An exceptional sponsorship opportunity has become available for the 2025 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards – the prestigious Venue of the Year category. This award celebrates the beating hearts of Scotland’s traditional music scene – the venues that provide crucial platforms for artists to connect with audiences, from intimate folk clubs to grand concert halls. These […]
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Strathspey and Surreal Orchestra, Scots Fiddle Festival, Saturday 15th November 2025 | 7:30pm The Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh
We’re thrilled to announce that the Strathspey and Surreal Fiddle Orchestra will be performing at this year’s Scots Fiddle Festival, sharing the bill with the fantastic Saltfishforty and Scots Fiddle Festival Youth Engagement Project. The Strathspey and Surreal Fiddle Orchestra brings together some of Scotland’s finest fiddlers in a vibrant celebration of traditional music reimagined for […]
Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame 20th Anniversary Celebration with David Francis and Louis DeCarlo
Join Hands Up for Trad for an intimate celebration marking two decades of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Host David Francis sits down with renowned photographer Louis DeCarlo, whose lens has captured every inductee since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 2005. Louis will share captivating stories from his photographic journey across Scotland and Ireland, including […]
Christmas Songbook to take festive cheer on tour across Scotland
Scotland’s iconic Christmas Songbook is back for 2025, promising to sprinkle even more festive magic across Scotland this December. With a legendary line up fronted by beloved accordion player Phil Cunningham, dazzling new arrangements, and the same heartwarming charm that has made it a seasonal staple for nearly two decades, this year’s tour is set to be one […]
Annual Hamish Henderson Memorial Lecture – Saturday 15th November
This year’s Hamish Henderson Memorial Lecture is presented by David Francis, hosted by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland). Tradition as Heritage: Enclosing the Commons The UK Government signed the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2024 and is currently looking at what that means in practical terms. When the traditional arts […]
Pianodrome Bruntsfield Community Hub – a Community crowdfunding project in Edinburgh
Pianodrome are raising funds to create a warm, beautiful community hub in the centre of Edinburgh with our Pianodrome at its heart. The Pianodrome is the world’s first 100-seater amphitheatre made entirely from disused pianos. Since our first Pianodrome amphitheatre was built in 2018 we have continued to create unique playable, community-centred sculptures, activating them […]
Big Burns Supper reveals new format for 2026
The 14th Big Burns Supper programme has launched with a total reworking of the entire festival format for the 2026 edition of the winter festival. The continuation of the Northern Lights Dumfries programme, which includes 14 sound and light installations as part of a free town-wide trail co-created with a range of different partners, will […]
Patsy Reid Brings Simon Thoumire’s Compositions to Life on “I Am Disposed To Mirth”
A stunning new album showcases the fiddle music of Simon Thoumire in what may be one of the finest fiddle performances of all time When a master fiddler meets masterful compositions, something magical happens. Patsy Reid’s new album “I Am Disposed To Mirth” is exactly that kind of magic – a breathtaking interpretation of Simon […]
Memorial concert for Charlie Allan
A special concert will be held on 21 November at Inverurie’s Acorn Centre to celebrate the remarkable life and legacy of Charlie Allan, the much-loved North East farmer, writer, musician, and athlete whose influence touched many over decades. Charlie Allan, who died in 2023, was known for his deep connection to rural life, his gift […]
Bridge Over Little Stream by Rhona Smith
Bridge over Little Stream was first commissioned in 2017 after Rhona Smith performed her piece ‘Shetland Journey’ at the Distil showcase. Hands Up for Trad approached her and suggested she work on a duet with Su-a Lee (cello). Hands Up for Trad asked Rhona to compose a piece with the idea of Su-a and Rhona […]