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

Guest blog by Mark Sheridan Karst. Sounds Gaelic but spelt in German. Karst. You can almost hear the sound of crumbling and cracking rock and grit in the word itself. It describes distinctive landscapes and rock formations created by the erosion of a soluble rock – limestone for instance – and is most evident in … Continued

Guest blog Since graduating from Newcastle’s Folk degree, Amy has been continuing to make a name for herself up in the Highlands. She performs regularly as a duo. She is also busy with her ever expanding students on the Accordion and continues to work freelance in schools across the Highlands. However this year Amy has … Continued

Guest blog by Dr Mairi McFadyen, conference organiser and ethnologist On the 6th of May, the trad arts community came together in Edinburgh to enjoy a stimulating, challenging and thought-provoking day of discussion and debate. The very first Tradfest conference asked, ‘What is the role of the trad arts in the 21st century? What do … Continued

Guest blog by Charlotte Murray It was very appropriate that this week I attended the European Forum on Music in Glasgow, hosted by the Scottish Music Centre and the European Music Council. International connections in trad music is a topic that has been on my mind a lot lately and meeting so many delegates from … Continued

Guest blog by John Jessiman Hands Up for Trad’s Business Limelight Award is a monthly initiative (launched in October 2012) that recognises the outstanding contributions made by businesses and organisations who contribute, shape and influence the arts and cultural sector in Scotland today.

One of the big talking points at this year’s Trad Talk conference was the exchange between musicians and promoters about what each can and should expect from the other. Musician turned promoter Bruce MacGregor shares his thoughts from both sides of the stage (on-stage and back stage).