Kevin Burke

An exponent of the highly-ornamented Sligo style, Kevin Burke’s sparkling, lyrical playing is thoughtful, measured and expressive, seeking to bring out (in his own words) “the element of joy underlying even the most plaintive melody.” Raised in London by Irish parents, Kevin Burke came to prominence as a member of the Bothy Band and later collaborated with performers such as Kate Bush, Arlo Guthrie and Christy Moore. Long since settled in the United States, a member of bands such as Patrick Street and Celtic Fiddle Festival, he received a National Heritage Fellowship Award in 2002, that country's highest honour in the traditional arts. In 2005, he was named one of Irish America's Top 100 by Irish America Magazine. ‘one of the greatest Celtic fiddlers alive’ The New York Times

Johnny Canning

Johnny Canning learnt to play at St Roch’s school in Glasgow with the Irish Minstrels branch of Comhaltas, under Frank McArdle. Johnny was runner-up on senior fiddle and a member of the winning senior Gruapai Cheoil at the All-Ireland fleadh in 2007. In 2000 he was a semi-finalist in the Young Traditional Musician Competition, and has performed with various groups at the Celtic Connections festival. His fiddling has a strong Ulster influence.

Habbadám

Ditte Fromseier Mortensen (fiddle and song) Hanna Wiskari (soprano saxophone) Sigurd Hockings (guitar) Danish Folk Music’s Debut of the Year winners, the Danish/Swedish trio, Habbadám, plays music that is sweet and melancholic as well as rhythmic and swingy. The band performs in an intense and flirting ensemble and creates the music impulsively between them. The sound they create together is a unique blend of past and present, which brings a powerful experience to the listener.

Sarah Hoy with Derek Hoy

Born into a family steeped in musical tradition, Sarah Hoy took up the fiddle aged eight, learning from her father Derek, fiddler with classic Scots band, Jock Tamson's Bairns, and later with Mairi Campbell, a well-known fiddler. Sarah plays with dance bands, Bella McNab's and the Trows. She has also performed around the world with piper, Fin Moore

Jock Tamson’s Bairns

Norman Chalmers (concertina, whistles), John Croall (vocals), Derek Hoy (fiddle), Rod Paterson (vocals, guitar) and Anna-Wendy Stevenson (fiddle) For thirty years, Jock Tamson’s Bairns have been Scotland’s leading players of inventive acoustic music on authentic instruments. Eschewing synthesizers, sequencers or didgeridoos, their whistles, squeeze boxes, jaw harps, moothie, guitar and bodhran provide a refined accompaniment to Scots songs and ballads, and exciting arrangements of intricate, fast dance tunes. ‘a benchmark of taste, sensitivity and quietly authoritative musicianship...brimful of sparkle and finesse...as good as you'll hear anywhere’ Sue Wilson in the Sunday Herald

Piia Kleemola

Piia Kleemola, an accomplished Finnish folk fiddler, will highlight both traditional music and new compositions. Her traditional tunes mainly come from western Finland, especially from Southern Ostrobothnia. Southern Ostrobothnia is known for its rich tradition of polskas, a dance in ¾ time form very popular in the Nordic countries. Piia Kleemola´s own compositions combine traditional styles from Finland, Sweden and Norway with classical music techniques and other fiddling styles.

MAK

Mhairi Hawksworth (fiddle, piano), Amy Corfield (fiddle, banjo), Keegan Gordon (piano, clarinet) Formed two years ago, MAK play an exciting mix of traditional and new Scottish tunes with a distinctive classical and jazz influenced piano accompaniment. All members of the band have played in many prestigious festivals in Scotland and Europe too, including Celtic Connections, Burns an’ a’ that Festival and Uddevalla Folk Music Festival in Sweden. Their creative arrangements and innovative approach to traditional music brings new life to old tunes.

Claire Mann with Aaron Jones

One of the leading performers and teachers of traditional Irish fiddle and flute, Claire Mann’s most recent recording is the critically acclaimed Secret Orders, with bouzouki ace Aaron Jones. Claire and Aaron perform a mixture of traditional and original Irish and Scottish music and song. ‘Claire and Aaron have the qualities required to headline major folk festivals. Exquisite touches show why this is high above the competition.’ Keith Ames, Musician Magazine

Archie McAllister with Alex McAllister

A highly respected fiddler, Archie has played in numerous bands and has released his first solo CD, Fiddler's Rock, which has received excellent reviews. Joined by his brother Alex, this duo will play a varied programme from different regions in their own distinctive west coast style. Come hear their driving blend as they play pipe tunes, Irish jigs and reels, Shetland reels and tunes from the Cape Breton Tradition.

RSAMD Junior Academy

Despite only having started in 2003, the RSAMD Junior Academy traditional music course is going from strength to strength, with its pupils already having had many successes, including performances at The Fiddle Festival and Celtic Connections. Now highly competitive to win a place on the course, there is a waiting list each year, and expert tuition from James Ross, Sarah-Jane Summers, Gillian Frame, Kirsty Cotter and Lynsey Tait. You can expect stunning musicianship and maturity beyond their years.

Alasdair Savage

Come hear this emerging fiddle maestro play Scottish folk music. Recently he has been supporting The Karen Matheson Band.

The Chair

Gavin Firth (guitar), Fionn McArthur (fiddle), Bob Gibbon (accordion), Jamie Marwick (banjo), Chas Milne (bass guitar), Erik Laughton (drums), Douglas Montgomery (fiddle & mandolin), Robbie Thomson (percussion) Put together for the Orkney Folk Festival in 2004, the Chair have gone from strength to strength, bringing their high energy "stomp" music to the dance floors of the Northern Isles and Mainland Scotland ever since. They have set the floor alight wherever they have appeared, winning a "Danny" award at the 2007 Celtic Connections Festival. ‘good-time music with that Celtic edge, perfect for long winter nights or cold summer days’ Alex Monaghan, Irish Music Magazine

The Jenna Reid Band

Jenna Reid (fiddle and vocals), Bethany Reid (piano, fiddle & vocals), Kevin Mackenzie (guitar), Duncan Lyall (double bass), James Thomson (flute) and Iain Sandilands (percussion) A protégé of one of the greatest names in Shetland fiddling, Dr Tom Anderson MBE, and Willie Hunter, prize-winning fiddler, Jenna has appeared all over the world with Shetland fiddling sensations Filska, Scottish super group Deaf Shepherd and Dochas. Nominated as Best Instrumentalist at the 2007 Scots Trad Awards, Jenna is undoubtedly one of the finest fiddle players to grace the traditional music scene. ‘Young, gorgeous and inordinately talented, utterly captivated the audience from start to finish’ The Scotsman ‘the leading fiddler of her generation in Scotland …expect sparks to fly - and a good greet when she puts her heart and soul into the sad tunes’ The Herald