Muckle Sing 2025 - Saturday 22 February 10.30-17.30: Tutors Joss Cameron with Amy Dudley

Queen Margaret Hall, Blackness Road, Linlithgow, EH49 7JA

An event for community singing groups and for individual singers, including morning and afternoon workshops, a performance platform and a short concert from our tutor.

All welcome, from the beginner to the experienced performer - no need to be able to read music.

Booking information is at the bottom of this post.

Guest tutors are Joss Cameron with Amy Dudley drawing on Joss's Traveller background and research into songs of the sea. Edinburgh-based Joss Cameron is a well-known musician and award-winning songwriter. Part of the Scottish folk scene for over 35 years, she has entertained audiences from Australasia, Europe and Africa with her unique blend of traditional music. Amy Dudley is a versatile composer from Galloway, specialising in piano, harp and harmonium. Read more about the two artists in the event leaflet (see link below).

Programme

10am DOORS OPEN - Registration/coffee

10.30 – 12.30 Muckle Sing Workshop Session 1

12.30 – 13.45 Lunch and informal singing session

14.00 – 15.45 Muckle Sing Workshop Session 2

15.45 – 16.00 Tea Break

16.00 – 16.45 Performance Platform for groups

16.45 – 17.15 Concert – Choras

17.15 – 17.45 Clearing up: any help appreciated!

Ticket prices

Full price – £19.00, Concessions - £17.00

Concessions Individual Concession price is available to TMSA members, students, Age 60+, unemployed, disabled people and their helper.

Groups which hold affiliated membership of the TMSA will be entitled to the concessionary rate for ALL participants in that group. If you are not sure whether your group is affiliated or not, before sending in your booking, please check with Susan Streater: her contact details are in the Enquiries section of the booking form which you can download below.

For more information and to book

Have a look at the event leaflet here for more details including access/travel to the venue and catering during the day. 

A postal booking form is available here  or if you want to book and pay online - use the Paypal buttons below to book and pay for your ticket(s) - check the instructions at the bottom of this post if you wish to buy multiple/different types of tickets:

Full price tickets:

Muckle Sing 2025 Ticket Type

Full price (£19)

Send us a message here eg names of attendees

Concession tickets:

Muckle Sing 2025 Ticket Type

Concession (£17)

Send us a message here eg names of attendees

If you want to buy multiple tickets please use the Quantity field in the Paypal cart screen to increase or decrease the number of tickets you require. Also if you want to buy the other type of ticket click on the 'Continue shopping' link in the top right hand corner of the Paypal cart screen (on the same line as the title 'Your shopping cart'). This will take you back to the the website post, so you can then click on the other type of ticket paypal button, which will take you back to the same shopping cart, which means you can buy your selection all in one go!

ELTMSA Branch AGM & Carrying Stream Session - Sun 10 November

We will be holding the Edinburgh and Lothians TMSA Branch AGM on Sunday 10th November 2024 at 1.30 pm. This will take place in the mezzanine floor of the Canon's Gait, 232 Canongate, Edinburgh EH8 8DQ. To find us, head down a few stairs directly to your right as you enter the bar.

Following the AGM, we will be sharing a session with our good friends of the Edinburgh Song Session. This is from 3.00 till 6.00pm, and we will be meeting in the same space. You are very welcome to join us, whether as someone with a song, a tune, a poem or a wee story to share, or as someone who simply enjoys listening.

If you are an affiliated ELTMSA branch member, you are entitled to vote, and to stand for election to the branch committee. Email eltmsa@yahoo.co.uk if you would like more details especially if you have not yet received the formal notice of the meeting by email or post! You can also use the same address to submit your apologies for the AGM.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Northern Streams Festival celebrating Nordic & Scottish Music, Song & Dance 26-28 April 2024

To book tickets scroll down to the next post which has all the links plus timings of the festival!

