Scotland is renowned for many things - stunning scenery, fascinating historical sights, a warm welcome and long-held traditions (Hogmanay and Burns’ Night for example).
One of the biggest draws for visitors however is our brilliant traditional folk music heritage. Music has brought people together over the centuries and continues to provide entertainment in venues of all sizes across Edinburgh. We pick out a few of the best for you below, but first, a bit about us.
The Queen's Hall
We pride ourselves on having been a home for Scottish traditional and folk music over the past forty years, with a back catalogue of performers which includes Capercaillie, Dougie MacLean, Wolfstone, Dean Owens, Duncan Chisholm, Eddi Reader, Peatbog Faeries, Karen Matheson, Julie Fowlis, Aidan O’Rourke, Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, Shooglenifty, Allan MacDonald, Karine Polwart, Blazin’ Fiddles and of course, Phil Cunningham and Aly Bain as well as many, many more. We’ve hosted the annual Fiddle Festival, the Traditional Music Awards, Young Traditional Musician Of The Year and several concerts and an award to honour the life of the brilliant Martyn Bennett.
The future of folk music seems to be in safe hands with Elephant Sessions, Breabach, Lauren MacColl, Siobhan Miller and Brìghde Chaimbeul taking command of our stage in the last eighteen months. We’ll continue to do what we can to showcase and preserve this part of Scottish culture, so keep checking our What’s On pages (you can search under the genre ‘Folk & Roots) for upcoming shows and/or sign-up to our monthly e-newsletter.
And if we don’t have a show on the date you want, we can highly recommend some of these smaller venues across the city:
Soundhouse at the Traverse
Our friends at the Soundhouse Organisation curate Monday night line-ups in the Traverse Theatre bar.
Sandy Bells
An Edinburgh institution with some of the best folk music on offer in the city. Small, friendly and busy, get there early to get a seat.
The Royal Oak
Another favourite Edinburgh pub with two spaces for great live traditional music every night.
Edinburgh Folk Club
Going since 1973, gigs are every Wednesday at 8pm at the Ukrainian Community Centre.
