Edinburgh Tradfest music programme announced
This year’s music programme for Edinburgh Tradfest is now onsale with full programme launch on Wednesday 13th March.
Article Source: Edinburgh Tradfest
Last Updated: 26 February 2024 13:35
FESTIVAL DATES: Friday 3 May - Monday 13 May 2024
This year’s music programme for Edinburgh Tradfest is now onsale.
More festival events including film, storytelling, book launches and workshops will be announced at the Edinburgh Tradfest 2024 full programme launch on Wed 13 March at 10am at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. (save the date – full details to follow)
VALTOS | NORDIC FIDDLERS BLOC | THE FRETLESS | BIRDVOX | TRIPTIC | DAIMH | JULIE FOWLIS | LENA JONSSON & BRITTANY HAAS | MARTIN SIMPSON
This year’s festival programme includes a fantastic line-up of live music at the Traverse and various venues across Edinburgh, thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and the William Grant Foundation.
Opening the Festival on Friday 3 April at the Queen’s Hall is VALTOS which has taken the trad and electronic music world by storm. The band led by Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald will be joined by award-winning singer/songwriter Josie Duncan and more special guests to be announced.
Over the 11 days of the Festival there will be live music and workshops involving more than 100 musicians, including velvet harmonies from fresh new electro-trad band Birdvox (Inge Thomson, Charlotte Printer, Jenny Sturgeon, Sarah Hayes); Triptic formed from three members of Moishe’s Bagel (Greg Lawson, Phil Alexander and Mario Caribe), Canada’s finest fiddle quartet The Fretless joined by award-winning folk singer-songwriter Madeleine Roger; Scandi-fiddlers Nordic Fiddlers Bloc (Olav Luksengård Mjelva, Kevin Henderson and Anders Hall); Gaelic supergroupDàimh; multi-award winning acoustic and slide guitar master Martin Simpson; raucous fiddle folk duo Lena Jonssonfrom Northern Sweden and Brittany Haas from Northern California; and, one of Scotland’s best loved traditional music stars Julie Fowlis who will play at the festival’s closing concert in the Assembly Rooms with special guests Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr.
There will also be soloists and new emerging musicians performing every night in Traverse 2 including LA-based singer-songwriter Alice Howe (appearing with Freebo), multi-award-winning singer/harpist/composer Rachel Newton; electrofolk fiddle player Frankie Archer who won the 2023 Christian Raphael Prize and has featured on Later…With Jools Holland; piper Malin Lewis; jazz-crossover folk duo Norman&Corrie; Simon Bradley Trio (Simon Bradley, Anna-Wendy Stevenson, Michael Bryan); virtuoso musicians Simon Thoumire and Dave Milligan; Irish fiddler and bilingual singer Clare Sands; and BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalist 2024 Evie Waddell.
This year’s special commission is Everyone’s Welcome to Edinburgh curated and arranged by award-winning fiddler Robbie Greig, with new and old tunes, and songs hailing from the capital city. Robbie will be joined for the gig by some of the most talented musicians in Scotland – Ciaran Ryan, Duncan Lyall, Hannah Rarity, Jenn Butterworth, and Signy Jakobsdottir.
Returning in 2024 is the festival’s popular Rebellious Truth lecture presented in collaboration with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. This year it will feature a talk and performance by legendary folk musician and broadcaster Archie Fisher which will be in-person and live-streamed. Also returning is the ETF Spotlight showcasing four of the most exciting new artists emerging in folk and traditional music today – Scots song and tunes trio ELÍR, clarinet and accordion duo Anna Scott and Ciorstaidh Chaimbeul from the Isle of Skye, the freshly formed folk trio Beatha (Iona Reid, Cam Lawson and Kenneth MacFarlane), and virtuoso solo guitarist Miguel Girão. And, finally Hands Up For Trad’s very own #WorldPlayAStrathspeyDay annual concert is back on Saturday 4 May, the day when people all around the world are invited to record, video and upload themselves playing a strathspey to social media.
