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).

Guest blog by Natalie Brown Through my own teaching and performance, I have found that musicians in the United States are interested in adapting and reinterpreting traditional melodies and styles. Contemporary Scottish musicians are actively engaged in just this practice.

Guest blog by déirdre ní mhathúna The School of Scottish Studies Campaign/Iomairt Sgoil Eòlais na h-Alba is a public, student-led campaign. It has grown out of a series of meetings held privately between the Celtic and Scottish Studies Department student community and Edinburgh University management between October and December 2012.

Guest blog by Becky Leach There are a lot of volunteers about in traditional music in Scotland. Though you’ll maybe not know it – apart, perhaps, from when they’re playing and singing and enjoying a good bit of banter, they tend to be a bit of a quiet bunch. Quiet, that is, about the work … Continued

By David Francis Gary West’s new book is a welcome attempt to place the traditional arts in Scotland in the context of what some see as a ‘post-traditional’ world, where localised cultural traditions are increasingly negated by the effects of globalisation and the ever-changing processes of what sociologist Zygmunt Bauman has termed ‘the liquid society’.