Tradfest 2015 by Scottish Storytelling Centre

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

Traditional Culture. Live.

Wednesday 29th April – Sunday 10th May 2015 Box Office: 0131 556 9579

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

29 April – 10 May 2015

TradFest gives special thanks to The Soundhouse Organisation – a charity which promotes live music in Edinburgh. Until Soundhouse finds a permanent home for a venue and musicians’ centre, it continues to host regular concerts in The Pleasance, Traverse Theatre Bar and elsewhere. www.soundhouse.org.uk TRACS brings together the work of the Traditional Music Forum, the Scottish Storytelling Forum, and the Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland in collaboration with Scotland’s language organisations. TradFest is supported by Creative Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council.

Twelfth Da y

TradFest Edinburgh Dùn Èideann is promoted by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) with partners and co-curators. These include Edinburgh Folk Club, Edinburgh Filmhouse, School of Scottish Studies, Queens Hall, Summerhall, Dance Base, Craft Scotland, the Scots Music Group and a range of artists.

dallahan

TradFest Edinburgh Dùn Èideann showcases a packed programme of folk arts – music, song, storytelling, dance, drama, crafts, film, seasonal customs, and environmental arts – and features a galaxy of local and international talent including Malinky, The Tannahill Weavers, Nuala Kennedy, Southern Tenant Folk Union, Rozi Plain, The Shee, Dean Owens and the Whisky Hearts, Dick Gaughan, Salt House, Colum Sands, Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore, Bella Hardy, Mary Black, Breabach, Cruinn, Dallahan, Huradal, Kim Edgar, Mairi Campbell, Emily Smith, Robyn Stapleton, Transgressive North, Swedish Trio Väsen, The Hydro Choir from Oslo, The Badwills,

DJ Dolphin Boy, Sangstream, The Fisher Lassies, Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys, John Muir – University of the Wilderness, National Collective, Sheila Stewart Tribute and much more.

leton

TradFest Edinburgh Dùn Èideann celebrates Scotland’s May festivals – Beltane and Mayday – which traditionally mark the beginning of summer, bringing energy and colour to the capital city as the greening of the year breaks out. Venues include Calton Hill, the Royal Mile, The Pleasance, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Filmhouse, Queens Hall, Summerhall and Dance Base. 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.

Robyn Stap

Tradition goes live in Edinburgh, when the third annual showcase of Traditional Arts and Culture takes place in Scotland’s capital from Wednesday 29 April to Sunday 10 May 2015.

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

TradFest Auld Reikie souns oot the airts o tradeetion in the hert o Scotland’s capital toun. It’s a stushie forbye fur MayDay an Beltane whae merk the stert o summer in oor northern laun. Ower twal days the toun wull be rantin wi sangs, dauncin, skeely crafts, maisic, mummers and aa the crack.

Tha TradFest Dùn Èideann a’ comharrachadh fèisean Cèitean na h-Alba - Bealtainn is Là Buidhe Bealltainn - a tha gu dualchasach a’ comharrachadh toiseach an t-samhraidh, a’ toirt spionnadh is dath don phrìomh-bhaile mar a thig dreach uaine na bliadhna air adhart. Am measg nan àiteachan airson tachartasan tha Cnoc Challtainn, am Mìle Rìoghail, am Pleasance, Ionad Sgeulachdan na h-Alba, an Taigh-deilbh, Talla na Banrigh, Summerhall agus Dance Base.

Ye can fin the haill starmash at Calton Hill, the Royal Mile, The Pleasance, the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Filmhoose, Queens Ha, Simmerha and Daunce Base. Oan the TradFest Trail ye’ll fin, galleries, pub sessions, instrument makars, craft an textile shops, buik shops, restaurants and cafes whaur airts an cultur kin be fund. Hae a real fling an enjoy Auld Reikie.

Tha Slighe TradFest gu sònraichte ag ainmeachadh bùithtean ciùird, gailearaidhean, seiseanan taigh-seinnse, luchddèanaidh ionnstramaidean, bùithtean leabhraichean, taighean-bidhe agus cafaidhean a chuidicheas le eòlas air cultair is ealain dhùthchasach na h-Alba dha luchd-turais. Comharraich Cultar Traidiseanta - Beò!

dro Choir

TradFest Dùn Èideann

Norsk Hy

TradFest Auld Reikie

rooted in the past

CONTENTS 06 BRINGING IN THE SUMMER 07 TRADFEST TRAIL AND TOURS 08 MUSIC AT THE PLEASANCE 12 FOLK FILM GATHERING 14 TRAD ARTS AT THE SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE 21 TRADFEST IN THE TOWN

Rooted in the Past. Resonating in the Present. Tradfest box office TRADFEST ADMIT ONE

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

Box Office Open Friday 27 March Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR 0131 556 9579 www.tracscotland.org/festivals Please see individual event listings for alternative ticket details where available.

programme sections BRINGING IN THE SUMMER

MUSIC AT THE PLEASANCE

As May approaches, TradFest launches with gigs by The Tannahill Weavers and Malinky at the Pleasance. Then watch out for a perfect storm of seasonal celebration with the Masque of Beltane on Calton Hill, followed on Sat 2 May by the May Day Parade and Rally ‘Action against Austerity’. These are accompanied by concerts at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Queens Hall and the Pleasance, as well as Mumming and Dance workshops, ensuring that Scotland’s capital will bring in the summer in carnival style!

The Pleasance is a venue steeped in Old Town and Southside tradition and is the TradFest music hub, with performances in Pleasance One and the Cabaret Bar, courtesy of Soundhouse and Edinburgh Folk Club, showcasing a host of talent from Scotland and abroad. There will be nightly open sessions from 10pm, anchored by DJ Dolphin Boy. Enjoy convivial evenings in the heart of Old Edinburgh. The box office will be open at the Pleasance two hours before all gigs.

TRADFEST TRAIL AND TOURS Edinburgh is hoaching with traditional arts and culture. By following the TradFest Trail - on our website - you will find a network of pub sessions, music and record shops, galleries, book and print shops, cafes and restaurants, clothes shops, instrument makers and markets which are all offering authentic flavours of folk culture. Don’t miss out on a self-guided TradFest meander through Edinburgh. In addition there are themed tours and trails for those who want to explore a cultural angle on Scotland’s capital city – dubbed ‘Queen of the North’. www.tracscotland.org/ tradfest-trail

FOLK FILM GATHERING The Edinburgh Filmhouse hosts the world’s first festival of Folk Cinema for TradFest. The screenings explore the myriad ways that world cinema has engaged with folk culture – folk as living tradition, as people’s history, as working class culture, as political movements or come-all-ye communities. This inaugural gathering will feature a series of rare and celebrated films, showcasing Scottish and British filmmakers alongside work from Italy, Russia and Africa. Each feature will be preceded by a folk short. Come along and join the conversation in discussion sessions at the Filmhouse Café Bar. www.folkfilmgathering.com

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

TRAD ARTS AT THE SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE The Scottish Storytelling Centre is a hub for Scotland’s traditional arts and crafts. It’s the TradFest melting pot for song, story, music, dance and craft crossover, presenting opportunities for artists to come together and explore cultural traditions with a contemporary spin. From workshops and walking tours, to musical evenings discovering the story behind the songs, you are guaranteed a warm welcome, with the Centre’s reception desk and box office your invaluable information point for TradFest events.

