Congratulations to Tolbooth Stirling who has been nominated in Production Awards 2023: Venue Technician, Venue of the Year Award in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2023. Vote for Tolbooth Stirling now!. It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 2nd December in Dundee’s Caird Hall. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Tara of Tolbooth Stirling the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Tolbooth Stirling is a vibrant music and arts venue, a welcoming space for all to enjoy with a year-round programme of music, comedy, ceilidhs, screenings, talks, and theatre. Our programme covers all genres but with a main focus on Scottish traditional music, and folk music. Tolbooth also houses a multimedia visual art gallery with regular free exhibitions, and a lively café bar.
All this happens in a fully accessible, stunning grade ‘A' listed building dating back to the 17th century in the historic 'Top of The Town' area of Stirling. With a checkered past as a courthouse and jail, famously housing Baird & Hardie following the radical uprising, it’s no surprise that the venue lends itself to a fair few tales. This depth of history and associated mystery adds to the atmosphere and drama, which coupled with the intimate layout, and world class performances, has helped establish Tolbooth Stirling as one of the best small venues in Scotland and beyond.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
At Tolbooth we are passionate about supporting Scottish music and the arts, and about the positive effects that authentic cultural experiences can have on our community. Our team are dedicated to providing an environment where audiences arrive feeling welcomed and leave feeling moved and thrilled, having experienced something wonderful among a community of Scottish music lovers. We care deeply about the musicians and artists we work with and do what we can to ensure they have a platform, and feel nurtured and supported to continue to create incredible work. It's also important to us that young people are supported to learn traditional Scottish instruments and song, to ensure we are supporting the next generation of Scottish musicians, to that end we host Fèis Fhoirt each week at Tolbooth, and (as well as our cross genre free music and song writing lessons for young people at Tolbooth), we host YMI supported 'Tolbooth Trad' classes, and facilitate YMI outreach programme such as Scot's Sang.
Any particular career highlights?
A project that we are particularly happy with, is one we started last year and continued to build this year started this year, called 'Tolbooth Cafe Concerts'. Its a series which is designed to offer new performance opportunities for musicians, while creating an informal audience experience as we try to encourage audiences back and reach new audiences for our performers. As well as new performance opportunities for established musicians, this series is also our way of providing a route into performing for up and coming acts who not yet established enough to play full theatre shows, but need support to help build a following. The programme tends to be a mix of both levels of musicians, and so far in this series we have hosted performances by artists such as Beth Malcolm, Eryn Rae, Andrew Waite, Lewis McLaughlin, Josie Duncan, Jack Badcock, Michael McGovern, Hector Shaw, Amy Papiransky, Rhona MacFarlane, and many more!
What are your plans for the future?
This time last year we commission an visual art exhibition by the brilliant artist Somhairle MacDonald. à làimh Shomhairle' (‘from Sorley’s Hand’), showcased Somhairle’s contemporary landscape art and a retrospective of his 20-year career in creating imagery for the Scottish music scene. We are really keen to develop our programme to include more cross platform work, and to support work that showcases the wonderful overlap and collaboration that happens across Scotland thriving Music and Art communities.
Tolbooth Stirling Social Media
Website: https://stirlingevents.org/
Facebook: @TolboothStirling
Twitter: @Tolbooth
Instagram: @TolboothStirling
YouTube: @
TikTok: @
The 2023 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 2nd December 2023! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here),Watch it live in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and and around the world here. Bands performing on Saturday 2nd December include Peatbog Faeries, Mànran, Karine Polwart and Dave Milligan, Duncan Chisholm Band, Joy Dunlop Band, Aberdeen SC&T Youth and more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.