Featuring artists all based in Scotland with backgrounds and repertoire from Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Shetland, and North-East Scotland:

· Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich with Órla Ní Eadhra and Ró Ó hEadhra (BFÓR): a family affair from Inverness drawing on the Gaelic traditions of Scotland, the Nordic countries and the North Atlantic Fringe. https://www.brian-fionnag.com

· Erin Mungall-Baldvinsdottir with Evie Alberti, Becka Gauld and Ben Shanks: members of Jelephant Folk Band in their full Nordic/Scottish mode ranging from Icelandic, Finnish, Saami and Gaelic. https://www.facebook.com/JelephantBand

· Sir-Reel Clarks: a music and song duo comprising Andy & Aaron Clark, carrying on their family’s musical heritage despite the challenges Aaron has faced to become a champion melodeon player. https://www.facebook.com/SirReelClarksFamilyBand

· Miguel Girão & Amy Laurenson (BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023 winner): Guitarist and Piano duo drawing on Amy’s native Shetland traditions and Miguel’s exploration of Scandinavian cultures. https://amylaurenson.com/ & https://miguelgirao.com

All events take place at The Pleasance, 60 The Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ. For more information visit: https://www.northernstreams.org

Northern Streams 2024 - Booking & Ticket information and links

Booking links are below - please read the information about how to buy multiple and a variety of tickets in one transaction - thanks!

Book your tickets in advance for a chance to WIN an IKEA Voucher! (terms & conditions are on the Northern Streams website Contact Us page)

If you want to buy multiple tickets please select your first ticket choice and then use the Quantity field in the Paypal cart screen which you will then be taken to, to increase or decrease the number of tickets you require.

If you want to buy another type of ticket click on the 'Continue shopping' link in the top right hand corner of the Paypal cart screen (on the same line as the title 'Your shopping cart'). This will take you back to the the website post, so you can then click on the other type of ticket paypal button, which will take you back to the same shopping cart, which means you can buy your selection all in one go!

We will not be sending or emailling out separate tickets - your paypal transaction confirmation will be act as your ticket and we will have a list on the door. If you do not receive a confirmation email from Paypal then please get in touch to check if we have received your payment/booking - thanks!

You can click on as many ticket options as you like and you can always remove choices by using the remove link under the Quantity box

If you don't want to select lots of options - why not check out our All-in-One Festival Ticket or '4 workshops for 3' ticket options?

ALL-IN-ONE Festival Tickets

Northern Streams 2024 All-in-one Festival Full price Ticket

All-in-one = 2 concerts & 4 workshops Ticket £43.00

Northern Streams 2024 All-in-one Festival Concession Ticket

All-in-one = 2 concerts & 4 workshops Ticket £35.00

EVENING CONCERT Tickets - select from the drop down list

Northern Streams 2024 Evening Concert Full price Tickets - select from the drop down list

Fri 26 April 7pm Full price Ticket £15.00 Sat 27 April 7pm Full price Ticket £15.00

Northern Streams 2024 Evening Concert Concession Tickets - select from the drop down list

Fri 26 April 7pm Concession Ticket £12.50 Sat 27 April 7pm Concession Ticket £12.50

WORKSHOP Tickets

Northern Streams 2024 All 4 Workshops Full price Ticket

All 4 workshops 27 April (no Concerts) Ticket £27.00

Northern Streams 2024 All 4 workshops Concession Ticket

All 4 workshops 27 April (no Concerts) Ticket £21.00

Northern Streams 2024 Individual Workshop Full price Tickets - select from the drop down list

Sat 27 April Workshop North Atlantic Songs £9.00 Sat 27 April Workshop Icelandic/Finnish Songs £9.00 Sat 27 April Workshop Shetland Wedding Tunes £9.00 Sat 27 April Workshop North East Scotland Tunes £9.00

Northern Streams 2024 Individual Workshop Concession Tickets - select from the drop down list

Sat 27 April Workshop North Atlantic Songs £7.00 Sat 27 April Workshop Icelandic/Finnish Songs £7.00 Sat 27 April Workshop Shetland Wedding Tunes £7.00 Sat 27 April Workshop North East Scotland Tunes £7.00

Concessions are TMSA Members; Over 60; Student; Unemployed; Young Scot Card; People under 18; People with disabilities - please contact us if you require a carer be able to attend with you for free so we can add them to your booking.