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN TradFest venues range from the classical lines of the renowned Queen’s Hall and ever expanding Summerhall spaces, through to intimate venues such as The Royal Oak, home of the Wee Folk Club. There are also book events at the National Library of Scotland and Blackwell’s Bookshop – all on Edinburgh’s Southside. Enjoy these special venues and events.

Traditional Culture. Live. 04

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

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TRADFEST venue map

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THE MEADOWS

1 Blackwell’s Bookshop 53-62 South Bridge, EH1 1YS 2 Calton Hill Edinburgh EH1 3 The Canons’ Gait 232 Canongate, EH8 8DQ 4 St Albert’s Catholic Chaplaincy 24 George Square, EH8 9LD 5 Dance Base 14-16 Grassmarket, EH1 2JU 6 Edinburgh Central Library George IV Bridge, EH1 1EG 7 Filmhouse 88 Lothian Road, EH3 9BZ

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

8 Kirk o’ Field Centre 138-140 The Pleasance, EH8 9RP 9 The Mash House 37 Guthrie Street, EH1 1JG 10 National Library of Scotland George IV Bridge, EH1 1EW 11 The Pleasance 60 Pleasance, EH8 9TJ 12 Portobello Old Parish Church 20 Bellfield Street, EH15 2BP 13 Portobello Town Hall 145-147 High Street, EH15 1AF 14 Queen’s Hall Clerk Street, EH8 9JG

15 The Royal Oak 1 Infirmary Street, EH1 1LT 16 Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High Street, EH1 1SR 17 St Bride’s Community Centre 10 Orwell Terrace, EH11 2DZ 18 St Peter’s Church Hall 14 Lutton Place, EH8 9PE 19 Summerhall 1 Summerhall, EH9 1PL 20 The Traverse 10 Cambridge Street, EH1 2ED 21 Word Power Books 43-45 West Nicolson Street, EH8 9DB

Bringing in the Summer

BELTANE FIRE FESTIVAL

Beltane Fire Festival

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

Thu 30 Apr, 9pm (4hrs) Calton Hill £7 until 26 Apr, £10 thereafter and £10.50 on the door | 18+ For over 25 years the Beltane Fire Society have gathered volunteer, performers and the wider community to engage in a re-imagining of the Celtic festival of Beltane. The May Queen and her Green Man process with their Court, gathering energies to light the sacred Bel Fire. Tickets: The Hub 0131 473 2000 www.hubtickets.co.uk

Fri 1 May, 1.30pm (2hrs 30) Pleasance £6 (£4) (U16s free) | 6+ Learn about the May Day plays, Robin Hood Games, Galoshins and all the magical mayhem of the season. Bring hats, banners, flags, and costumes ready to adapt for the May Day processions. With Stan Reeves and the Scottish Mummers network. Suitable for adults and accompanied children. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

May Day Parade Sat 2 May, 11.30am (2hrs) Middle Meadow Walk Free Led by the Stockbridge Pipe Band, 11.30am meet in Middle Meadow Walk for 12pm set off. TradFest will have its own section of the Parade, led by the May Day Mummers. Garland and costume making at the Pavillion Café, Jawbone Walk from 10.30am. Parade ends in the Pleasance Courtyard, followed by a rally. Speakers include Grahame Smith, General Secretary to the STUC and Cat Boyd of the People’s Assembly Against Austerity.

may day parade

Workshop: May Day Mummers

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

It’s a Strange Auld Toon, Stories of Old Edinburgh Wed 29 Apr - Sun 10 May 11am, 1pm, 3pm & 5pm (1hr 15) Starts from Adam Smith Statue on the Royal Mile Free (suggested donation £5) | 6+ This old city is just filled with strange history and gruesome tales. Join Calum Lykan for a walk around the historical streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Hear the tales of this wonderful city and the characters that inhabited its streets. Tickets: Pay guide on day

TRADFEST TOURS

Scotland’s Whisky & Democracy Trail Tales Tour Sun 3 & Sun 10 May, 2pm (1hr 45) Starts from Old Calton Burial Ground, Waterloo Place £8 (£6) | 15+ The story of democracy in Scotland is at least 500 years old, much of it almost forgotten and rarely taught in schools. With TradFest falling in the week of the General Election, the tour also asks what is democracy for? Enjoy fabulous views from Calton Hill and uncover clues that live on in Edinburgh’s landscape, led by Jean Bareham of Greenyonder Tours (www.greenyondertours.com). Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wed 29 & Thu 30 April and Wed 6 & Thu 7 May, 7.30pm (3hrs) Starts from Adam Smith Statue on the Royal Mile £20 (£18) (drinks not included) 18+ Enjoy a selection of Edinburgh’s finest taverns, hear a wonderful array of traditional Scottish stories about whisky, history and the magic of Scotland’s lands & people, and listen to some excellent Scottish folk music on this traditional ceilidh style tour. Tickets: Pay guide on day

rock opera: walking tour

Rock Opera: Walking Tour Tue 5 May & Wed 6 May, 10.30am (2hrs) Starts from Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£6) Discover the origins of geology as Rock Opera guides you round Holyrood Park to uncover philosophical debate, secrets revealed by the rocks themselves and the foundation of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution! Meet at the Scottish Storytelling Centre to begin the walk, led by Angus Miller of Geowalks. Please wear appropriate footwear. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

MUSIC AT THE PLEASANCE

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

malinky

Cahalen Morrison & Eli West Tue 28 Apr, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (adv) £12.50 door Two of the most innovative and subtle roots musicians today, their music draws from old folk sources but sounds vibrantly alive. Together, they tap the root of old country and bluegrass duets. As the sparse landscapes of Cahalen’s vocals reflect the warm glow of Eli’s voice, it’s clear that this duo was made to sing together. Tickets: www.soundhouse.org.uk

Edinburgh Folk Club: The Tannahill Weavers Wed 29 Apr, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £12 (£10) The Tannahill Weavers’ diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the varied musical heritage of the Celtic people and these versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Malinky: Far Better Days Thu 30 Apr, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) Malinky celebrate the official release of their fifth album, Far Better Days. For the past 15 years, Malinky have been the leading group focusing on traditional Scots song with an extensive tour roster across the globe. Featuring the outstanding voices of Fiona Hunter, Steve Byrne and Mark Dunlop, with award-winning composer Mike Vass and instrumentation including bouzouki, guitar, fiddle, whistle, bodhrán and cello. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

The May Day Concert: Dick Gaughan Fri 1 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £12 (£10) Dick Gaughan is a Scot, from Leith and the only performer to hold the dual honours of a BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award and induction into the Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame. His passionate and inspiring songs are the perfect musical fare for any May Day Celebration. Presented by Edinburgh Folk Club in association with Edinburgh and Lothians May Day Committee. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

