Ian is a researcher, singer, musician and festival director, who champions the local traditions of North East Scotland. Since 1969 he has conducted extensive fieldwork into the singing traditions of South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, especially Christmas carolling. Recent research has focused on the traditional culture of Aberdeenshire, including singing and instrumental traditions. Ian is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Aberdeen’s Elphinstone Institute and has written and edited several books on folk and traditional music. He founded the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) in 2001, the Traditional Singing Weekend at Cullerlie in 2000, and the Button Boxes and Moothies festival in 2003.