News

Hugh MacDiarmid (born Christopher Murray Grieve) 1892 – 1978 is acknowledged to have been Scotland’s greatest poet of the twentieth century, and a Modernist writer of international significance.  His work continues to permeate and shape Scottish identity in our time.  From 1952 until his death in 1978 he lived at Brownsbank Cottage just to the […]

The musical connections between three of Scotland’s island groups – Orkney, Shetland and the Outer Hebrides – are to be celebrated at this year’s Orkney Folk Festival, with two collaborative concerts featuring celebrated musicians and singers from each of the areas. Leading western Isles vocalists Julie Fowlis and Kathleen MacInnes will appear alongside Shetland’s Jenny […]

Boasting 3 world class tutors in Fiddle, Guitar and Whistle. Our workshop delivers a high-end musical masterclass in Dunoon’s much acclaimed Burgh Hall. Our modern approach to learning begins a month before the workshop. We send the sheet music and tune structure in “mp3” to you via email in June, allowing “sight readers” and “learn by ear” students time to grasp the tunes 30 days BEFORE the workshop […]

Come and join in with your Choir, as an individual singer or as a group of singing friends and be part of our Sing for Water (Scotland) Choir raising money for Water Aid. As part of Sing for Water choirs and singers learn 6 songs separately and then come together for one big massed choir […]

Very sad news today. Below is Gordeanna’s biography from her 2016 induction to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Gordeanna McCulloch is one of Scotland’s greatest folksong and ballad singers, with a voice as strong and individual as those of Jeannie Robertson, Belle Stewart, Jimmy MacBeath, Davie Stewart, and Willie Scott, all of whom […]

Discover Scotland’s rich musical heritage on our new singing holiday with tutor Robyn Stapleton, one of the country’s most respected folk singers. Join in to learn a wide repertoire of traditional Scottish songs and discover the stories behind them. Find out more. The location for this holiday is right in the heart of Scotland’s Capital […]

Local music fans can start marking their diaries and pencilling in their dates as the Shetland Folk Festival announces its local artist line-up and concert programme this week. The 39th festival is even bigger this year with an increase in concerts, capacity and a range of one-off special showcase events leaving something for everyone.  Over […]

Adults and children/kids alike and all instruments are welcome Merlin Music Academy’s residential traditional music summer camp. Classes include Fiddle, Voice, Guitars, Piano, Accordion, Drums/percussion (give us a call if you are not sure) for 5 days of great music, sessions, food and the opportunity to learn from some of Scotland’s finest musicians. You will […]

CARA release “Mòran Taing” charity single for Cancer Research on 28th March 2019, and welcome new bandmate, Aimee Farrell Courtney (bodhrán) from Ireland. CARA are delighted to announce the release of their forthcoming single, “Mòran Taing”, which means “many thanks” in Scots Gaelic. Written by Scottish songwriter and CARA member, Kim Edgar (piano, lead vocals), […]