedley (fiddle). Ballydowse is a fictional town in the south of Ireland, and the setting for the independent film ‘The […]

On the loose again by Alan Reid and Rob van Sante

John Paul Jones was a Scottish born mariner who fought for the Americans in the Revolutionary War and later became an Admiral in the Russian Navy. On this journey John Paul Jones Sails with his ship the Bonhomme Richard around the British Isles. He makes a failed attempt to burn the port of Leith and […]

Singer and flutist Sarah Hayes reflects on the connections and interactions she found with singer Sara Kazmi during our City to City (Glasgow to Lahore) project.

Here is an excerpt of a blog from singer and flautist Sarah Hayes for Highlight Arts on a project with Lahore singer Sara Kazmi. I spent a truly immersive week with Highlight Arts in May. While poets from Glasgow and Lahore workshopped new ‘transcreations’ of each other’s work, singer Sara Kazmi and I were in […]

High Drivin’ set by Taliska

From the sleeve notes: A meaty dish to get the digestive system a kick start. Like a good dose of caffeine, these tunes will get you up and jigging about – you’ll not be able to sit still. Playing to sell-out audiences at folk festivals and boutique music venues alike, Taliska are a force to […]

FolkWaves hits Australia

We are delighted to be at the National Celtic Folk Festival, Portarlington Australia, we were are launching FolkWaves to the Australian media. The partnership between Hands up for Trad and the festival came about on our trip to Folk Alliance International in Kansas City back in February. The National Celtic Folk Festival is Australia’s largest […]