From Singing Out of Car Windows to My First Record – by Heather Cartwright

📷 Photo above by Nicky Murray Let me tell you a little bit about Janey, the subject for the final track of this EP. Janey used to stick her head out of the car window in the backseat and sing at the top of her lungs into the wind, and the wind would wisp it … Continued

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A Pipe Dream Made Real – by Donald Lindsay

📷 Photos by Pip Graham-Bishop Twenty years ago this January, I stepped into a journey whose full scope I couldn’t then imagine. The seeds were sown earlier, but the story began in earnest in 2006 when a grant from the Arts Trust of Scotland made it possible for the late Nigel Richard to prototype a … Continued

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A Closer Look at ‘Close’ – by Roo Geddes

📷 Photo above by Nicky Murray Fiddle players from across Scotland each bring their own regional styles and musical accents, but growing up in the middle of Glasgow, I never really felt like I had a geographical heritage or cultural lineage to belong to. Now, after a decade of following my fiddle round the world … Continued

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The Procrastinated Creation of ‘Outsider’ – by Findlay Napier

📷 Photos by Elly Lucas Sometimes I procrastinate. During the recording and writing of Outsider book, my skills grew from that of an amateur dilly-dallyer to that of an Olympic level dawdler. The shed was well organised, the garden weeded and the record collections alphabetised. Rooms were repainted, cars hoovered and dogs walked to exhaustion. … Continued

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How the Song of Oak and Ivy Grew – by Corrina Hewat

📷 Photo above by Sandy Butler Once upon a time, many years ago in late 2010 the committee of the Edinburgh International Harp Festival reached out to me with an exciting proposal: to craft a piece that would celebrate their 30th anniversary while also honouring the 80th anniversary of the Clarsach Society. This opportunity felt … Continued

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The Elephant in The Womb – by Joanie Bones

📷 Photos by Jannica Honey How did someone’s painful arm become a four year music project exploring the many moments of a woman’s life that are usually experienced in silence? It was mid-COVID times. My partner, an incredibly strong woman who I was used to seeing endure trials and tribulations way beyond any I could … Continued

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Fable: A Journey into Scotland’s Stories, People, and Places – by Ainsley Hamill

📷 Photo by Alleksana Photography For any artist, the creation of an album is a journey – one that often takes unexpected turns and reveals itself gradually. Fable, my latest album, was no exception. What began as a collection of songs I felt deeply connected to evolved into a cohesive exploration of Scottish folklore, history, and … Continued

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Archipelagic Creativity in Music Practice – by Simon Bradley

“You’re so lucky to play music” The poignant song ‘Everything is free’ by Gillian Welsh skilfully captures a dynamic where we as musicians can be damned when faint praise replaces a full appreciation of worth. It can feel that the glistening tip of the iceberg is sometimes the only aspect appreciated by even loyal fans. … Continued

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Dig Where You Stand – by Aaron Jones

Folk duo Rachel Walker and Aaron Jones celebrate their roots with a stunning new album of traditional Gaelic, Scottish, English and Irish songs. Amongst The Wild Rowans, is our second full album. It’s a celebration of our roots and an attempt to make an honest record that reflects where we came from, our influences and … Continued

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Catch the Rhythmic Orkney Tide and Ride – by Jennifer Wrigley

📷 Jenny by Amanda Jackson Photography Kirkwall Harbour by Alan Guthrie Photography NEW RELEASE ALBUM AND TUNEBOOK As I sit here looking out across Orkney’s lush fertile fields, watching the birds flying effortlessly around the breaking sunlight I think about how lucky I am to be at home following many years travelling the world as … Continued

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