Two landmark anniversaries celebrating historic modes of transport in Lochaber will take centre stage during this year’s Blas Festival, the Highland’s annual celebration of Gaelic music and culture, which takes place from 5th to 13th September 2025. Caolas 50 will mark the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ballachulish Bridge, while the MV Maid of […]
Newsletter
Glasgow Folk Music Workshop new term!
GLASGOW FOLK MUSIC WORKSHOPClasses start on 18th and 20th August some on line. https://gfw.scot This is a brilliant organisation. They teach adults and juniors a wide range of instruments with a membership of around 400 plus members in Springburn Campus, Kelvin College, Glasgow. Their focus is on playing by ear and teaching Scottish music. There […]
Isla Ratcliff – The Scottish Four Seasons crowdfunder
Isla Ratcliff is currently crowdfunding to make her second album, The Scottish Four Seasons, a Scottish trad arrangement of Vivaldi’s famous work. Isla has taken Vivaldi’s famous melodies and made them sound Scottish – by changing the chords, the time signatures, the instrumental textures, and in some cases writing completely new melodies over Vivaldi’s original chord progressions. With […]
London Fiddle School sessions this Autumn with Pete Cooper
English Fiddle Tunes Reunion with Pete Cooper Pete will lead the tunes in person on Wednesday evening at Cecil Sharp House, joined by Richard Bolton on cello and guitar, then on Thursday the same tunes on Zoom. You can join him for either session or, at no extra charge, both! Note that the workshop is two hours […]
Piping Live! Big Band Blasts Off with Biggest Band Yet
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEOver 200 musicians from around the world played as one to mark the beginning of this year’s Piping Live! Festival Marching to the beat of their own drum, quite literally, the Piping Live! Big Band in Glasgow marked the start of the popular international festival which every year sees thousands of piping enthusiasts […]
Ceilearadh: Simon Thoumire’s Highland Bagpipe Sonatas Premiere at Piping Live
Hands Up for Trad is delighted to announce the premiere of founder Simon Thoumire’s latest work, Ceilearadh, at the Piping Live Festival on Thursday 14th August at 1:30pm in the Bothy tent. This collection of three Highland Bagpipe Sonatas represents a significant addition to the piping repertoire – extended compositions that bridge traditional and contemporary approaches […]
Rose Emily by Duncan Chisholm & Ross Ainslie
Duncan Chisholm and Ross Ainslie wrote this tune for Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean – onboard their 30ft row boat named “Rose Emily”. Proceeds from this song will go directly to the Maclean Foundation to fund clean water projects in Madagascar. Rose Emily by Duncan Chisholm & Ross Ainslie The Maclean Foundation is a Scottish […]
Mhairi Hall & David De La Haye Underwater Cairngorms New Album Lp/Dl 24.10.25
We invite you dive into a unique underwater sonic journey of a selection of lochs from the Scottish Highlands. Underwater Cairngorms, the new album from award-winning composer Mhairi Hall and renowned field recordist David de la Haye, combines the mysterious underwater soundscapes of freshwater lochs with impressionistic piano composition. Underwater Cairngormstransforms our understanding of the Cairngorms landscape […]
Scots Language Awards on hunt for nominees
The Scots Language Awards are now welcoming nominations for this year’s celebration of Scots which recognises the achievements of individuals and organisations dedicated to the promotion of the indigenous language. Nominations open today until Sunday 3rd August, and span categories across business, literature, culture, community initiatives and more. Nine awards are up for grabs decided by public vote, […]
Stars of Gaelic music & culture to take to stages across the Highlands for Blas Festival
Highlands & Islands 9-day festival marks its 20th anniversary The annual 9-day festival of Gaelic culture and music, Blas, will mark its 20th anniversary with its return to the Highlands & Islands in September, featuring artists such as Julie Fowlis, Tim Edey & Ross Ainslie and Sian. This year’s Blas Festival, which will run from 6th to 14th September […]