Please note that we may ask for evidence of the concession at the time of booking or venue.

Also any children under 18 attending Northern Streams events must be accompanied by a parent/guardian or other adult 18+ that has responsibility for the child/ren.

If you would like to make a donation to help support future Northern Streams Festivals please click on the link:  https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U2BNUV6GGQMMN

Thanks!

The Muckle Sing 2024 with Choras

Saturday 10th February 2024: 10.00am to 5.30pm

Queen Margaret Hall, Blackness Road, Linlithgow, EH49 7JA

Back by popular demand! An event for community singing groups and for individual singers, including morning and afternoon workshops, a performance platform and a short concert from our tutor.

All welcome, from the beginner to the experienced performer - no need to be able to read music.

Booking information is at the bottom of this post.

Choras consists of three much loved and respected traditional singers - Barbara Dymock, Janice Reavell and Aileen Carr - each with many and varied musical collaborations behind her and a vast experience of performing. Covid interfered with their plans to sing together, but they were able to hit the ground running when live music returned, specialising in a cappella harmony arrangements of an eclectic mix of songs traditional and modernish.

Programme

10am DOORS OPEN - Registration/coffee

10.30 – 12.30 Muckle Sing Workshop Session 1

12.30 – 13.45 Lunch and informal singing session

14.00 – 15.45 Muckle Sing Workshop Session 2

15.45 – 16.00 Tea Break

16.00 – 16.45 Performance Platform for groups

16.45 – 17.15 Concert – Choras

17.15 – 17.45 Clearing up: any help appreciated!

Ticket prices

Full price – £19.00, Concessions - £16.00

Concessions Individual Concession price is available to TMSA members, students, Age 60+, unemployed, disabled people and their helper.

Groups which hold affiliated membership of the TMSA will be entitled to the concessionary rate for ALL participants in that group. If you are not sure whether your group is affiliated or not, before sending in your booking, please check with Susan Streater: her contact details are in the Enquiries section of the booking form which you can download below.

For more information and to book

Have a look at the event flyer here for more details including access/travel to the venue and catering during the day.

A postal booking form is available here or if you want to book and pay online - use the Paypal buttons below to book and pay for your ticket(s):

Full price tickets:

Muckle Sing 2024 Ticket Type

Full price (£19)

Send us a message here eg names of attendees

Concession tickets:

Muckle Sing 2024 Ticket Type

Concession (£16)

Send us a message here eg names of attendees

If you want to buy multiple tickets please use the Quantity field in the Paypal cart screen to increase or decrease the number of tickets you require. Also if you want to buy the other type of ticket click on the 'Continue shopping' link in the top right hand corner of the Paypal cart screen (on the same line as the title 'Your shopping cart'). This will take you back to the the website post, so you can then click on the other type of ticket paypal button, which will take you back to the same shopping cart, which means you can buy your selection all in one go!

Annual joint session of Edinburgh and Lothians TMSA and the Edinburgh Song Session: Sunday 12th November 2023 - 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm & Branch AGM

As in previous years, we are delighted to be able to hold a joint session with our friends at the Edinburgh Song Session. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival, the session will celebrate the songs, poetry and other writings of Hamish Henderson; given the time of year, we will also no doubt have some items relating to war and the Armistice. These themes are not at all compulsory, and we are happy to hear whichever songs, poems, tunes or wee tales you feel like bringing along! The session is now back in its pre-Covid home: The Canons' Gait, 232 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8DQ (mezzanine room, down a few steps from the main bar area). More information about the session on the ESS Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/289402087759974

The 2023 AGM will be held online on Thursday 16th November 2023 at 6.00 pm via Zoom

We have decided to continue to hold the AGM online, for maximum accessibility for widespread branch members. If you would like to attend this meeting, but are unable to do so online, please advise the Branch Secretary (contact details at foot of this letter), and we will look to set up arrangements for you to attend from a location in Edinburgh.

