Gordon Duncan, one of Scotland’s most influential and innovative musicians, died ten years ago this week at the age of 41. Stuart Cassells wrote this piece at the time, and has given us permission to reproduce it here. Like everyone I am completely saddened and stunned by the sudden passing of Gordon Duncan. Gordon Duncan … Continued

Report The day drew people with a wide range of experience and from different fields, including music, storytelling, local government and education.  Presentations were focused on oral and local history and local resources. Erin Farley started the day with a practical outline, including hints on recording and transcription techniques, of how to access the experience … Continued

Guest blog by Highland promoter Jennie Macfie Whenever two or three promoters are gathered together, the conversation will eventually turn to posters and lengthy, heartfelt rants will ensue. Voices may be, and often are, raised and sometimes fists come into contact with table tops to emphaise points. Posters are a highly contentious subject guaranteed to … Continued

Guest blog by Morag Wells At the end of July I began my role as Digital and Languages Apprentice for TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), and one of the first projects I was able to quickly get my teeth into was on the subject of traditional guising. Planning was already well underway for this … Continued

TMF Spotlight by Margaret Ferguson Burns A wonderful party with drink and daffing, sang and dance (and ploys and kisses got their chance), in brilliant sunshine at Duddingston Community Walled Garden, marked the end of a very special time for Sangstream. After 12 very successful years, Mairi Campbell was leaving us to pursue different challenges … Continued

Birnam CD offers a comprehensive support service for musicians from CD pressing to digital delivery to PR and design.  Managing Director Martin Hadden tells us more. I found the title of an article in last month’s newsletter depressingly downbeat – ‘Ian Green and the Legacy of the Folk Label’. For me, the word ‘legacy’ suggests … Continued

(and a farewell to Ceòl Mòr) Guest blog by Stewart Aitken Since 2000 AIYF has been producing a range of events designed to introduce, inform and inspire young musicians to the wealth of opportunities through playing Scottish traditional music. Led by David Francis, the annual summer programme as part of the international festival has explored, … Continued

Greentrax Recordings is without doubt the country’s leading folk label, with a catalogue in the hundreds that reads like a who’s who of traditional music in Scotland over the past thirty years. The business model for recorded music has substantially changed in recent times, almost to breaking point some would argue. Ian Green, Greentrax’s Managing … Continued

The Traditional Music Forum/ TRACS is a member of the the Culture Counts campaign, a body comprising most of the national cultural organisations in Scotland.  Culture Counts has developed a toolkit which is now available. The toolkit contains the information and evidence you need to make the case for the value of your organisation, project … Continued

Donald Smith reflects on the recent Celtic Summer School at the Scottish Storytelling Centre Last year TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland) piloted a Summer School exploring Scottish culture in the round. This has now become the Celtic Summer School, running for a week, beginning on 1st August – Lammas or Lughnasadh – traditionally the … Continued