The feet of our ancestors tell more than just where they tread… Scotland’s culture has evolved over millennia, and at its heart is a close relationship with our natural environment which is showcased at seasonal festivals, such as Samhuinn in winter and Beltane in summer. This Midsummer Saturday (24 June), discover more than just treads … Continued

The countdown is on – with only three weeks to go, find out what those involved in bringing the Festival together have their eye on from the rich programme. Daniel Abercrombie, TRACS Programme & Events Manager I love the variety that TradFest offers, so there’s three differing picks for me. I could listen to Gaelic … Continued

“I perch to rest, and from this misty cnoc the whole world goes drifting by” – Alastair McIntosh,  Poacher’s Pilgrimage: An Island Journey   Could Scotland recover the glory days of its ancient and medieval pilgrim routes? This idea will be explored at a special event at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Saturday 4th March. A … Continued

Edinburgh Folk Club’s chair, the indefatigable Eberhard ‘Paddy’ Bort died suddenly in Edinburgh on Friday, 17 February 2017, aged 62. Tributes have been flooding in to EFC acknowledging Paddy’s commitment and enthusiasm for folk, with more details available on the Evening News or TRACS Board member Steve Byrne’s obituary. Donald Smith, Director of TRACS, states: … Continued

“A blethering, blustering, drunken blellum; That frae November till October, Ae market-day thou was na sober; That ilka melder wi’ the Miller, Thou sat as lang as thou had siller; That every nag was ca’d a shoe on, The Smith and thee gat roarin’ fou on; That at the Lord’s house, ev’n on Sunday, Thou … Continued

By Matthew Tucker (Image above: Tongue Tied and Twisted at SISF 2017 ft. Peter Chand and PKCtheFirst) My first experience of listening to a professional storyteller was as a child of around seven. A woman with a quilted skirt sat with us at our school to tell stories that were delivered with more eloquence, expression and … Continued

An intimate audience with Shakespeare’s patron, King James. Brainy, dream-haunted, theatre crazy, peace loving…he’s the real-life inspiration for Hamlet & Macbeth, but whose ghost might get him first? After a successful Fringe run, Robin Thomson returns to John Knox House at the Scottish Storytelling Centre next week to perform Donald Smith’s raw, virtuoso drama Cradle … Continued

Halloween is a great time to visit Edinburgh with its rich autumn traditions and macabre associations, with Virgin Atlantic’s Blog Team stating “Auld Reekie comes to life” at this time of year, especially as the Storytelling Festival and associated Samhuinn celebrations contribute wholesomely to the offering, beyond the frights and chills of ghost tours as … Continued

The Scottish Recovery Network and Scottish Poetry Library’s Living Voices programme are collaborating to deliver a series of workshops on Working Creatively with Small Groups, the first of which, dealing with Talking, Listening and Storying, will take place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Friday 7 October. This workshop will focus on looking specifically at … Continued

“At the approach of May, the people assembled and chose some respectable individuals of their number – very grave and reverend citizens perhaps – to act the parts of Robin Hood and Little John, of the Lord of Disobedience or the Abbot of Unreason, and make sports and jocosities of them.” [1] Over the past … Continued