During the successful 2024 edition, which featured standout performances from Dàimh and The Fretless featuring Madeleine Roger, theQR.co.uk noted Edinburgh Tradfest’s commitment to showcasing both emerging voices and established names across the folk and traditional music spectrum. Now, as the festival prepares for its 2025 run from 2 to 12 May, the first wave of gigs has been announced, reflecting this ongoing dedication to spotlighting the breadth of traditional music, from Scottish and Irish roots to Nordic, North American, and beyond.
Opening the festival on Friday 2 May at the Queen’s Hall, Scotland’s acclaimed piper and composer Ross Ainslie will take the stage with The Sanctuary Band, a formidable lineup featuring Greg Lawson (fiddle), Paul Towndrow (saxophone), Steve Byrnes (guitar), Hamish Napier (keyboard), James Lindsay (bass), and John Blease (drums/percussion). They will be joined by special guest Terra Kin, the ‘BBC Introducing’ Scottish Act of the Year 2023, whose genre-blurring approach reflects the festival’s embrace of artists pushing the traditional envelope.
The opening weekend continues with Leveret (Saturday 3 May), the English folk trio known for their intuitive, improvisatory playing, and Lauren MacColl (Sunday 4 May), performing music from her album Haar alongside a stellar ensemble of Rachel Newton (harp), Anna Massie (guitar), Mhairi Hall (piano), Mairearad Green (accordion), and James Lindsay (bass).
“I’m really looking forward to bringing the Sanctuary Band to launch Edinburgh Tradfest this year. I’ve always loved playing in the Queen’s Hall—it’s a very iconic venue. I’ve recently released a new album called Pool, so we will be playing some tracks from that along with tracks from my other albums Sanctuary and Vana. As a band, we don’t get together to perform that often, so when we do, it’s always a special night.“
Ross Ainslie, set to open the festival, speaking on the opportunity to bring his ensemble together:
This year’s special commission, For the Love of Trees, will be led by harpist and singer Mary Macmaster (The Poozies). Exploring themes of nature through music, the piece will be performed by a specially curated band featuring Amy Macdougall (vocals), Donald Hay (percussion), Mairearad Green (accordion/pipes), Pete Harvey (cello), and Ciaran Ryan (banjo/fiddle). With its thematic focus, this commission follows in the tradition of past Tradfest highlights such as 2023’s ‘Two For Joy‘, reinforcing the festival’s reputation for programming blending folk tradition with contemporary storytelling.
The programme continues Tradfest’s international reach with The Hot Seats, a Virginia-based string band blending bluegrass, old-time, and ragtime, and Finnish power-fiddle duo Teho, whose music fuses Nordic folk traditions with elements of bebop and western swing. The lineup also features Beth Malcolm, Scots Singer of the Year in both 2022 and 2024, bringing her modern take on traditional song to this year’s festival.
Meanwhile, the early evening sessions will offer audiences a chance to experience a diverse range of traditional forms and instrumental approaches, including performances by:
- Hartwin Trio (Belgium) – a dynamic group blending folk traditions through accordion, cello, and violin.
- Divergence (Scotland) – a trio incorporating unusual folk instrumentation, including the tongue drum and Boehm system flute.
- Morag Brown & Lewis Powell-Reid (Scotland) – performing a repertoire that ranges from Scottish reels to Balkan melodies.
- The Travelling Janes (Scotland/USA/Canada) – a project led by award-winning vocalist Ali Affleck, weaving together Scottish and North American folk traditions.
“I’m over the moon to be playing Edinburgh Tradfest this year with my band. The festival has become a real highlight in the folk & trad calendar, with a reputation for bold and creative curation. After a brilliant start to the year at Celtic Connections, we can’t wait to bring this music to the Traverse this May.“
Lauren MacColl couldn’t be more excited…
With its mix of new commissions, rare collaborations, and a global perspective on traditional music, Edinburgh Tradfest 2025 is shaping up to be one of its most wide-ranging and ambitious editions yet. The full programme will be announced on Tuesday 11 March, including further live performances, workshops, film screenings, and traditional storytelling, with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland and the William Grant Foundation.
Personally, I’ve enjoyed every minute spent at Tradfest since I began covering it a few years ago. So when Co-producers Douglas Robertson and Jane-Ann Purdy describe this year’s programme as their “best yet”, I’m minded to believe them. I’ll leave the last words of this article to them:
“Expect lush instrumentals, stirring songs and foot-tapping tunes to fill your ears and hearts every day of the festival. We can’t wait for it to start.”
Featured Image: Ross Ainslie – image provided by Edinburgh Tradfest PR.
Festival Details
Venues: Various venues across Edinburgh, including Queen’s Hall and Traverse Theatre
Dates: Friday 2 May – Monday 12 May 2025
Showtimes: Varies by performance (evening and early sessions available)
Age Recommendation: Suitable for all ages (some events may have specific guidance)
Admission: Ticket prices vary by event, with concessions available
Running Time: Performance durations vary (typically 60–90 minutes)
Accessibility
The Queen’s Hall:
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Accessible.
- Accessible Toilets: Available.
- Hearing Assistance: Induction loop system installed.
Traverse Theatre:
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Fully accessible.
- Accessible Toilets: Provided.
- Hearing Assistance: Audio enhancement system available.
Scottish Storytelling Centre:
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Accessible.
- Accessible Toilets: On-site facilities available.
- Hearing Assistance: Induction loop system in place.
The Cameo Cinema:
- Wheelchair Accessibility: Screens 1 and 2 are accessible; Screen 3 is not.
- Accessible Toilets: A fully accessible toilet is located opposite the doors to Screen 1.
- Hearing Assistance: All screens are equipped with the Williams Sound hearing assistance headset system.
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