Edinburgh Tradfest 2019 bridges the end of April and beginning of May. The venues are wide and varied as are the performers who will take part. There is music, dancing, film and storytelling.
Douglas Robertson, Founder of The Soundhouse Organisation and Programmer of this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest said: “This year’s programme mixes the very best traditional music with unique and inspiring events across storytelling and film. We are thrilled to be organising the festival this year, and look forward to seeing what local and international artists bring to this wonderful festival.”
Lankum who play the Queen’s Hall on Tradfest’s opening night said:“It’s a pleasure to be involved with Tradfest and always fun to come back to Edinburgh. There’s always a great buzz/rapport with audiences and we usually come away with sore heads and good memories.”
Jamie Chambers from the Folk Film Gathering said “The Folk Film Gathering are privileged to remain part of Tradfest’s broader celebration of folk and traditional arts from Scotland and further afield. Since its inception, Tradfest has been at the forefront of exploring the ongoing place of folk culture in contemporary Scottish life, and we are very pleased to be able to contribute to that, in exploring the part that cinema might play within that conversation.”
Donald Smith, Director of the Storytelling Centre said:“Tradfest gets a fresh boost this year with Soundhouse taking the promotional lead. They are champions of Edinburgh’s music scene, and with partners such as the Scottish Storytelling Centre and Queens Hall aboard, this Festival of folk arts looks set to go from strength to strength.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland said: “Edinburgh was at the heart of the Scottish folk revival in the 1960s. Since then, the capital’s folk scene has been nurtured by passionate and dedicated souls at the likes of Edinburgh Folk Club and TRACS. Tradfest has flown the flag for traditional culture more widely since 2013, and I’m delighted that the festival will continue under the direction of The Soundhouse Organisation, who themselves have worked wonders in keeping the city’s live music scene alive year-round. Scotland’s folk and trad music sits at the core of our cultural identity and is a driving force in our dynamic music industry. It’s great to know that Tradfest will continue to showcase this brilliant music to audiences from near and far.”
TRADFEST 2019 FULL PROGRAMME:
Friday 26th April · Walk Me Home | Songs by Arthur Warson, 5.45pm, Filmhouse · Guid Crack Storytelling Sessions, 7.30pm, Waverley Bar· Lankum + Brìghde Chaimbeul, 8pm (7pm), Queen’s Hall
Saturday 27th April
· Family Beltane, 11am, Scottish Storytelling Centre
· Laila (1929) with Live Score by Rona Wilkie & Marit Fält, 2pm, Filmhouse
· Family Ceilidh, 3pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
· The Silver Darlings | Music by Rona Wilkie & Marit Fält, 5.45pm, Filmhouse
· What A Voice: Kathleen MacInnes, Fiona Hunter & Kaela Rowan, 8pm (7.30pm), Traverse 1
· Live Music Session, 10.30pm, Traverse Bar
Sunday 28th April
· 2019 Film Ceilidh: The Films of Enrico Cocozza, 5.50pm, Filmhouse
· Johnny Campbell & The Brothers Gillespie, 7.30pm, Leith Depot
· Baltic Crossing, 8pm (7.30pm), Traverse Bar
Monday 29th April
· May Erlewine Trio, 8pm (7.30pm), Traverse Bar
· The Decameron | Music by Simone Caffari, 8.15pm, Filmhouse
Tuesday 30th April
· Café Ceilidh: Spring Sing, 2pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
· In Times of Rain | Songs by Carmen Moore, 5.55pm, Filmhouse
· Gnoss, 8pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Wednesday 1st May
· City of Edinburgh Music School Workshop with Savourna Stevenson, 2pm, Broughton High School (Pupils only)
· Stones of the Ancestors: Steward McHardy & Douglas Scott, 7.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
· Dave Burland at Edinburgh Folk Club, 8pm (7.30pm), Edinburgh Folk Club
· To Sleep with Anger | Music by Brina, 8.30pm, Filmhouse
Thursday 2nd May
· Red Shift | Songs by Alasdair Roberts, 6.05pm, Filmhouse
· Savourna Stevenson & Steve Kettley, 8pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
Friday 3rd May
· Scotia Extremis: Brian Johnstone & Andy Jackson, 6pm, Blackwell’s Book Shop
· Pete Seeger 100: Which side are you on?, 7.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
· Talisk + Adam Sutherland Band, 8pm (7pm), Queen’s Hall
· November, 8.35pm, Filmhouse
Saturday 4th May
· Pith & Power: Dick Gaughan + Jenny Lindsay, 3pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
· Zvenigora with Live Score by Folklore Tapes, 3.50pm, Filmhouse
· Gloir, 7.30pm (6.30pm), Usher Hall
· Heidi Talbot Presents Väsen, Floriane Blancke + Inge Thomson, 7.30pm (7pm), Queen’s Hall
Sunday 5th May
· Seachid: The Inaccesible Pinnacle | Music by Rachel Newton, 5.50pm, Filmhouse
· Hamish Henderson 100: A Ceilidh Come All Ye, 7.30pm, Scottish Storytelling Centre
· John Reischmann & The Jay Birds, 8pm (7.30pm), Traverse Bar
· Live Music Session, 10.30pm, Traverse Bar
Monday 6th May
· T Dan Smith | Songs by Sean Paul Newman, 5.55pm, Filmhouse
· The Fretless, 8pm (7.30pm), Traverse Bar
Website –edinburghtradfest.com | Twitter.com/Instagram.com @TradFestEd | Facebook.com/tradfestedinburgh
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
