Edinburgh Tradfest has announced details of its 2025 programme of traditional music, storytelling, film, workshops, talks, ceilidhs, and special events taking place at various venues across the city for 11 days from May 2 till May 12.
The festival’s music programme kicks off on Friday, May 2, at the Queen’s Hall with piper and composer Ross Ainslie performing with the Sanctuary Band, and special guest Terra Kin.
Piping is again in the concert spotlight another twice over the 11 days of the festival with piper Finlay MacDonald performing with his band on Saturday, May 10, and a pibroch masterclass with Allan MacDonald on Sunday, May 11. There will also be a special event on Sunday, May 4, featuring the music and enduring legacy of Martyn Bennett.
Some of the musicians headlining include folk song sensation and multi award-winner Siobhan Miller; Scots singer of the Year 2024 Beth Malcolm; Aberdeenshire’s crowning light, folk singer and Young Musician of the Year 2025 Ellie Beaton; and national treasure Kathleen MacInnes.
Also headlining are virtuoso English folk trio Leveret; leading Scots fiddler Lauren MacColl who will be playing tunes from her most recent album Haar; and Mary Macmaster (The Poozies) who will curate and perform as part of this year’s festival commission For the Love of Trees with some of Scotland’s finest musicians: Amy Macdougall (vocals), Donald Hay (percussion), Mairearad Green (accordion, pipes), Pete Harvey (cello) and Ciarán Ryan (banjo/fiddle).
Other Scottish highlights include Morag Brown and Lewis Powell-Reid who perform pacy traditional tunes from Scotland and as far afield as the Balkans; Divergence (Freya Rae, Siannie Moodie and Tim Lane) so named because of their passion for playing non-traditional instruments in traditionally inspired music; cinematic alt-folk duo Rhona Stevens and Joseph Peach; and the unmissable annual #WorldPlayAStrathspey Day presented by Hands Up for Trad and featuring Rory Matheson (piano), and Anna Robertson, Catriona Price and Adam Sutherland (fiddle) who will take audiences through some of the world’s best known strathspeys, reels and marches.