We are delighted to welcome all Edinburgh and Lothians Branch members to the meeting; we shall be very pleased to hear from anyone who would like to join our small Committee, or who is willing simply to help at events. Please intimate, preferably by email, any nominations for office, apologies or other competent business to the Branch Secretary, Paul Streater (paul.streater@hotmail.co.uk.) Please do not reply to the ELTMSA email address.

Northern Streams Evening Concert being livestreamed

The Northern Streams Evening Concert on Thursday 27 April at 7.30pm featuring Fromseier & Hockings and The Låtmores - is now going to be livestreamed from the Scottish Storytelling Centre. You will be able to join it online at the TMSA Edinburgh & Lothians Branch Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/TMSAEdinburghandLothians

If you do join us online at the time or watch it later we would appreciate it if you might consider making a donation to help support future Northern Streams Festivals by clicking the PayPal Donate button below - thanks!:

Northern Streams Festival is celebrating Nordic & Scottish Music, Song & Dance fully in person again, in Edinburgh & Dundee.

www.northernstreams.org

Taking place 27-30 April, the 2023 festival features as its guests: Fromseier & Hockings – (Ditte & Sigurd) a Danish Folk Award winning fiddle/guitar/voice duo from Denmark with songs & tunes. They come from the tiny village called Øksendrup, where they also run a small organic orchard and cidery. Their tunes and songs are inspired by their surroundings and the people in them with voices and instruments intertwining, grooving and moving! https://www.fromseierhockings.com/ AND The Låtmores – Paul Sinclair (fiddle) and Janeta Österberg (accordion) – a Scottish/Finnish duo with a mix of traditional and modern folk tunes including ones they like people to dance to…! They feature 'Finlandssvensk Musik' subculture of Finnish folk music in their repertoire as both Janeta and Paul are part of that community. https://www.facebook.com/the.latmores

In our 18th (+2!) year, Northern Streams is working in partnership with the North Atlantic Song Convention (NASC) https://www.northatlanticsong.com in its first time in Scotland and the Pomegranates International Trad Dance Festival https://linktr.ee/pomegranatesfest to bring the Nordic and Scottish mix to different groups of people during the weekend. Plus thanks to funding we’ve got some great ticket prices and discounts as we are aware things are currently a bit tight for many!

The outline Festival programme is:

Thursday 27 April

7.30pm Evening Concert with Fromseier & Hockings & The Låtmores

Friday 28 April

Afternoon Workshop Danish Songs @NASC with Ditte Fromseier

Saturday 29 April

11.00am Day Concert @Wighton Centre, Dundee DD1 1DB with Fromseier & Hockings & The Låtmores (tickets available at the door on the day)

8pm CEILIDH with Pomegranates International Trad Dance Festival with Fromseier & Hockings & The Låtmores providing a couple of dances alongside a Scottish Ceilidh Band

Sunday 30 April

11am Danish Tunes Workshop - Fromseier & Hockings

12.30pm ‘Finlandssvensk’ Musik (Finland-Swedish tunes) Workshop - The Låtmores

2-5pm Open Music & Song Session - FREE entry - in partnership with NASC

For more details of the Northern Streams programme, guest artists or for booking links, visit www.northernstreams.org. All Edinburgh events take place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh EH1 1TE - where you can also purchase tickets in person or over the phone 0131 556 9579 if you prefer not to use the online booking options. Ticket prices range from £6 for a workshop – £14 for the concert tickets, with concessions and discount deals worth checking if you plan to attend more than one event.

Other ways to get details are by email: eltmsa@yahoo.co.uk or tel: 0795 191 8366, or Facebook – TMSAEdinburgh&Lothians and Twitter @northernstream1.

