Hands Up for Trad exists to promote Scottish traditional music through Education, Information and Advocacy to Artists, Audiences and Participants both Nationally and Internationally. To strategically plan and grow the work of Hands Up For Trad we are starting this Patreon to ask if you can help support us in our work with a subscription. We […]
Newsletter
‘Mither tongue’ Doric is given official status
For decades it faced ridicule and was forbidden in schools, but now one of the native tongues of northeast Scotland has effectively been recognised as an official language. Doric, a dialect spoken from Montrose in Angus to Nairn in the Highlands, will be acknowledged alongside English and Gaelic. As part of its commitment to the […]
BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award Semi-finals – Saturday 13th October, Coulter, South Lanarkshire
This is always a fabulous concert featuring some of Scotland’s great young musicians who are all competing to win the prestigious title of BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award Winner 2019. If you are free why not come and watch the concert! It’s on Saturday 13th October in Coulter Hall, Coulter, South Lanarkshire at […]
Don’t miss this! The Second Aberdeen “FluteFling” [ plus whistles ! ]
After a successful event last year, and a very successful “twin” event in Edinburgh earlier this year, the date of the 2nd Aberdeen “FluteFling” is the weekend surrounding Sat.17th November 2018. There will be one major difference this year in that – as we did in Edinburgh – we will be inviting whistle players [“soprano” […]
Battle of The Folk Bands 2019 is open for entries!
Hands Up for Trad are inviting bands to send in a demo to take part in The Battle of the Folk Bands 2019 competition to be held at Glasgow’s Celtic Connections Festival on Saturday January 19th 2019. ENTER HERE If you are in a band or have an idea for a band that you haven’t tried […]
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner to debut new Gaelic commission at festival
30th August, A new musical piece of work showcasing ancient Gaelic poetry with a modern twist will be debuted by award winning young Gaelic singer, Mischa Macpherson, at next month’s Blas Festival. Mischa’s commission, ‘Bho Èirigh gu Laighe na Grèine – Sun, Moon, Land, Life, Sea’ is a suite of new Gaelic songs, incorporating ancient […]
Piping legend celebrated in exciting new musical work by The Big Music Society
27th August 2018, A name synonymous with all things related to Highland bagpipes will be centre of attraction on the first day of this September’s Blas festival. The music of the late great piper, Pipe Major Donald Macleod MBE, from the Isle of Lewis will be showcased in Crossing the Minch; a project dreamt up by The […]
Junior Conservatoire accordionist Ryan Corbett makes history with podium place at global music contest
An East Dunbartonshire performer has made history after becoming the youngest person – and first Scot – to secure a podium place at one of the world’s most prestigious accordion competitions. Musician Ryan Corbett was also the highest placed European participant after coming third in the Performer category at the recent Harbin Summer International Accordion […]
BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 2019 semi-finalists announced
BBC Radio Scotland are very pleased to announced the 2019 semi-finalists of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award. 12 young musicians were chosen from all the entrants to perform at the concert on Saturday 13th October in Coulter Hall, Coulter, South Lanarkshire. The semi-finalists are: Anna Garvin, piano Benedict Morris, fiddle Cameron Ross, […]
Trad Album of the Year – Enter your album before end of August.
Have you released a Scottish trad album between September 2017 and August 2018? Why not submit your album into our 2018 Album of the Year competition. Our aim is to highlight the trad recording industry and to showcase the large amount of albums that are released each year in the trad/folk music genre. Anyone can add an album – just fill in […]