MUSIC AT THE PLEASANCE nuala kennedy

Hydrokoret: The Hydro Choir Sat 2 May, 4.30pm (1hr) Pleasance £6 (£4) The Hydro choir from Oslo is one of Norway’s leading company choirs with a varied repertoire. This concert will feature traditional Scandinavian songs, including Norwegian folk tunes and bridal marches, Swedish drinking songs and many others including a few Scottish gems. Conductor and musical director, Trond Dahlen. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Dallahan Sat 2 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) Exploding onto the traditional music scene in 2013, Dallahan’s unique arrangements of original music and traditional Irish tunes have secured their presence at such prestigious international events as Milwaukee Irish Festival (USA), Copenhagen Irish Festival and Celtic Connections. A breath taking musical journey delivered by award-winning musicians that is as much fun to listen to as it is to play. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

The Nuala Kennedy Trio

Edinburgh Folk Club: Väsen

Sun 3 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8)

Mon 4 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £12 (£10)

A rare appearance by one of our finest traditional musicians! The Nuala Kennedy Trio has won fans around the world with its unique and powerful sound where high octane instrumentals rub shoulders with imaginative, vividly presented ballads. Nuala is an internationally renowned Irish singer and flautist, based in Edinburgh, who recently graced the cover of Irish Music Magazine, Sing Out! With collaborators Mike Bryan (guitar) and Shona Mooney (violin).

This Swedish trio is considered one of best folk acts in the world with 15 albums under their belt and an American street named after them. Their skill at pairing traditional folklore with modern melodies creates a fresh mix of polska and waltzes played on syncopated guitar, compelling nyckelharpa and frantic viola. ‘Move heaven and earth for a ticket.’ (Rob Adams – The Herald)

Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

MUSIC AT THE PLEASANCE Salt House Tue 5 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) This acoustic quartet – Ewan MacPherson (guitar, mandolin, banjo), Lauren MacColl (fiddle, viola), Euan Burton (bass) and Siobhan Miller (vocals) – brings together distinct musical minds on the Scottish scene to present an earthy and deep-rooted, yet eagerly progressive sound built from grassroots folk. ‘The multifaceted work of a significant new collective’ (The Herald). Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Edinburgh Folk Club: Colum Sands Wed 6 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) A member of the internationally renowned Sands Family from County Down, Colum has performed in over thirty countries, confirming the universal appeal for the songs and stories with which he observes the minute and often humorous details of life. His tales draw on a long Irish tradition of poetic musicality to weave songs for the world. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore Thu 7 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) Grammy Award winner Mollie O’Brien is US folk-singing royalty. Long recognised as a singer who doesn’t recognise musical boundaries, audiences love her fluid ability to make herself at home in any genre. Joined by her husband Rich Moore’s powerhouse guitar, enjoy twists and turns from blues to traditional folk to jazz to rock and roll. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

MUSIC AT THE PLEASANCE lindsay lou & the flatbellys

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys Fri 8 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) From bluesy works of wonder to blistering bluegrass beauty, this band has a fresh approach to the American roots genre which they’ve been confidently conquering with a non-stop US tour since 2012. This ‘intoxicating’ (Folkwords) band will appear at a string of prestigious UK events including the Shetland Folk Festival, HebCeltFest and Poole Festival in Dorset. They arrive with a brand new album that is sure to win them even more attention. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Sing a Song for Southern Tenant Scotland Folk Union Sun 10 May, 2.30pm (2hrs) Sat 9 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) One of the most highly acclaimed folk/bluegrass bands in the UK currently promoting their sixth album, The Chuck Norris Project. Inventive, artistically successful and with an exciting live act worked around a single microphone, they sell out arts centres across Europe, playing an eclectic mix of high energy atmospheric folk that lights up the scene. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

Pleasance £10 (£8) (£2 Children)

Sangstream and friends present a concert of folk songs and a pocket full of true tales inspired by choir members’ lives through emigration, immigration, love, leisure and language. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Queen Amang the Heather – Sheila Stewart Sun 10 May, 8pm (2hrs) Pleasance £10 (£8) A garland of song, story and music woven in tribute to the late, great Sheila Stewart – last of the world famous Stewarts of Blair and champion of Scotland’s Travelling People. Jess Smith hosts a heartwarming and toe-tapping night of Scottish tradition, in association with the School of Scottish Studies Archives. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

FOLK FILM GATHERING

up the junction

Play Me Something Fri 1 May, 8.40pm (1hr 12) Filmhouse £9 (£7.20) (Timothy Neat / Scotland 1989 / rated 15) One of the great, unsung gems of Scottish cinema. Beginning with the arrival of a mysterious stranger at Barra airport, Timothy Neat’s film stages a playful celebration of oral storytelling and international solidarity that roots Scottish folk tradition within a truly global perspective. Preceded by When the Song Dies (Jamie Chambers / Scotland 2013 / 15mins), a poetic documentary about community memory and Scottish oral tradition. Tickets: 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com

Up the Junction Sat 2 May, 6pm (1hr 12) Filmhouse £9 (£7.20) (Ken Loach / England 1965 / rated 12) A breathless celebration of working class culture old and new, set in 60’s Clapham. Mixing cine- vérité style docu-drama with Loach’s staple social commentary, explore the lives of a group of young women amidst an exuberant evocation of oral culture and popular music. Preceded by The Shutdown (Adam Stafford / Scotland 2009 / 10mins), focussing on Scottish playwright Alan Bissett’s memories of his father’s work at the Grangemouth Oil Refinery. Tickets: 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com

Dream On Sun 3 May, 8.10pm (1hr 55) Filmhouse £9 (£7.20) (Amber / England 1991 / rated 15) Tyneside’s Amber Collective are one of the most important forces in British cinema, creating authentic images of subaltern life. Combining fantasy with documentary realism, Dream On charts the fortunes of the North Shields female darts team amidst the shake-up when a stranger comes to town. Q&A follows with Director Ellin Hare and cinematographer Peter Roberts. Preceded by Copycat (S. Alim, V. Karbowniczek, M. Thomson / Scotland 2014 / 14mins), by Prestonpans schoolchildren about pressures during school play preparations. Tickets: 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors Mon 4 May, 5.45pm (1hr 37) Filmhouse £9 (£7.20) (Sergei Parajanov / Ukraine 1965 / rated 12) A cinematic folk rhapsody of the ancient people’s culture of the Carpathian Mountains. Dance, song and gossip combine with spectacular imagery, and star-crossed lovers Ivan and Marichka are only half the story, within the multi-layered perspective of the onlooking folk. Preceded by The Fisherman’s Daughter (Tom Chick / Scotland 2011 / 7mins), a cine-poem based on a story told by Scottish Traveller Duncan Williamson of a girl who falls in love with a selkie. Tickets: 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

