Festival finishes on a high note
A standing ovation and multiple encores for two of the finest musicians in folk brought this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest to a close on Monday 8th May. Ross Ainslie (Treacherous Orchestra, Salsa Celtica) on pipes was joined by Tim Edey (The Chieftains) on guitar and accordion, for a foot stomping, night of great tunes, endless banter, and a guest appearance by up-and-coming piper Kenneth Macfarlane (whistle).
This year’s packed 11 day programme of traditional live music, talks, dance and storytelling, was the most successful to date with ticket sales for music almost 30% up on 2022, and audiences’ appetite for listening to live music noticeably back. Sell-outs and near sell outsincluded the opening night concert at the Assembly Rooms featuring American Grammy award-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens and multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi, The Foghorn String Band who played some favourite old-time American bluegrass, Cajun and classic country tunes, Orkney’s finest fiddle band FARA, cellist Juliette Lemoine, piper Allan Macdonald and Cathal McConnell, Ross and Tim, and leading Scots fiddle player Ryan Young.
This year’s Festival commission Two for Joy saw the incredibly talented Ailie Robertson enthral audiences with her folklore tales about birds and spellbinding harp playing alongside band members Alastair Savage on fiddle, Kathleen MacInnes on vocals, Neil Sutcliffe (accordion), Alice Allen (cello) and Heather Cartwright (guitar).
Further afield the Scottish Storytelling Centre enjoyed packed houses with audiences of over 1000 attending their eclectic programme of traditional dance, song, opera, drama, and storytelling. Highlights included the Pomegranates Festival of International Dance, the North Atlantic Song Convention and The Scots Opera Project’s legendary tale of The Seal-Woman.
Built on collaborations, the Festival once again partnered with the University of Edinburgh to present Rebellious Truth 23 - a talk and panel discussion addressing musicians and mental health with Gaelic singer, composer and broadcaster Mischa MacPherson whose award winning documentary in 2021 highlighted some of these key issues facing the industry and will be available online to watch again soon.
Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy, co-producers of Edinburgh Tradfest said:
“This year’s festival was just incredible. The buzz around the venues and the appreciation that audiences felt for the musicians was genuinely heartfelt. Night after night they came along to support the festival, cheered, danced and gave standing ovations to the exceptional talent on stage.
“We want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who took part and helped make this festival happen. Next year can’t come around fast enough – roll on May 2024!”
Ross Ainslie, musician said:
“We had an incredible time playing at Edinburgh Tradfest this year. It really was a blast, - sold out crowd who just didn’t want the festival to end. For the last gig of our tour and the last gig of Tradfest it was a real moment of joy.”
Daniel Abercrombie, Programme & Events Manager, Scottish Storytelling Centre said:
“Edinburgh Tradfest goes from strength to strength. Not just in terms of ticket sales and reviews, but with that wonderful, intangible sense of people coming together and sharing in something special. Our grateful thanks to all who performed, all who enjoyed and to all who organised. We’re looking forward to the next one!”
All media enquiries please contact Emma Henderson emma@publicimagepr.co.uk, 07977 134614. Press photos from this year’s Festival are available so please get in touch.