Edinburgh Tradfest: Hearth Fire Sessions
Welcome to an eclectic night of ancient myth, contemporary storytelling, post-folk music, and physical artistry!
About Edinburgh Tradfest: Hearth Fire Sessions
Steeped in the traditions of Scottish storytelling, we evoke the warm atmosphere of peat-smoked hearthsides and ceilidh house revelry, presenting timeless motifs relevant to a discerning modern audience. Join host Dougie Mackay as he invites a different selection of Scotland’s finest storytellers, songwriters, musicians, and performing artists to each bi-monthly Hearth Fire Session to create an innovative showcase of Scotland’s contemporary culture.
May's session features storyteller Niall Moorjani, Moroccan filmmakers/storytellers Tizintizwa (Nadir Bouhmouch and Soumeya Ait Ahmed) and musician Evie Waddell.
~~~~~
Niall Moorjani is a non-binary, mixed Scots-Indian writer and storyteller. They are fascinated by the fantastical, the historical, and the liminal and have written and performed many shows, including A Fairie Tale and Mohan: A Partition Story at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and the Scottish International Storytelling Festival. They are also the founder and host of the Tales at The Tavern/Lighthouse open mic story night in London/Edinburgh. Niall's work has been described as ‘genius reinvention of the form’ (Fringe of Colour).
Tizintizwa (Nadir Bouhmouch and Soumeya Ait Ahmed) is a Moroccan art-research collective that fosters collective creation and cross-pollination across disciplines. They collaborate with rural communities to document oral traditions and explore ecological transformations. Their work emphasizes the importance of transgenerational transmission, land relations, and the interplay between nature and culture, showcased at notable venues worldwide. They will also perform at SSC as part of the Folk Film Gathering on Fri 9 May.
Evie Waddell is a Gaelic and Scots singer, and fiddler hailing from Stirlingshire. She graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and her passion for Scottish music is deeply rooted in the influence of Jo Miller, also drawing inspiration from Ivor Cutler, Martyn Bennett, Lisa O Neill, and Rhiannon Giddens. Evie also performs in British Sign Language (BSL) and has directed and toured her own show 'Fàilte Gu BSL' as well as performing with Theatre Gu Leòr. She was a winner of the Danny Kyle Open Stage 2023 and was a BBC Young Traditional Musician Semi-Finalist 2024. Evie released her visual EP 'Cluich!' in February 2024.
Dougie Mackay hails from the Scottish Highlands, from a lineage of natural storytellers. He is fascinated by the wild northern tales of Scotland, Scandinavia, Ireland and the Baltics, with a practice steeped in group-work facilitation and storytelling as a tool for development, connection and empowerment. He has been telling stories professionally for over 10 years and has developed successful long-form shows including Animate Lands and A Wolf Shall Devour the Sun. He co-curates and hosts Hearth Fire Sessions throughout the year.
~~~~~
Edinburgh Tradfest presents the very best traditional music and traditional arts from Scotland and around the world. This year's dates are Fri 2 – Mon 12 May 2025. Edinburgh Tradfest is run by Soundhouse, alongside programming partners at TRACS, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Queen's Hall, University of Edinburgh Celtic & Scottish Studies, Folk Film Gathering and other individual artists and creatives. Funded by Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Edinburgh, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Edinburgh? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!Sponsored Links
Other Events at Scottish Storytelling Centre or Edinburgh Tradfest
Forefowk, Mind Me
Join us at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday 10th July for the premiere of a short film made as part of the Forefowk, Mind Me project by Scots singer Quinie!
READ MORE
Hearth Fire Sessions
Welcome to the Scottish Storytelling Centre's Hearth Fire Sessions with June Dougie Mackay, Daiva Ivanauskaitė, Miwa Nagato-Apthorp & Josie Vallely (Quinie) on Thursday 10th July!
READ MORE
Scottish Memories Live - with Ross King and Jay Crawford
Popular podcast Scottish Memories is back at the Scottish Storytelling Centre with its second live event on 12th July, featuring two Scottish broadcasting legends in Ross King and Jay Crawford!
READ MORE
Easy Sundays: Always Room For One More
Come along to the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Sunday 13th July for a family session of welcoming stories, songs and crafts with storyteller Beth Cross!
READ MORESponsored Links
Similar events you might like...
Close-Up Magic at The Joker & Thief
Experience close-up magic with Tim Licata, one of Scotland’s most entertaining sleight-of-hand artists, at your table in the lovely Joker & Thief pub every Thursday!
READ MORE
Stand Up Horror
Actor, writer and tour guide Alex Staniforth invents a horror story every night at Stand Up Horror... you decide what the characters do, find and sometimes - yes sometimes - even love!
READ MORE
The Roze Garden
Looking for the best Thursday night out in Edinburgh? Discover The Roze Garden - Edinburgh’s Cabaret and Club Night at The Street!
READ MORE
Monster Cabaret
Join Madame Maeve for her creepy cabaret at the Banshee Labyrinth, as she host a collection of familiar monsters but not as you know them.
READ MORE
Ghosts of the Banshee
Are you brave enough to attend an unsettling night of ghosts in the Banshee Labyrinth - Scotland's Most Haunted Pub - built into the legendary South Bridge Vaults.
READ MORE
99 Red Hot Kitties and a Cockatoo
Come and enjoy an afternoon filled with Burlesque, Drag, and Cabaret at at The Lab in CC Blooms!
READ MORE
Dr. Bonk’s Macarbaret
Scotland's silliest surgeon, Dr. Bonk, is back with his hit SELL-OUT SHOW 'Dr Bonk's Macarbaret', an evening of drag, burlesque, music, comedy, and medical mayhem!
READ MORE
99 Red Hot Kitties and a Cockatoo
Come and enjoy an afternoon filled with Burlesque, Drag, and Cabaret with Red Hot Kitty Burlesque and Cabaret in the fabulous atmosphere at The Lab in CC Blooms!
READ MORE
Dear Evan Hansen
The Olivier, Tony & Grammy Award-winning musical Dear Evan Hansen comes to the Edinburgh Playhouse in 2025, the first time that the Broadway and West End phenomenon will tour the UK!
READ MOREFind other events in Edinburgh
Sponsored Links