FOLK FILM GATHERING celestial wives of the meadow mari

Kaos Tue 5 May, 7.40pm (3hrs 8) Filmhouse £9 (£7.20) (Taviani Brothers / Italy 1984 / rated 15) Based on Pirandello’s short stories, Kaos marries Italian cinematic neorealism with the lyricism of folk tales. From the tale of a new bride who discovers her husband is a werewolf to the recounting of a hapless landlord stuck in an enormous clay pot, Kaos is a rich, kaleidoscopic work of folk cinema effortlessly combining the comic, tragic, uncanny and profound. Tickets: 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com

Celestial Wives of the Meadow Kaddu Beykat/A Letter to My Village Mari Wed 6 May, 8.30pm (1hr 46) Filmhouse £9 (£7.20) (Alexey Fedorchenko / Russia 2012 / advised 15) This second feature from Alexey Fedorchenko and Denis Osokin plays as a series of cinematic folk tales, each focussing on a woman from the Mari people whose name begins with ‘O’. Equal parts absurd, hilarious, tragic and surreal, Celestial Wives is a joyous and profound celebration of the feminine as filtered through folk tale. Preceded by Cailleach (Rosie Reed Hillman / Scotland 2014 / 14mins), a documentary about an elderly woman on the Isle of Harris who lives alone with her sheep.

Thu 7 May, 5.45pm (1hr 30) Filmhouse £9 (£7.20) (Safi Faye / Senegal 1976 / advised PG) An artful fusion of the political and the poetic, Safi Faye’s first film situates the local within the global, focusing on the daily lives of community members from the director’s Senegalese hometown, Fad’jal. The first feature by a Sub-Saharan African woman to gain international distribution, Kaddu Beykat mounts a powerful critique on colonial administration. Preceded by No Hope for Men Below (Adam Stafford / Scotland 2014 / 11mins), a powerful docudrama about the Redding pit disaster, featuring voiceover from Scots poet Janet Paisley. Screening is TBC at time of printing. Tickets: 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com

Tickets: 0131 228 2688 www.filmhousecinema.com

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

TRAD ARTS AT THE SCOTTISH STORYTELLING CENTRE (SSC)

a fine wee lass - Kim Edgar

Paintings of Traditional Musicians: An Exhibition by Joanna Powell Fri 24 Apr - Mon 11 May 10am - 6pm Scottish Storytelling Centre Free, non ticketed Borders artist Joanna Powell specialises in paintings of traditional folk musicians. A musician herself, she captures the love every musician feels towards their instrument, the magical world they enter when they become “lost” in the music, and the contorted positions they end up in whilst playing. Joanna will be sketching musicians live at the Storytelling Centre during the exhibition. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

A Fine Wee Lass? Wed 29 Apr, 8pm (1hr 45) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) Mairi Campbell, Kim Edgar and Emily Smith join forces to examine, through performance and discussion, the presentation and the voice of women in Scots song. Expect work songs, lullabies, murder ballads, cross dressing and the supernatural! Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Sassie Lassies Thu 30 Apr, 7.30pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £8 (£6) A seriously playful collection of stories and music celebrating powerful women from traditions around the world. These offerings inspire a new imagination of the sacred feminine that invite us to explore new ideas of power and relationship. Independence, love, and coming of age – compellingly relevant now more than ever. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Dancing Sunwise Fri 1 May, 7pm (2hrs 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) This participatory workshop explores how to walk sunwise around the wellspring of our own creativity, renewing ourselves and our communities. Lea Taylor, Mairi Campbell & Dawne McFarlane bring this ancient tradition observed at Beltane into a modern context with storytelling, creative movement and traditional music. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

Diane Cluck Fri 1 May, 7.30pm (1hr 15) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) Intuitive US folk musician Diane Cluck returns to the UK for a solo tour, accompanying herself on guitar, zither, imbira and a copper pipe instrument built by hand. ‘A virtuosic talent with an emotionality that feels at once ancient and alien. Her mastery of her voice as an ecstatic instrument is so compelling.’ (Antony Hegarty of Antony and The Johnsons). Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Ancient Athens and its gifts to Edinburgh Sat 2 May, 10.30am Scottish Storytelling Centre £5 per child, 3-5 years Travel back in time from Calton Hill to the Athenian Acropolis and discover the stories behind historic buildings with Carolyne Latham and her friendly little dog. Meet the father of philosophy, visit one of the first drama festivals, and join in with mythology tales in this fun and gentle introduction to the wonders of the ancient world through interactive storytelling with soft hand puppets. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

Come Lift Up Yer Voices: Scots Song Singalong Sat 2 May, 1.30pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £5 (includes songbook) (Children free) All ages are welcome to this Scots Music Group singalong event, singing all our favourite Scots songs in chorus to celebrate the launch of SMG’s new songbook. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Workshop: Learning to Learn by Ear Sat 2 May, 2pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £12 (£10) Angus R Grant of Shooglenifty offers fiddlers an afternoon of first-hand advice, experiment and insight into styles, techniques and performance approaches. A special TradFest opportunity for emergent and developing performers. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

TRAD ARTS AT THE SSC John Muir: University of Wilderness Sat 2 May, 7.30pm (1hr 45) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) 24 Dec, 1914 marked the passing of one of the world’s most noted naturalists, John Muir. Co-founder of the powerful environmental advocacy organisation, the Sierra Club, Muir’s far reaching contributions to our present day lives are incalculable and deserving of celebration. 100 years after his death, experience dramatic readings of his writings artfully intertwined with the music of American cutting edge ensemble, Chance. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Workshop: Traditional Scottish Songs and their Stories Sun 3 May, 2pm (2hrs 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £12 (£10) Experience the cross genre power of traditional arts with Christina Stewart who introduces examples of Scottish songs and their links with stories and vice versa. Learn how to use these connections to make storytelling and singing draw inspiration from each other in performance, education and pure pleasure. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

TRAD ARTS AT THE SSC

the badwills

The Lyrical Heart Sun 3 May, 2pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) Frieda Morrison invites you into the heart of North East Scotland to experience its songs and tunes with original compositions, as well as her 1993 film ‘Troubled Fields’, exploring a changing way of life as local people are forced to leave the land in rural Aberdeenshire. Frieda will be joined by gifted fiddler Sarah Beattie and singer Delane Morrison-Wallace. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

The Badwills at A Braw Time wi’ Come Along – the Netherbow: the Bairns Let Us Foot It Album Launch and Concert Out Together Mon 4 May, 2pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre Sun 3 May, 7.30pm (2hrs 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8)

Enchanting Scotland with unique nights of southern Italian traditional music for the past 5 years, The Badwills showcase rhythmical tammurriatas and hypnotic pizzicas. They are now proud to present their 2015 TradFest show and the release of their new live album, recorded at their sell-out performance at last year’s festival. www.thebadwills.co.uk Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

£7 (£5) | 5+

Come and enjoy songs, traditional stories and a fun pantomime! Loads of fun, Scots words and expressions to learn and share. This is a family event, especially suitable for children aged 5 -12, but all welcome. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Mon 4 May, 7pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £5

