Tell us an interesting feature of traditional storytelling in your country. Indigenous storytelling is very diverse and is only in the last 20 years beginning to make a comeback with many of the younger generation discovering their own through knowing the ancient stories. How did you become a storyteller? My grandmother was a great teller, … Continued

Tell us an interesting feature of traditional storytelling in your country. Troll is an important part of the traditional stories told, and there are some stories all children grows up with. In Norway, we are so lucky to have the Cultural Rucksack Programme. The Cultural Rucksack programme is part of the government’s cultural policy. It … Continued

Tell us an interesting feature of traditional storytelling in your country. Storytelling of our oral histories has been carried through song and dance for the Indigenous people of the Northwest Coast of Canada for thousands of years. Our word for oral history translates to coming from the ice, meaning that our stories go back to … Continued

Name of your show: The Golden Fly How would you describe your show in one sentence?  An epic tale of a shapeshifting Goddess who journeys across worlds in search of a golden awakening. Is this the first time that you are performing at the Fringe? No. What do you think sets your show apart from … Continued

Name of your show: Supernatural: Wonder Tales from Scotland How would you describe your show in one sentence? A storytelling voyage beyond the veil and into the heart of Scotland’s mysterious nature. Is this the first time that you are performing at the Fringe?  Second. What do you think sets your show apart from all … Continued

Name of your show: Wee Seals & Selkies How would you describe your show in one sentence? Let award-winning children’s author and storyteller Janis Mackay take the whole family on a heart-warming journey to the sea, to meet a brave wee seal, and a magical selkie, accompanied by fiddle music. Is this the first time … Continued

There is no greater pleasure than the power of traditional storytelling taking listeners on a journey of the imagination. The 31st Scottish International Storytelling Festival features 60 events in Edinburgh and 22 throughout Scotland, with 20 international guests joining 60 Scottish artists to share old traditions and new connections, showcasing how music, dance and story communicate shared experiences that are ‘Beyond Words’. There … Continued

“Maker, ye maun sing them… Tomorrow, songs Will flow free again, and new voices Be borne on the carrying stream.” (Hamish Henderson) Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) presents the Hamish Henderson Summer School which reflects the visionary spirit and diversity of the founding father of Scotland’s 20th Century folk renaissance, offering inspiration and enjoyment … Continued

May Day, known as Beltane in Gaelic, marks the beginning of summer in the Scottish Calendar. Yet some still argue that the Scots are a pessimistic nation… Whatever the weather, traditionally life moved outdoors on 1 May after the long dark days of winter and TRACS is marking the celebration this year in traditional and … Continued

This guest article has been penned by Traditional Dance Forum of Scotland board member and accordionist, Bernie Hewitt. As the title suggests Bernie advocates participation in traditional dance with an emphasis on fun, friendship and fitness.  I have been playing the accordion for ceilidh dancing for longer than I care to remember, and have many … Continued