I love playing my fiddle at the fortnightly Saturday afternoon Trad Session at Leith Depot in Edinburgh.
This has proven to be really popular, drawing in both local musicians and those coming from further afield.
On Saturday 25th July we played an eclectic mix of tunes including jigs, reels, waltzes, marches and polkas. There’s no set list, but I’m always glad when two favourites appear: The Lounge Bar, named after the well‑known pub of the same name in Shetland, and Gordon Duncan’s The High Drive. The session has a great buzz and strong support from The Depot and their staff. New players are always welcome.
I will be leading the next session along with Siobhan Gorrie on Saturday 8th August, 1.00–4.00 pm.
Thanks to Ken Murray for the photo.
I really enjoyed Friday’s trad session at the Pianodrome, Bruntsfield Community Hub in Edinburgh, which has been building towards becoming a regular fixture on the city’s traditional‑music calendar.
The session takes place in St Oswald's Church, brought back to life as a venue for community activities, including workshops and theatre productions.
The venue’s acoustics are open and clear, and the tall church ceiling carries the tunes high into the roof. Unlike in pub sessions, I can always hear my fiddle soaring out among the other instruments. I’m looking forward to the sessions restarting in September.
https://www.pianodrome.org/
I've been coming to the Stonehaven Folk Festival since the mid 1980's. It's a great place to meet up with pals and join in the many music sessions around the town
The relaxed vibe at Carron to Mumbai (this year’s Festival Hub) was fantastic, and the tune sets at No. 44, previously known as The Royal Hotel, were wild and frenetic. I sang my songs and played favourite fiddle tunes like The Barren Rocks of Aden, The Smith’s a Gallant Fireman and The Drunken Piper, surrounded by whistles, guitars, mandolins and accordions.
I was shocked by the recent deaths of festival regulars and pals Archie Buchanan, from my old band Mabel Meldrum’s, and luthier Marshall Dow, who built my mandolin and electric fiddle. It’s hard to believe they won’t be catching up with friends in their usual window seat reserved for musicians at No. 44.
The festival felt busier and more upbeat than last year, a sure sign that traditional music is thriving.
