Scottish music and music in Scotland varies from area to area. We're very lucky to have such choice right across the nation. Scottish music is not one thing but lots of different genres which sound different depending on what part of Scotland you're in. Eg Shetland fiddle music is different from Borders Fiddle music and Gaelic song in Skye is different from Scots song in Aberdeenshire.
In Scotland we have bagpipe music (Solo Bagpipes, Pipe Bands, Pìobaireachd (Pibroch), Scottish Smallpipes), fiddle music from all the different regions of Scotland (Highland fiddle music, Shetland fiddle music, Orkney fiddle music, North-East fiddle music, Borders fiddle music, World fiddle music), many Scottish bands performing traditional and contemporary material with bagpipes, fiddles, guitars and song. A popular instrument is the Scottish harp also known as the clarsach. There is lots of Scottish song which includes Scots song and Gaelic song, the language of the Western Isles. Let's not forget the accordion, a sound which is often synonomous with Scotland and with the great players of the past including Jimmy Shand and Bobby MacLeod.
We have many Scottish music heroes. They range across all instruments. To name but a few there is the aforementioned Jimmy Shand (accordion), Scott Skinner (fiddle), Aly Bain (fiddle), Donald MacPherson (bagpipes), John D Burgess (bagpipes), Phil Cunningham (accordion), Jock Duncan (Scots song), Flora MacNeil (Gaelic Song), Will Starr (accordion), Calum Kennedy (Gaelic song)
The current set of Scottish bands and musicians include Deaf Shepherd, Battlefield Band, Tannahill Weavers, Daimh (all bands with bagpipes,fiddle and Scots song), Anna Massie, a virtuoso guitarist and fiddler; award winning singer and composer Karine Polwart; Contemporary bands Peatbog Faeries, Simon Thoumire and David Milligan, Old Blind Dogs, Red Hot Chilli Pipers. The famous Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, Scots singer Emily Smith and Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis. The internationally famous Aly Bain and the up coming star Jenna Reid, both brilliant Shetland fiddlers and Alasdair Fraser a renowned Scots fiddler.
We also have a very full Scottish music festivals calendar. There are festivals on every month of the year. Some of the top ones are Celtic Connections, probably the world's biggest winter music festival, Ceilidh Culture - an Edinburgh festival round about Easter time. Also about this time is Shetland Folk Festival and closely followed by Orkney Folk Festival, two amazing festivals for lots of different reasons. The Fife Traditional Singing Weekend in May celebrates Scotland's rich heritage of bothy songs and ballads. We have many summer schools and a favourite of Foot Stompin's is Tinto Summer School, a residential school teaching Scottish music to teenagers. Also at this time is the Hebridean Celtic Festival in Stornoway which has turned into a bit of a classic. In August you cannot miss out the world class Edinburgh International Festival with it's universally famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Edinburgh Festival Fringe (Look out for Foot Stompin' Traditional Music at the Festival compendium). Glasgow has its Piping Live! Festival which culminates in The World Pipe Band Championships on Glasgow Green. September brings the Blas Festival which celebrates the culture of the Scottish Highlands through music and language. In October we have the annual Royal National Mod a competition festival dedicated to Gaelic linguistic and cultural heritage. Also in October are the semi-finals of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award, an Award that encourages young musicians to make Scottish music their career. December brings the Scots Trad Music Awards, the annual industry glitzy celebration of Scottish music.
As you can see the Scottish music and music in Scotland is very vibrant and growing all the time. If you have any questions please contact us. |
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