Guest blog by Stuart Eydmann   I’m sure that no reader of this blog would disagree with my suggestion that instrumental traditional music in Scotland is in a very healthy state indeed. Participation levels are high throughout the country and among all age groups. This is supported by a large infrastructure of instrument makers and … Continued

Guest blog by Findlay Napier Is 10 am too early in the morning to begin drinking whisky? Almost every stand in the Fruitmarket has a bottle of the amber nectar proudly displayed next to a pile of flyers, CDs and posters. It’s a little uncomfortable selling yourself. Maybe the liquor helps.

Guest blog by Amble Skuse We’ve just come out of our 3 day rehearsal for Remembered / Imagined; an intense, challenging, surprising and wonderful experience. The project started last year, when I realised how much I loved writing for Mr McFalls Chamber, and how much I loved working with Pippa Murphy, and how much more … Continued

Guest blog by Katch Holmes I attended the Artworks Scotland conference in Dundee from 14 to 15 November and delivered a presentation reflecting on some of my current research and recent experience in participatory art settings.

Guest blog by Mike Vass WOMEX is an international World Music Expo and this year was held in Cardiff from the 23rd to the 27th of October. ‘Horizons at WOMEX‘ was a special collaboration between Creative Scotland and Arts Councils in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland to showcase some UK acts at WOMEX.

Guest blog: Iain Bruce on Youth Music in Scotland, originally posted on the Youth Music Forum of Scotland Hello! My name is Iain Bruce and I co-ordinate ELjam, East Lothian Youth Music Forum and Strategic Music Partnership. Without getting too bogged down in detail, this role brings me in to contact with anyone and everyone … Continued

Message from Making Music’s Emma Campbell

Guest blog by Mairi Campbell Mairi Campbell is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and teacher who runs Lismore Music Retreats as well as performing in a variety of different contexts and experimenting with voice and recording techniques.

Guest blog by Wendy Stewart Maxwell’s Music is a sound and spoken word composition featuring the electroharp and reflecting the life and ideas of the theoretical physicist James Clerk Maxwell (1831 – 79). It is performed by Wendy Stewart with James Wyness and the voice of Tom Pow.

Guest blog by Roddy Macdonald Top tips for Folkies: Avoid anyone with the surname Greig if you have a wee drinkie inside you. Somewhat bizarrely, relaxing after a curry in an off-piste bar in Glasgow at Celtic Connections this year, I found myself being persuaded to volunteer for the committee of Bothan Dùn Èideann by … Continued