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Soundhouse: The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric

Pioneering Glasgow-born filmmaker Jenny Gilbertson directs this poignant “story documentary” about crofting families in Shetland with live score by Inge Thomson and Catriona Macdonald.

Soundhouse: The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric

About Soundhouse: The Rugged Island: A Shetland Lyric

Jenny’s husband-to-be plays Johnny: a young man torn between his duty to home and his love for Enga, with the promise of a new life in Australia. Hailed by John Grierson - father of the British documentary movement - as “one of the best descriptions of life in the country anybody has yet made”, this tender and beautiful dramatisation of Shetland life surpasses the bounds of both fiction and non-fiction filmmaking.

Soundhouse Winter Festival is proud to present this extraordinary Scottish film, with music commissioned by HippFest for award-winning multi-instrumentalist and composer from Fair Isle: Inge Thomson, performing with Shetland-born Catriona Macdonald - considered one of the world's leading traditional fiddle players.

With: John Gilbertson, Enga Stout.

Performing live: Inge Thomson, Catriona Macdonald

The show will be introduced by a short solo set by Amy Laurenson

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Rachel and Mairearad, both well established and celebrated Scottish musicians, come together for an exciting new project to celebrate and remember their Great Great-Grandmother Anna Anna Bhán.

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27th November 2025 - 1st December 2025

The Soundhouse Winter Festival is a 5-day music festival taking place this winter at the Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh.

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On the back of a successful Edinburgh Fringe Festival run with Mikey Burnett’s award winning Colours Run, 4PLAY brings you four starts to four new plays.

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Jakub Klimiuk Quintet

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An accomplished London-based guitarist and composer, Jakub Klimiuk takes his quintet on tour with a brand new set of material, with a date at the Traverse Theatre on 12th January!

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After a barnstorming performance at Edinburgh Tradfest in May 23, we’re delighted to welcome back the Foghorn Stringband on Sunday 1st February.

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Hannah James & Toby Kuhn

23rd March 2026

If you’re looking for warmth, honesty and musical excellence, look no further than this evening with Hannah James & Toby Kuhn at the Traverse Theatre!

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