Congratulations to Fèis Phàislig who has / have been nominated in Community Project of the Year sponsored by Isle of Barra Distillers in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for Fèis Phàislig now! It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 5th December in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Grant of Fèis Phàislig the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Fèis Phàislig gives young people across Renfrewshire the chance to discover Scottish traditional music and Gaelic, build confidence and make lasting friendships. From a first go on an instrument to performing on stage, we help young people find their place in Scotland’s living traditions.
We’ve just celebrated our 10th anniversary, having grown from 60 participants at our first Fèis Week into a year-round programme reaching thousands. Our work includes weekly lessons, a free Gaelic choir, school workshops, music sessions for children with additional support needs and opportunities for young musicians to perform. At the heart of it all is a simple belief: every young person should have the chance to take part.
Any particular career highlights?
Our 10th anniversary has been a real highlight, celebrating the young people, families, tutors and volunteers who have built Fèis Phàislig together. It’s been a brilliant year, with 192 young people attending Fèis Week and our Stramash for Schools programme reaching over 11,000 young people across Renfrewshire.
We’re especially proud of the range of opportunities now available, from introducing Gaelic song and traditional instruments in classrooms to supporting six young musicians on our 2026 Ceilidh Trail. Our work in additional support needs schools and funded places across our activities help make sure more children can share in those experiences. Seeing young people return year after year, grow in confidence and take their next steps in music is the achievement that means most.
What are your plans for the future?
We want our next decade to bring traditional music and Gaelic into the lives of even more young people across Renfrewshire. That means building on our school programmes, strengthening our weekly activities and creating more opportunities for young musicians to rehearse, perform and develop together.
Making that possible for everyone will remain central to our work, through funded places, support with instruments and activities that welcome children with additional support needs. We also want young people to help shape what comes next. Our ambition is for someone’s first school workshop to open the door to years of music, friendship and opportunities, with Fèis Phàislig supporting them along the way.
Fèis Phàislig Social Media
Website: https://feisphaislig.com
Facebook: @feisphaislig
Instagram: @feisphaislig
YouTube: @feisphaislig
The 2026 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 5th December 2026 in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here).
Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night will welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including Valtos, Gnoss, Sian, Fèis Phàislig, Spodo Komodo and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Rachel Groves and many 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.