Tradition goes live in Edinburgh, when the fourth annual showcase of Traditional Arts and Culture takes place in Scotland’s capital from Wednesday 27 April to Sunday 8 May 2016.
TradFest Edinburgh • Dùn Èideann returns as Edinburgh’s only multi-arts festival dedicated to Scottish traditional folk arts, showcasing culture, live. Rooted in the past yet intrinsically connected to the present, Scottish and international artists will combine with local performers for an exciting fortnight of music, storytelling, dance, crafts, talks, walks, workshops and folk film .
With over 90 events across 25 venues, TradFest ignites the city with celebrations of May Day and Beltane, showcasing ancestry with vibrant cultural creativity. As TRACS Director Donald Smith explains:
‘The foundation of Scotland’s cultural heritage and national identity is traditional arts. Communities are bound by the stories and music that surround them. TradFest offers an explosion of culture to ensure that this history is kept alive and that the traditional arts continue to be given a platform, allowing them to flourish and shape Scotland’s culture for future generations. We’ve packed so much into the 12 days allowing for a great time to celebrate, enjoy and get involved with our traditional arts.”
Performers from Norway, Sweden, America, France, England and Ireland will join top Scottish talent, with the programme offering something for everyone. The line-up also provides a great opportunity to place the spotlight on some of Edinburgh’s most iconic and unusual locations, with the Scottish Storytelling Centre – home of Scotland’s Culture – being the hub for the Festival.
Venues include Calton Hill, Arthur’s Seat, The Pleasance, The Caves, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Filmhouse, Queens Hall, Summerhall, Dance Base and Blackwell’s. The TradFest Trail highlights craft shops, galleries, pub sessions, instrument makers, bookshops, restaurants and cafes that help visitors experience Scotland’s culture and the folk arts. This year a TradFest Trail walking tour has also been added to the TradFest mix, led by Old Town expert storyteller Stuart McHardy.
Amongst the host of local and international talent appearing on this year’s programme are Nordic Fiddlers Bloc, Ewan McLennan, Gerda Stevenson, Moishe’s Bagel, Dàimh, Niteworks, Gol, Nuala Kennedy Band, Talisk, Siobhan Miller, Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son, Ewan McLennan, Martin Simpson, Griogair’s Ghettocroft and Mairi Campbell’s Pulse, along with songsters, storytellers and dancers to enjoy and discover, including a special appearance by Artie Trezise sharing Trad tales and tunes for youngsters.
Those wanting to find out more about the roots of Scottish culture will be interested in the Treasure Troves of Scottish Tradition series at the National Library of Scotland. A fantastic collective of talent have also come together from Dumfries and Galloway – Emily Smith, Robyn Stapleton, Aaron Jones, Claire Mann, Wendy Stewart, Jamie McLennan and narrator Tom Pow – to evocatively piece together the forgotten songs of William Macmath, giving them new life and showcasing how historically significant the collection is to Scotland’s music heritage.
Contacts:
Lindsay Corr
Marketing & Communications Manager
Lindsay@scottishstorytellingcentre.com
Sophie Cameron
Marketing & Communications Development Officer
Sophie@scottishstorytellingcentre.com
Box Office:
You can buy and collect tickets in person at TradFest Box Office:
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR or by telephone +44 (0) 131 556 9579
The majority of tickets are available at the Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office. Some events are only available to purchase at other venues, please follow individual listings details:
Hashtag #TradFestEd
EDITORS NOTES
- TradFest is organised by TRACS, a folk arts alliance based at Scottish Storytelling Centrein Edinburgh
- TradFest piloted in 2013 taking off from where Ceilidh Cultureleft off which ran from 2003 to 2011 and was enshrined by the premise of promoting all traditional Scottish arts. This is the fourth full edition of the Festival
iii. TradFest was conceived and developed by Donald Smith from the Scottish Storytelling Centre
- Tickets can be purchased at the Scottish StorytellingBox Officeand other venue box offices, check listings for details
- TradFest is an independent festival without political affiliations
Supported with thanks by Creative Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council