REBELLIOUS TRUTH 25: DICK GAUGHAN + FRASER FIFIELD
ONLINE & IN PERSON
DICK GAUGHAN: MUCKLE SANGS
We are honoured to welcome, for this year’s Rebellious Truth, a towering figure in Scottish folk music, respected not just in his home country but across the globe. Dick Gaughan, a singer of rare quality, a peerless guitar stylist, a charismatic performer and champion of social justice, will join Dr Lori Watson to talk about his life and career.
A proud Leither (from Leith, the port town to the north of Edinburgh), Dick Gaughan was actually born in Glasgow in 1948 as his father had a temporary job at Colville’s Steelworks. At 18 months he moved to Leith and through an apprenticeship playing the late 60s folk clubs of Edinburgh (where he still resides) became a professional singer/musician in 1970.
Influenced by his mother, a Highland Scot, who sang in Gaelic and English, and his Irish father who played fiddle, the music of the Gaels provided the foundation for own music.
Dick’s career saw him recording albums for himself and others, composing music for films and working as an actor and theatre music director. In the early 80s he worked with 7:84 (Scotland) Theatre Company and released his LP Handful of Earth, widely regarded as a classic and quoted by many artists as a seminal influence on their own work.
His own songs were recorded by, among others, Billy Bragg, Mary Black and Capercaillie, and he was an early member of Boys of the Lough and Five Hand Reel. In the 1990s he founded Clan Alba, a supergroup also featuring Mary Macmaster, Brian MacNeill, Fred Morrison, Patsy Seddon, Davy Steele, Mike Travis and Dave Tulloch.
A man of the people, and an artist whose work reflected and addressed the social and political issues of the age, Dick’s career was cut short by a stroke in 2016.
Thanks to a campaign by fans and industry professionals, a Kickstarter campaign raised funds to support the release of a 7CD + DVD boxed set R/evolution: 1969-83 in 2025, with more releases planned.
The event will also include a special set by University of Edinburgh Traditional Artist in Residence, in Celtic and Scottish Studies Fraser Fifield.
Rebellious Truth is presented in partnership with Celtic and Scottish Studies at the University of Edinburgh. You can attend in person at The Traverse or join us online on the day.
Find out more from celtscot.ed.ac.uk >>
Tickets for in person event: £12/£9
Livestream link will appear here nearer the time
Doors open: 1.45pm | Event starts: 2pm
You can also call the box office to book via 0131-228 1404