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said: “Every year we spend the run up to Edinburgh Tradfest searching for the very best traditional musicians from across Scotland, across the world and across the generations. There is such a wealth of talent out there. We hope you will find some of your favourite artists represented and some future favourites to try. We can’t wait to share this year’s festival with you.”
The full programme for this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest including events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the Folk Film Festival, and the Edinburgh Folk Club will be launched on Wednesday 13 March and will include an unmissable line-up of talks, adult and children’s music workshops, ceilidhs, films, and storytelling thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and the William Grant Foundation.
Edinburgh Tradfest 2024 will run from Friday 3 May - Monday 13 May. For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com
Image: Birdvox (Inge Thomson, Charlotte Printer, Jenny Sturgeon, Sarah Hayes) headline Traverse 1 on Thu 9 May.
Sponsored Links
Latest Edinburgh News
Blank Street pop up tram stop serves free coffee 24th and 25th January
Buzz worthy brand, Blank Street is coming to Edinburgh with the Blank Street Express Line, an immersive tram stop pop-up, designed to inject some magic into the mundane.
READ MORE
Border Caravans Announced as Headline Sponsor of the Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show
The Scottish Caravan, Motorhome and Holiday Home Show is delighted to announce Border Caravans as the new headline sponsor for this year's event.
READ MORE
Diving Into History as Glenogle Swim Centre Hosts Great Lengths Exhibition
The ‘Your Health is for Life – Great Lengths’ exhibition comes to historic Glenogle Baths, a stunning Victorian facility in the heart of Stockbridge, as it marks its 125th anniversary year.
READ MORE
World Gaelic Week unveils largest programme to date
Seachdain na Gàidhlig has unveiled details of its most diverse, ambitious and largest programme to date, bringing together speakers, learners and enthusiasts from across Scotland and beyond.
READ MORE
Roxy Rose Street launches Ballers Bottomless Brunch
Roxy Lanes Rose Street launches The Ballers Bottomless Brunch featuring 90 minutes of competitive fun with a game of your choice, bottomless drinks, and American-style sharers.
READ MORE
Milestone move as National Galleries of Scotland to host the Scottish Portrait Awards 2026
The Scottish Portrait Awards are back and bigger than ever, as the Scottish Arts Trust and National Galleries of Scotland announce a landmark move to the Portrait gallery for 2026!
READ MORE
Stay Active this January at Gravity Active
Don’t let the shorter days and chilly weather get you down this January, stay active and experience boundless fun at Gravity Active!
READ MORE
Beat the January Blues with Family Tickets Offer at Volcano Falls in Edinburgh
Volcano Falls is inviting families to get rid of the winter gloom with a special online-only offer – 20% off family tickets Sunday 19th January 2025!
READ MORE
Music superstar Ed Sheeran surprises young musicians in Edinburgh
Music superstar Ed Sheeran surprises young musicians in Edinburgh with visit to Tinderbox Collective to launch his new Foundation supporting music education.
READ MORE
Duck & Waffle Edinburgh Celebrates Burns Night with an affordable set menu
Duck & Waffle Edinburgh will celebrate Burns Night on Saturday January 25th in honour of famed Scottish poet Robert Burns, with a chef-curated set menu for under £30.
READ MORE
Strike a PAWse: Brand new Valentine event for dogs at Dobbies
Dobbies is encouraging paw-rents across the UK to show their pooches some love this Valentine's Day at its brand-new dog event that will raise money for national dog welfare charity, Dogs Trust.
READ MORE
BrewDog launches brand new Touchdown Lager ahead of big game watch parties in Glasgow and Edinburgh
BrewDog, is partnering with Tesco to launch a brand new grid-iron inspired Wingman Lager. If only there was a massive game coming up that it could tie-in perfectly with...
READ MORE
Cruden Homes and City Of Edinburgh Council support North Edinburgh Community Festival with Donation
North Edinburgh Community Festival (NECF), one of the city’s most anticipated family-friendly events, has received a £2,000 donation from Cruden Homes and City of Edinburgh Council.
