Edinburgh Tradfest

Celebrating traditional arts from Scotland and around the world, Edinburgh Tradfest returns between the 1st and 11th May with another exciting programme of live music and workshops!

About Edinburgh Tradfest

	1st May 2026 to 11th May 2026
	See event website for details
	Various Locations Edinburgh
	See event website for details
	Event organiser/part of Edinburgh Tradfest
	Visit the event website here
	Facebook information can be found here
	Follow edintradfest on Instagram

Listed Under Music Events / Nights Out Events / Workshops Events

Opening this year’s festival at Potterrow, is multi-award winning, trad music powerhouse RURA performing tunes from their 15-year-long repertoire; and Scottish newcomers Astro Bloc (Eryn Rae, Paul Jennings, Éadaoin Ní Mhaicín, Gillie Ó Flaherty) playing an exhilarating mix of tunes that push boundaries to create a thrilling new sound.

Also headlining is ‘velvet-vocalist’ Kim Carnie; The Furrow Collective, (Lucy Farrell, Rachel Newton, Emily Portman, Alasdair Roberts) playing contemporary versions of folk songs against a Cantastoria of visuals on a moving scroll; RANT (Anna Massie, Lauren MacColl, Bethany Reid, Gillian Frame) playing a mix of all-time favourites and tunes from their brand new album; and the Brian Molley Quartet celebrating the Scottish roots of jazz.

Additionally, acclaimed singer, composer and live-looping artist GANNA Gryniva presents her new album UTOPIA which mixes Ukrainian folk tunes, with Peruvian grooves, jazz-tinged arrangements and electronic soundscapes. Finally, closing this year’s packed festival is Scottish supergroup Session A9 (Charlie McKerron, Kevin Henderson, Gordon Gunn, Adam Sutherland, Marc Clement, Brian McAlpine, David ‘Chimp’ Robertson) - an unmissable gig by a group reputed to be one of the best live bands in Scotland.

Other must-sees include:
• Séamus and Caoimhe, beautiful blood harmony, dexterous instrumentals and energetic Irish dancing, all from two incredibly talented young people.

• The Complete Recordings of Hezekiah Procter, a vaudeville act from the 1920s looking back on the beginnings of country music, with Montreal based songwriter Li’l Andy taking on the fictional persona of “Hezekiah Procter”, a long-lost legend of old-time music. This piece is accompanied by musicians from Sheesham and Lotus & ‘Son, who combine harmony vocals, fiddles, banjos, and sousaphone.

• This year’s festival commission is A’ Chiad Litir (The First Letter) led by captivating singer songwriter Josie Duncan from the Isle of Lewis.

• The festival Spotlight event which gives a platform to new artists each year. Bands for 2026 include: Curlew, Dauntless and old-time fiddle and banjo duo Jeri Foreman and Ruth Eliza.

Music highlights from this year’s early evening programme which kicks off at 6.30pm each night include:
• Fiddle player Laura Jane Wilkie and folk guitarist Ian Carr

• Master of the melodeon Tim Edey

• The Nexus Project featuring Bede Patterson who explores contemporary and ancient Highland Bagpipes. With creative and experimental contributions from Dean Garrity, Ewan Johnston, and Roan Anderson.

• Multi-award-winning harp and percussion duo Eleanor Dunsdon and Gregor Black.

• Deiseil: Dancing in Time - a powerful exploration of the revival of stepdance told through fiddle, feet, Gaelic song and story. Directed by Gerry Mulgrew, with dancing by Alison Carlyle and music by Amy Geddes. This 5-star show premiered during the Edinburgh Fringe in 2025.

Other early evening trad/folk bands programmed for 2026, that are making waves on the international scene include:
• Old-time stringband The Onlies a collective of Gen Z folkies originally from Seattle.

• String trio Northern Resonance who take Scandinavian music in a new direction with their mix of explosive rhythms and grand chamber-like arrangements. They play viola, Nyckelharpa and Hardanger fiddle.

• Rajasthani folk trio SAZ whose repertoire encompasses centuries-old folk music, passed down the generations.

• Banjo-playing singer-songwriter from Montreal Kaïa Kater. Her music reflects ties to the Canadian folk music scene, her college years spent in West Virginia, and growing up in Grenada.

In addition, we will be celebrating World Play A Strathspey Day on Saturday 2 May with Laura Jane Wilkie, Madeleine Stewart, Sam Mabbett and Angus Lyon; and enjoying an afternoon performance of Isla Ratcliff’s reimagining of Vivaldi’s four seasons.

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.

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Other Events at Various Venues or Edinburgh Tradfest

Exhibitions

Edinburgh Tradfest: Exhibition - Highland Story Quilt

3rd April 2026 - 10th May 2026

Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Don't miss this unique exhibition at the Scottish Storytelling Centre as artist Lizzie McDougall breathes new life into Highland stories using scraps of discarded fabric!

Storytelling

Edinburgh Tradfest: Moonspinners

1st May 2026

Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Old Town

Join the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Friday 1st May for their quarterly series of full-moon celebrations, this time celebrating Beltane and the full Flower Moon!

Edinburgh Tradfest

Celebrating traditional arts from Scotland and around the world, Edinburgh Tradfest returns between the 1st and 11th May with another exciting programme of live music and workshops!

About Edinburgh Tradfest

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Other Events at Various Venues or Edinburgh Tradfest

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