“Come along – let us foot it out together” is a line from the Uist tramping song chosen by storyteller and dancer Phyllis Davison to develop this presentation of story, song, music and dance. Enjoy a journey around Scotland with song sheets and dance notes where audience participation is encouraged. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

TRAD ARTS AT THE SSC calum lykan

Pre-Election Flyting and Debate Mon 4 May, 6.30pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £6 (£4) Flyting is defined as “a contest consisting of the exchange of insults, often conducted in verse, between two parties.” From the rowdy Prime Minister’s Question Time to the growing popularity of internet rap battles, flyting, in its various forms, can still be found today. With only three days until the general election, this event will debate the hottest topics in Scottish politics. It won’t be an evening for the faint-hearted. Come along and make your voice heard, or just listen attentively. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Café Ceilidh Tue 5 May, 2pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre Free, non ticketed Join Linten Adie and friends from the Scots Music Group for a free afternoon of traditional Scottish songs and music in the Storytelling Court. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Re-Source: The Gifts of Ewan McColl Tue 5 May, 5.15pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) 100 years since Ewan McColl’s birth, TradFest opens up his legacy as collector, songmaker and reviver. Re-Source his gifts in performance and education. Led by Geordie McIntyre and Alison McMorland. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Brave & Free: Traditional Tales of Scotland Tue 5 May, 7pm (1hr 15) Scottish Storytelling Centre £6 (£4) | 12+ Scotland, a land steeped in myth and legend. Storyteller Calum Lykan - nominee for Best Newcomer 2013, British Awards of Storytelling Excellence - introduces you to his magical Scotland. Tales full of giants, broonies and selkies with heroic stories of kings of old and warriors out of the mists of time. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

TRAD ARTS AT THE SSC Fickle Fortune: Summer Is Robyn Stapleton A-Coming Album Launch Tue 5 May, 7.30pm (1hr 45) Scottish Storytelling Centre £12 (£10) BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician 2014 launches her debut album at this year’s TradFest. Fickle Fortune features traditional songs from Scotland and Ireland. Robyn will be joined by band members Kristan Harvey (fiddle), Alistair Iain Paterson (piano & harmonium) & David McNee (guitar). Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Re-Source: Alan Lomax Dunkin their Heels in the Corn and the Custard Wed 6 May, 5.15pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) 100 years since Alan Lomax’s birth, TradFest opens up the legacy of his stravaiging and massively rewarding pursuit of Scots song. Re-Source his archives online, with the guidance of Ewan McVicar, Lomax editor, songmaker and storyteller. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wed 6 May, 7.30pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) Join The Fisher Lassies for a seasonal celebration of songs, tales and tunes to help usher in the abundance of summer! This well-established Borders based a cappella group sing mainly traditional songs, ranging from the haunting and atmospheric to the joyful and uplifting. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Twelfth Day Wed 6 May, 7.30pm (1hr 15) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) Inspired by their musical travels around the globe and upbringings in Orkney and the Scottish Borders, fiddle player Catriona Price and harpist Esther Swift blend traditional folk with classical elements that’s outside of genre. Singing in unison to create a voice that is neither one nor the other, don’t miss this ‘21st century art music for trad fans.’ (fRoots). Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Re-Source: Jacobites By Name - 1715 and all that Thu 7 May, 5.15pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) The Jacobites live on in song and story, in Scots and Gaelic, in Scotland and across the world. Re-Source these fantastic traditions with Perthshire tradition bearer Paraig MacNeil who knows the songs, the stories and the places that live on in Jacobite lore. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Songs and Stories of the Pavee People with Irish Traveller Thomas McCarthy Thu 7 May, 7.30pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £8 (£6) Thomas McCarthy is a last bastion of the oral tradition, an Irish traveller who comes from a long line of singers and musicians who taught him many fine versions of traditional songs. His unforgettable voice and profoundly moving performances have held audiences spellbound at many folk festivals in the UK and beyond. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

TRAD ARTS AT THE SSC

Re-Source: The Tannahill Irish Songs - Art as Life Fri 8 May, 5.15pm (1hr 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) Robert Tannahill, the Paisley weaver engaged with the oft violent 18th Century debate over Irish emigration to Scotland, left us with a legacy of sublime Scottish-Irish song. Through potent melody and metaphor, he begged the question: to what extent can art be seen as life? Re-Source Tannahill’s songs and his inclusive vision of Scotland with Fred Freeman. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Which Side Are You On? Fri 8 May, 6pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £12 (£8) Jimmy Ross, Finlay Allison, Gillian Frame and Penny Stone share the story of folksinger and activist Pete Seeger. Uncover archive pictures, his music and friendships, his McCarthy era activism and persecution, his involvement in the civil rights movement and Vietnam War opposition, alongside performances of Seeger’s own songs including Waist Deep in the Big Muddy. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

The Shee Fri 8 May, 8.30pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) Electro-harp, accordion, fiddles, flute, mandolin and three powerful voices come together in an adventurous brew of Folk, Gaelic and Bluegrass. Their latest album, Murmurations, was received to great acclaim with the launch tour resulting in a nomination for Best Live Act at the MG Alba Scots Trad Awards. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

TRAD ARTS AT THE SSC

Sat 9 May, 2pm (2hrs 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £15 (£12) Joshua Rilko, Mark Lavengood and PJ of Lindsay Lou and the Flatbellys offer an introduction to bluegrass styles and approaches, followed by instrument focussed sessions on mandolin, dobro, fiddel and bass, ending with a collective jam in a unique TradFest opportunity to learn American roots techniques.

Cruinn and Friends Sat 9 May, 7.30pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £10 (£8) This Highland based quartet brings together premier Gaelic singers James Graham, Fiona Mackenzie, Brian Ó hEadhra and Rachel Walker. Recently nominated in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2015 for Best Traditional Track, their Gaelic melodies are admired for outstanding harmonies and subtle arrangements. Featuring some special guests... not to be missed!

Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Tales in the Making:

What next

The Snow Queen & The Death of the Fin King Sat 9 May, 2pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £8 (£6) | 8+ A double bill of craft and tale collaboration. Storyteller Grace Banks and glass artist Laura Reid use song and illustrations in glass to retell The Snow Queen. Bryony Knox’s intricate metal creations help storyteller Erin Farley bring the ocean to life using puppetry techniques in The Death of the Fin King. Commissioned by Craft Scotland, with support from Creative Scotland. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

cruinn

Workshop: The Art of Bluegrass

for Scotland’s Cultural Community? Sun 10 May, 10.30am (6hrs 30) Scottish Storytelling Centre £5 (£3) The role of the artist is both to imagine the future and reflect the present. Last year’s referendum witnessed an outpouring of creativity and growth in cultural confidence. But what next? Co-curated with the National Collective, this day of dialogue for artists, cultural workers, educators and citizens of Scotland explores pathways forward. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

The Music and Songs of Scotland:

Euan Drysdale, Alastair Savage & Friends Sun 10 May, 7.30pm (2hrs) Scottish Storytelling Centre £12 (£10) An exciting collaboration as Euan Drysdale celebrates Burns and Gow with blues interpretations while Alistair Savage performs new fiddle compositions inspired by the Scottish Isles, Glasgow and Fife. Joined by folk legend Eddie McGuire (flute), Perthshire fiddle ace Pete Clark and multiinstrumentalist Ewan Robertson, an invigorating musical blend is guaranteed. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN

Edinburgh Old Dance Base: Scotland’s Town: Journeys Ceilidh Future History for dancers with and Evocations additional support needs with Stuart McHardy Wed 29 Apr, 2pm (1hr) Thu 30 Apr & Thu 7 May National Library of Scotland Free (ticketed)

Donald Smith and Stuart McHardy present Edinburgh Old Town through the eyes of the late, great John Fee — local history expert and a true storytelling artist. Tickets: NLS 0131 623 3734 www.nls.uk

J.D. Fergusson’s Modern Scottish Painting with Sandy Moffat and Alan Riach Wed 29 Apr, 6.30pm (1hr 30) Word Power Books Free (ticketed) Alan Riach and Sandy Moffat have brought Modern Scottish Painting by J.D.Fergusson to life in this new edition of the book, annotated and illustrated with Fergusson’s paintings. Come along for an enlightening evening with two of Scotland’s most respected arts academics and practitioners.

11am (1hr) Dance Base £5.50 | 14+

Ceilidh dancing is possibly the most social of all dances. Dance with your partner, dance with others in a group and join in the party! Prepare for a lot of fun and laughs. For those with additional needs, friends, family and carers. Tickets: Dance Base 0131 225 5525 www.dancebase.co.uk

Dance Base: Ceilidh Thu 30 Apr & Thu 7 May 7.30pm (2hrs) Dance Base £6.50 (£5.50) | 14+ Learn traditional Scottish dances, enjoy live music and join in the ceilidh! A variety of dances will be taught in this new, longer session, so you can really get into the swing. A great way to have fun, meet new people and experience an integral part of Scottish culture. Tickets: Dance Base 0131 225 5525 www.dancebase.co.uk

Thu 30 Apr, 6.30pm (1hr 30) Blackwell’s Bookshop Free (ticketed)

Stuart McHardy presents a new approach to history, changing our mindset to look at Scotland as the centre of our story. Come along to have your perception of Scotland’s history changed. Tickets: Eventbrite http://scotlandsfuturehistory. eventbrite.co.uk

Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Fri 1 May, 8pm (2hrs 30) Portobello Town Hall £6 | 10+ A traditional ceilidh event with Edinburgh’s own Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh Band. Come along and join in the fun - suitable for all ages (and perfect for beginners) as the Dance Caller will demonstrate all the dances. Bring a pair of flat soled shoes and plenty of enthusiasm! Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Tickets: Eventbrite modernscottishpainting.eventbrite. co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

bella hardy

Bella Hardy Fri 1 May, 8pm (2hrs 30) Queen’s Hall £14 (£12) Bella Hardy returns to The Queen’s Hall with her eagerly anticipated new album, With The Dawn. This heartfelt collection of selfcomposed songs tells a story of travel, choices, lessons unlearned and hope. Winner of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Singer of the Year in 2014, Bella is one of the most creative, prolific and original singers in the UK. Tickets: 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net

Mummer’s Ceilidh Fri 1 May, 8pm (4hrs) St. Ninian’s Hall, Kirk O’ Field Centre £10 (£8) A Ceilidh dance led by the legendary Robert Fish Band, featuring weird and ancient folk plays with the Meadows Mummers and mayhem with the Mons Megs rapper dancers! Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Bothan Dun Eideann Edinburgh’s Gaelic Nightclub

Fri 1 May, 8.30pm (3hrs) Canons’ Gait £5 (£3) Established over 10 years ago, Bothan is at the forefront of Edinburgh’s Gaelic Arts scene. From performers of international renown to wee lassies who sing at the local Mod, Bothan continues to provide a platform for the finest talents in Gaelic music, drama, poetry and dance. www.bothan.org Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents... Rozi Plain and Friends Fri 1 May, 10pm (5hrs) Summerhall £10 | 18+ Two nights of late parties showcasing the best of modern, trad influenced music from around Scotland and the UK. Rozi Plain launches her new album, Friend, with support from Eagleowl, Supermoon and a DJ set from the Pictish Trail. Tickets: Summerhall Box Office 0131 560 1581 www.summerhall.co.uk

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

bOLD TOWN: graffiti & street art soiree Sat 2 & Sun 3 May, 9am (8hrs) WiPE Walls, Market Street New Waverley development area A cultural cross-over using modern mediums celebrating old town traditions to create bold and inspiring artwork. Graffiti artists will spray paint a community mural over the course of the weekend using ideas generated by local people coinciding with a themed graffiti ‘jam’ event, involving artists from across Scotland. workinprogressedinburgh.blogspot. co.uk

Harps of their Own Sort Sat 2 May, 2pm (1hr) Blackwell’s Bookshop Free (ticketed) | All ages Leading contemporary performer, and one of the few players today to develop the old style of fingernail playing, Karen Marshalsay will play both gut and wire-strung clarsachs in this programme of Scottish music from the Gaelic, harp and piping traditions. Tickets: Blackwell’s 0131 622 8218 events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN

European Ceilidh:

Scots Music Group

with Duo Shepherd/Gielen & Auld Alliance

Fundraising Ceilidh with the Canongate Cadjers

Sat 2 May, 7pm (4hrs 30) St Peter’s Hall £11 (£9) | All ages

Sat 2 May, 8pm (4hrs) St Bride’s Centre £8 (£6) in advance £10 (£8) on the door

Come and dance the night away to Scottish folk and Western European music, provided by an amazing band all the way from France! Bal folk is a French/Western European version of a Ceilidh, and is open to everybody, with an informal and fun atmosphere guaranteed! Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Huradal Sat 2 May, 7.30pm (1hr 30) St Albert’s Catholic Chaplaincy £10 (£5), 9+ (under 16s must be accompanied by an adult) Step dancers Màiri Britton and Sophie Stephenson come together with Mòd Gold Medallist Eilidh Munro and fiddler/guitarist Robbie Greig in a dynamic ensemble showcasing the rhythmical links between puirt-à-beul and step dance. They are joined by guests including Mairi Campbell for an intimate acoustic evening of music, dance, song and spokenword poetry. Tickets: Sophie Stephenson 07783 433807

No experience necessary! Come on your own, with friends or in a group. Have fun & join the locals in Scottish dancing with live music from one of Edinburgh’s top ceilidh bands! All money raised supports Scots Music Group, a charity which runs weekly traditional music classes across Edinburgh. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk and St Bride’s Centre and www.scotsmusic.org/dance