READ MORE
Scots brewery launches series of Iron Brew beers to beat January blues
Edinburgh-based brewer Vault City has paid tribute to an iconic Scottish drink, launching a four-part series of Irn-Bru-inspired sour beers.
READ MORE
Brace yourselves, burger lovers... Veganuary just got an upgrade!
Veganuary is well and truly underway and Fat Hippo's BurgerLab has been cooking up a limited-edition vegan masterpiece that proves going vegan doesn't mean skimping on the good stuff!
READ MORE
The Biscuit Factory announces a range of new events in celebration of its neighbours
The Biscuit Factory, housed in the historic Crawford’s Biscuits on Anderson Place in Leith, is thrilled to announce a slew of new and exciting events for 2025.
READ MORE
Roxy Leisure partner with Everleaf and Lucky Saint for Dry January
For Dry January 2025, Roxy Leisure is teaming up with premium non-alcoholic brands Everleaf and Lucky Saint, offering guests exclusive mocktails and promotions from 2nd - 31st January.
READ MORE
Coming This Month: Trio of Stunning Varna International Ballet Performances
Edinburgh Playhouse welcomes Varna International Ballet’s trio of stunning performances this month!
READ MORE
Dynamic Earth Expands Inclusive Access with New 2025 Relaxed Opening Dates
Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh’s Science Centre and Planetarium, is excited to announce two additional Relaxed Opening Hours sessions as part of its continued commitment to inclusivity.
READ MORE
Lost Shore Surf Resort to Launch Inaugural Wellbeing Month in January
Lost Shore Surf Resort, Europe’s largest inland surf resort in Ratho, Edinburgh, is kicking off the New Year with its first-ever Wellbeing Month, launching on 1st January 2025.
READ MORE
First Minister John Swinney launches the Doddie Aid 2025 campaign
Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney launches the Doddie Aid 2025 campaign at Murrayfield stadium.
READ MORE
The Edinburgh Gin Distillery At The Arches
World-renowned distillers, Edinburgh Gin, has opened the doors to its brand new distillery at The Arches.
READ MORE
Acclaimed Chinese art exhibit brings vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations to textile heartland of Scotland
A highly acclaimed textile exhibit celebrating part of China’s intangible cultural heritage will make its UK debut when it goes on display at the Great Tapestry of Scotland!
READ MORE
Back by popular demand: Murder on the Midnight Express returns to Somewhere By Nico
Back by popular demand, Murder on the Midnight Express is making its highly anticipated return to Somewhere by Nico in Edinburgh and Glasgow for a limited time only.
READ MORE
Fort Kinnaird confirms festive opening hours
Fort Kinnaird has confirmed its festive opening times for last minute shopping and anyone planning a day out with family and friends over the Christmas period.
READ MORE
Australian superstar Jason Donovan makes a much anticipated return to one of his most famous roles
Jason Donovan makes a much anticipated return to one of his most famous roles: playing Frank-N-Furter in Richard O'Brien's anarchic musical, The Rocky Horror Show at Edinburgh Playhouse.
READ MORE
Vault City toasts first ever supermarket listings for stout with major UK name
Jingle Brew: Edinburgh-based independent beer firm Vault City now has its Gingerbread Latte Imperial Stout stocked by Tesco in time for festive season.
READ MORE
Room to Recharge: Kimpton Hotels in Scotland launch new wellness program, Stay Well
Kimpton Hotels in Edinburgh and Glasgow have launched 'Stay Well', a new wellness-first initiative designed to help guests 'feel good, travel better, and stay well' while travelling.
READ MORE
Two Weeks Til Edinburghs Hogmanay First Footin
The countdown to the New Year has begun as Edinburgh’s Hogmanay prepares for four days of events to ring in 2025, running from December 29th to January 1st.
READ MORE
Wicked fans in Scotland invited to special Sing Along screenings at Vue this Boxing Day
After becoming one of the most popular big screen releases of 2024, Vue is excited to announce that an extra special sing-along version of Wicked is heading to the big screen this Boxing Day.
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links