The Clarsach Society unveils the 44th Edinburgh International Harp Festival (EIHF) as harpists from around the globe gather in Scotland’s capital city to celebrate the versatility of the harp and its worldwide community of players, from April 11th – 15th 2024. With an impressive line-up of concerts, courses and workshops, the EIHF showcases world-renowned harpists, […]
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Orkney Folk Festival Releases Full Programme for 2025 Event
Orkney Folk Festival has announced its full programme for the 2025 event, with acts from around the world set to perform across the islands between 22 and 25 May. Leading artists from Canada, the USA, Australia, Ireland, Denmark, Finland, Sápmi, England and throughout Scotland will join home-grown Orcadian musicians as part of the 60 acts appearing at […]
Singing Kettle Stars Celebrated As Honorary Members of Top Cultural Organisation
Two of Scotland’s finest folk stars and celebrated children’s entertainers have become lifetime honorary members of a top cultural organisation. Cilla Fisher and Artie Trezise, the world-famous Singing Kettle, became Honorary Life Members of the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland (TMSA) at a ceremony at Glasgow Art Club on Wednesday 12th March. Before creating […]
Hands Up for Trad’s Women in Music and Culture 2025 List
We are delighted to announce the Hands Up For Trad Women in Music and Culture List for 2025, celebrating the outstanding contributions of women across Scotland’s rich cultural landscape. Since our inaugural list in 2023, this initiative has grown into an important annual celebration of the vital role women play in shaping, preserving, and innovating […]
Wee Grants for Creativity in the Scots Leid 2024/25 – recipients
Here at Hands up For Trad we were glad tae wark wi Creative Scotland tae gie oot 14 grants o £700 tae Scots Language Creative fowk. Ower the course o 2025, a hail slate o new Scots wark will be breengin ontae stages, braidcast on podcasts, pit oot oan Spotify or meetin fowk in care […]
Celebrated fiddle group marks milestone 45 years
A celebrated Scottish fiddle group has marked its 45th anniversary with a sold-out hometown concert at the weekend, reflecting on more than four decades of music-making in the North East. The Fochabers Fiddlers, or Auld Fiddlers as they are fondly called locally, put on a stirring show at the town’s Institute on Saturday night. Much-loved […]
Listen to the Foot Stompin’ Free Scottish Music Podcast No 258
Hello! Here is our March edition of the Foot Stompin Scottish Music Podcast featuring lots of great music from our wonderful scene. Any questions please get in touch! If you would like to support this podcast please visit www.patreon.com/handsupfortrad The Drunken Man from Kalabakan by Ross Miller Bandhttps://rossmiller.bandcamp.com Her by Design by Jenn ButterworthTrack – […]
Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin – 3 Free Workshops in Partnership with Tinderbox starting 10th March
We’re partnering with Tinderbox for three free workshops starting a week tonight. This is ahead of our Big Band announcement which will follow in the next couple of weeks. Dates and times:Mondays 10th, 17th & 24th March 20255:30 – 7:30pmScottish Storytelling Centre (43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR) Sign-up link for participants is here: https://forms.gle/QuvsRDUxYnEnLSSB9 Background info Edinburgh […]
Shetland Folk festival launches its concert programme for the 43rd year
Music fans can start planning and eyeing up tickets as the Shetland Folk festival launches its concert programme for the 43rd year with 32 local artists confirmed alongside the 15 visiting acts. Audiences can look forward to a wide range of local favourites such as the recent Trad Award nominees, Haltadans, the ever popular Kansa, […]
SHOUT-ER HEBRIDES: Scots legend Lulu, supergroup Skerryvore and highland heroes Tide Lines will headline HebCelt with Nina Nesbitt, Eddi Reader, Trail West, Kassidy, Beluga Lagoon, NATI. and dozens more
Scots pop icon Lulu will headline this year’s Hebridean Celtic Festival with a spectacular summer performance celebrating her six decades in music. Best known for her ten Top 10 singles including the chart-topping Relight My Fire with Take That, Eurovision-winning Boom Bang-A-Bang, James Bond theme The Man With The Golden Gun, and her iconic debut hit Shout– Lulu will take […]