Wee Folk Club: Peter Nardini Sun 3 May, 8.30pm (2hrs 30) The Royal Oak £5 | 18+ Peter Nardini is a Glasgow School of Art graduate and renowned artist, but his music has always gone hand in hand with his art. He is simply one of the most original songwriters and performers in the Scottish music scene. Tickets: Pay on door

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

dean owens

Dance Base: Highland Beginners Mon 4 May, 5.30pm (1hr) Dance Base £6.50 (£5.50) Enjoy the energetic, rhythmic steps of our country’s national dances. Veronica, former World Champion, will teach you to enjoy all the swirling sounds of not just the bagpipes, but all the great uptempo music Scotland has to offer. Tickets: Dance Base 0131 225 5525 www.dancebase.co.uk

The Life and Songs of Bob Bertram: an Edinburgh Folk Singer Mon 4 May, 6.30pm (1hr) Edinburgh Central Library Free (ticketed), Adults Celebrating the life and works of Bob Bertram (d. 2009), a wellknown Edinburgh folk-singer and character who performed in various venues around the Old Town of Edinburgh. Norma Allan will talk about his life and works and recite some of his poems, accompanied by folk-singer Morag Dunbar. Tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk

Dean Owens Simon and the Whisky Kempston Hearts Mon 4 May, 8.30pm (1hr 30) The Royal Oak Mon 4 May, 8pm (2hrs) The Traverse £10

Filtering his love of Americana through a gritty yet lyrical Scottish sensibility, and armed with a searingly soulful voice, Dean Owens is one of Scotland’s most acclaimed and established singer songwriters, with fans including Bob Harris, Irvine Welsh and Russell Brand. Tickets: www.soundhouse.org.uk

£8 (£6) | 16+

Rare chance to see award-winning Scottish songwriter and leading fingerstyle guitarist in one of Scotland’s most intimate music venues. Having performed to critical acclaim in esteemed venues and festivals all over Europe, this intense, incredible musician will transport you on a uniquely Scottish journey with his beautifully crafted folk-tinged songs. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN adam holmes

Scotia Nova: Poems for the Early Days of a Better Nation Tue 5 May, 6.30pm (1hr 30) Blackwell’s Bookshop Free (ticketed) Revised for a post-referendum Scotland, come along to join the editors and contributing poets of this book in an evening of poetry dedicated to Scotland’s future, and possibly a song or two. Tickets: Eventbrite http://scotianovatradfest. eventbrite.co.uk

Adam Holmes and the Embers Edinburgh Presents...The Best Ceilidh Club of Young Scottish Folk Tue 5 May, 7pm (4hrs) The Mash House £12 | 18+ Combining the song writing influences of artists like John Martyn and Townes Van Zandt with the country and folk textures of The Band, Neil Young and Ryan Adams & the Cardinals, this collective create their own unique brand of Americana with hints of Scotland in a night that regularly attracts a diverse range of acts. The special guests for their TradFest 2015 show are no exception. Tickets: www.adamholmesandtheembers.com

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

Tue 5 May, 8pm (3hrs) Summerhall £6

Every Tuesday, come and experience Scottish dance the way it’s meant to be! With a caller to teach the dances and featuring the best Scottish ceilidh bands, the event is great for everyone from complete beginners to experienced dancers. Tickets can be bought in advance online or on the door if there any left, these events are often very popular so get there in good time.

Cogadh ‘s an Dàn - War in the Poem Wed 6 May, 6.30pm (1hr) Blackwell’s Bookshop Free (ticketed) Award-winning poet Aonghas MacNeacail will be performing a selection of Gaelic war poems from Scotland’s best-loved poets, including Sorley MacLean. Tickets: Blackwell’s 0131 622 8218 Events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk

Tickets: Summerhall Box Office 0131 560 1581 www.summerhall.co.uk

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN Breabach Fri 8 May, 8pm (2hrs 30) Queen’s Hall £16 (£13) Featuring Calum MacCrimmon (pipes/whistles/bouzouki), Ewan Robertson (guitar/vocals), James Mackenzie (pipes/flute/whistles), Megan Henderson (fiddle/vocals/stepdance) and James Lindsay (double bass & winner of 2014 Martyn Bennett Prize), Breabach’s innovative Celtic style shows flare, excitement and diversity rarely seen from such a young group. Voted Best Group and Live Act of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2013 and nominated for Best Group at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2014. Tickets: 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net

Flute Fling: Scottish Flute Day 2015 Sat 9 May, 9.30am (7hrs) Portobello Old Parish Church £30 (£25) | 16+ Three tutors return by popular demand as part of the ongoing flute revival in Scottish traditional music. Gordon Turnbull (Edinburgh), Kenny Hadden (Aberdeen), and Sharon Creasey (Glasgow) teach and discuss playing styles, repertoire, breathing, tone and ornamentation relevant to those playing metal and wooden flutes within the Scottish tradition. Tickets: Scottish Storytelling Centre Box Office: 0131 556 9579 www.scottishstorytellingcentre.co.uk

Stepping Across the Atlantic Sat 9 May, 1pm (4hrs) St Albert’s Catholic Chaplaincy £20 (£10) for full afternoon £8 (£4) per workshop) An exciting afternoon of dance immersion exploring the movement, song and music traditions of Scottish and Cape Breton step dancing. Workshops in Vocal dance tunes, Scottish step dance, and Fiddle music for step dancing as well as discussion on The Revival of Step Dance in Scotland. Featuring Mòd Gold Medalist Eilidh Munro, Sophie Stephenson, Màiri Britton and Mairi Campbell. Tickets: www.huradal.com

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

TRADFEST IN THE TOWN mary black

The Scottish Lute Sat 9 May, 2pm (1hr) Blackwell’s Bookshop Free (ticketed) | All ages Lutenist Eric Thomas plays a selection of Scottish music from some of the earliest sources of Scottish traditional music, including the Rowallan, Straloch and Panmure 5 manuscript. Eric is currently studying jointly at the University of Glasgow and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland for a Masters in Historically Informed Performance Practice. Tickets: Blackwell’s 0131 622 8218 Events.edinburgh@blackwell.co.uk sophie@sophabulous.co.uk

Mary Black The Last Call Tour

Wee Folk Club: Jim Bainbridge

Sun 10 May, 8pm (2hrs 30) Queen’s Hall £28.50 (£27.50)

Sun 10 May, 8.30pm (2hrs 30) The Royal Oak £5

Much loved singer Mary Black embarks on her last ever tour of the UK having decided to hang up her ‘touring boots’. For the last 30 years, Black has been a dominant presence in Irish music, both at home and abroad, with her enduring success proving her depth of talent and love of singing transcends the generations.

Jim picked up the melodeon in 1964, for a fiver in a Twickenham junkshop, and has played DG box ever since. A Geordie by birth, he’s lived across the UK as well as in the Canary Islands allowing for a varied and eclectic repertoire delivered with infectious pleasure.

