Guest blog by Katch Holmes I attended the Artworks Scotland conference in Dundee from 14 to 15 November and delivered a presentation reflecting on some of my current research and recent experience in participatory art settings.

Guest blog by Mike Vass WOMEX is an international World Music Expo and this year was held in Cardiff from the 23rd to the 27th of October. ‘Horizons at WOMEX‘ was a special collaboration between Creative Scotland and Arts Councils in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland to showcase some UK acts at WOMEX.

Guest blog: Iain Bruce on Youth Music in Scotland, originally posted on the Youth Music Forum of Scotland Hello! My name is Iain Bruce and I co-ordinate ELjam, East Lothian Youth Music Forum and Strategic Music Partnership. Without getting too bogged down in detail, this role brings me in to contact with anyone and everyone … Continued

Message from Making Music’s Emma Campbell

Guest blog by Mairi Campbell Mairi Campbell is a singer, multi-instrumentalist and teacher who runs Lismore Music Retreats as well as performing in a variety of different contexts and experimenting with voice and recording techniques.

Guest blog by Wendy Stewart Maxwell’s Music is a sound and spoken word composition featuring the electroharp and reflecting the life and ideas of the theoretical physicist James Clerk Maxwell (1831 – 79). It is performed by Wendy Stewart with James Wyness and the voice of Tom Pow.

Guest blog by Roddy Macdonald Top tips for Folkies: Avoid anyone with the surname Greig if you have a wee drinkie inside you. Somewhat bizarrely, relaxing after a curry in an off-piste bar in Glasgow at Celtic Connections this year, I found myself being persuaded to volunteer for the committee of Bothan Dùn Èideann by … Continued

Guest blog by Mark Sheridan Karst. Sounds Gaelic but spelt in German. Karst. You can almost hear the sound of crumbling and cracking rock and grit in the word itself. It describes distinctive landscapes and rock formations created by the erosion of a soluble rock – limestone for instance – and is most evident in … Continued

Guest blog Since graduating from Newcastle’s Folk degree, Amy has been continuing to make a name for herself up in the Highlands. She performs regularly as a duo. She is also busy with her ever expanding students on the Accordion and continues to work freelance in schools across the Highlands. However this year Amy has … Continued

Guest blog by Dr Mairi McFadyen, conference organiser and ethnologist On the 6th of May, the trad arts community came together in Edinburgh to enjoy a stimulating, challenging and thought-provoking day of discussion and debate. The very first Tradfest conference asked, ‘What is the role of the trad arts in the 21st century? What do … Continued