Tickets: 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net

Tickets: Pay on door

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents... The Khartoum Heroes and Friends Sun 10 May, 10pm (5hrs) Summerhall £10 | 18+ Two nights of late parties showcasing the best of modern, trad influenced music from around Scotland and the UK. This marks the Edinburgh return of Khartoum Heroes, featuring King Creosote and Vic Galloway, supported by Adam Stafford and C Duncan. Tickets: Summerhall Box Office 0131 560 1581 www.summerhall.co.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

Celtic Summer School Explore Scotland’s literature, traditional arts and history in a gloriously engaging week long examination of Celtic cultural inheritance and ethos. Directed by Dr Donald Smith, the Summer School presents the best of tutors in a variety of disciplines but the style is informal, experiential and entertaining. It will also draw on writers, storytellers and musicians to help the creative juices flow. The whole venture is inspired by Patrick Geddes – inventor of the “Summer School” concept – insisting that it should be a creative interaction with the environment, literature and culture.

Week Pass £95 (£85 Conc) Day passes and Session tickets will be available when full summer programme is released.

Saturday 1 – Friday 7 August 2015 Daily Sessions: 11am (1hr 30) 1pm (1hr) 2.30pm (2hrs)

Wednesday 29th April to Sunday 10th May 2015

Connect with Culture SCOTLAND’S LIVING TRADITIONS Music | Song | Storytelling | Dance You’ve seen the landscape, the vibrant cities and the historic buildings… Don’t miss out on the warmth, talent and energy of a modern culture inspired by tradition. TRACS is a support and development organisation for the traditional arts and culture of Scotland to encourage collaboration, share resources and effectively promote Traditional Arts activities. Festivals Scotland serves up a feast of local and national festivals throughout the year. Get close to the heartbeat. Workshops From tasters to master classes, experience Scotland’s living traditions. Learn more about Scotland’s diverse culture and try out some new skills. Ceilidh Trails Experience vibrant traditional Gaelic music, song and ceilidh culture on location. Ceud Mile Failte! Local events give a special flavour to any tour, allowing a real slice of culture to be soaked up. Further information: www.tracscotland.org www.creativescotland.com www.edinburghfestivalcity.com www.handsupfortrad.co.uk www.tmsa.org.uk

www.tracscotland.org/festivals

TradFest Edinburgh · Dùn Èideann

festival calendar various dates It’s a Strange Auld Toon, Stories of Old Edinburgh Wed 29 Apr - Sun 10 May

Whisky & Tales Tour Wed 29 & Thu 30 April and Wed 6 & Thu 7 May

Paintings of Traditional Musicians: An Exhibition by Joanna Powell Fri 24 Apr - Mon 11 May

tuesday 28 Apr Cahalen Morrison & Eli West

Wednesday 29 Apr Edinburgh Old Town: Journeys and Evocations

J.D. Fergusson’s Modern Scottish Painting 21 with Sandy Moffat and Alan Riach A Fine Wee Lass?

Edinburgh Folk Club: The Tannahill Weavers

Thursday 30 Apr Dance Base: Ceilidh

Dance Base: Ceilidh 21 (for dancers with additional support needs) Scotland’s Future History with Stuart McHardy

Sassie Lassies

Beltane Fire Festival

Malinky: Far Better Days

Harps of their Own Sort

Wednesday 6 May

Hydrokoret: The Hydro Choir

09 12

Re-Source: Alan Lomax - Dunkin their Heels in the Corn and the Custard

Up the Junction European Ceilidh: with Duo Shepherd /Gielen & Auld Alliance

Cogadh ‘s an Dàn - War in the Poem

Summer Is A-Coming

Huradal

Twelfth Day

John Muir: University of Wilderness

Edinburgh Folk Club: Colum Sands

Dallahan

Celestial Wives of the Meadow Mari

Scots Music Group Fundraising Ceilidh with the Canongate Cadjers

Rock Opera: Walking Tour

Thursday 7 May Dance Base: Ceilidh

Sunday 3 May bOLD TOWN: graffiti & street art soiree

Workshop: Traditional Scottish Songs and their Stories

Re-Source: Jacobites By Name - 1715 and all that

The Lyrical Heart

Kaddu Beykat / A Letter to My Village

The Badwills at the Netherbow: Album Launch and Concert

Songs and Stories of the Pavee People with Irish Traveller Thomas McCarthy

The Nuala Kennedy Trio

Mollie O’Brien and Rich Moore

Dream On

Wee Folk Club: Peter Nardini

Scotland’s Democracy Trail

Monday 4 May

Workshop: May Day Mummers

Dancing Sunwise

Diane Cluck

Canongate Cadjers Ceilidh

Bella Hardy

The May Day Concert: Dick Gaughan

Bothan DunEideann

Mummer’s Ceilidh

Play Me Something

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents... Rozi Plain and Friends

Friday 8 May Re-Source: The Tannahill Irish Songs - Art as Life

Breabach

Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys

A Braw Time wi’ the Bairns

Which Side Are You On?

Dance Base: Highland Beginners

The Shee

Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors

The Life and Songs of Bob Bertam: an Edinburgh Folk Singer

Come Along – Let Us Foot It Out Together 16

Friday 1 May

Saturday 9 May Flute Fling: Scottish Flute Day 2015

Workshop: The Art of Bluegrass

20 20

Pre-Election Flyting and Debate

Dean Owens and the Whisky Hearts

Tales in the Making: The Snow Queen & The Death of the Fin King

Edinburgh Folk Club: Väsen

The Scottish Lute

Simon Kempston

Stepping Across the Atlantic

Cruinn and Friends

Southern Tenant Folk Union

Tuesday 5 May Café Ceilidh

Re-Source: The Gifts of Ewan McColl

Sunday 10 May

Scotia Nova: Poems for the Early Days of a Better Nation

What next for Scotland’s Cultural Community?

Sing a Song for Scotland

Adam Holmes and the Embers 25 Presents...The Best of Young Scottish Folk

Saturday 2 May

Brave & Free: Traditional Tales of Scotland 17

Ancient Athens and its gifts to Edinburgh 15

Fickle Fortune: Robyn Stapleton Album Launch

Kaos

Edinburgh Ceilidh Club

The Music and Songs of Scotland: 20 Euan Drysdale, Alastair Savage & Friends Queen Amang the Heather – Sheila Stewart

Mary Black - The Last Call Tour

Wee Folk Club: Jim Bainbridge

27 27 07

May Day Parade

Come Lift Up Yer Voices: Scots Song Singalong

bOLD TOWN: graffiti & street art soiree

Salt House

Nothing Ever Happens Here Presents... The Khartoum Heroes and Friends

Workshop: Learning to Learn by Ear

Rock Opera: Walking Tour

Scotland’s Democracy Trail

Dance Base: Ceilidh 21 (for dancers with additional support needs)

Traditional Culture. Live.

Rooted in the Past. Resonating in the Present.

TradFest Box Office: Scottish Storytelling Centre 43-45 High Street Edinburgh EH1 1SR T: 0131 556 9579 www.tracscotland.org/festivals Please see individual event listings for alternative ticket details where available.

www.facebook.com/tradfestedinburgh @TradFestEd

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