The Northern Streams festival is organised by the Edinburgh & Lothians Branch of the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland (TMSA) and acknowledges support from Tasgadh Traditional Arts Small Grants Scheme, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo in association with the City of Edinburgh Council and Covid recovery funds from the national TMSA support for local Branches.

Northern Streams 2023 coming soon!

Things are gearing up for our next event in April after The Muckle Sing this weekend. The full schedule for Northern Streams 2023 is currently being finalised but there's a concert on 27 April and Session on 30 April and few other things such as workshops in between. Details should be confirmed soon on the website! 😀🎻

TMSA Edinburgh & Lothians Branch presents The Muckle Sing - Saturday 11 February 2023 - with Jo Miller

Saturday 11th February 2023: 10.00am to 5.30pm

Queen Margaret Hall, Blackness Road, Linlithgow, EH49 7JA

Back by popular demand! An event for community singing groups and for individual singers, including morning and afternoon workshops, a performance platform and a short concert from our tutor.

All welcome, from the beginner to the experienced performer - no need to be able to read music.

We have closed the bookings as we have reached capacity for the venue - please see at the bottom of the listing how you can get on the reserve list!

Jo Miller is a singer, fiddler, ethnomusicologist, and community musician. She is based in Stirling where she leads the house singing group ‘Our Front Room’, whose diverse repertoire ranges from Scots songs to jazz and pop. She also tutors the Tolbooth’s adult fiddle class. Jo grew up in Galloway, SW Scotland, and is currently working on an album of music from the area. As a performer, she enjoys bringing new life to songs from archives and published sources. As a music leader, Jo is particularly interested in learning and teaching in community-based environments. Her book Community-based Traditional Music in Scotland: A Pedagogy of Participation has just been published by Routledge. Together with TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), she organises mentoring programmes for traditional musicians, dancers and storytellers. In 2017, Jo received the Hamish Henderson Award for services to traditional music.

Programme

10am Doors open - Registration/coffee

10.30 – 12.30 Muckle Sing Workshop Session 1

12.30 – 13.45 Lunch and informal singing session

14.00 – 15.45 Muckle Sing Workshop Session 2

15.45 – 16.00 Tea Break

16.00 – 16.45 Performance Platform for groups

16.45 – 17.15 Concert – Jo Miller

17.15 – 17.45 Clearing up: any help appreciated!

Performance Platform

An opportunity for community singing groups who wish to perform songs from their own repertoire for the entertainment of other participants. (No compulsion, very informal, and you are among friends!) Groups wishing to perform should prepare up to three songs. If possible let Susan Streater know in advance if your group wishes to perform - there is a means of doing this on the booking form.

Ticket prices

Full price – £18.00, Concessions - £15.00

Concessions Individual Concession price is available to TMSA members, students, Age 60+, unemployed, disabled people and their helper.

Groups which hold affiliated membership of the TMSA will be entitled to the concessionary rate for ALL participants in that group. If you are not sure whether your group is affiliated or not, before sending in your booking, please check with Susan Streater: her contact details are in the Enquiries section of the booking form which you can download below.

For more information and to book

Have a look at the event flyer/booking form - https://www.tmsa.scot/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Muckle-Sing-2023-Leaflet-20221212.pdf - for more details including access/travel to the venue and catering during the day.

We have closed the Paypal link and removed the booking form as we have now reached capacity for the venue.

If you would like to be put on the reserve list in case we have any spaces become available or have any queries, please email paul.streater@hotmail.co.uk to be put on it - thanks!

Our annual joint session with the Edinburgh Song Session (ESS) - Sunday 13th November & Branch AGM 1 December

Edinburgh & Lothians Branch’s annual joint session with the Edinburgh Song Session (ESS) - Sunday 13th November - 3.00 pm to 6.00 pm. Part of the Carrying Stream Festival, the session will celebrate the songs, poetry and other writings of Hamish Henderson; Armistice and other song themes are welcome. The session is now back in its pre-Covid home: The Canons' Gait, 232 Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8DQ. More information on the ESS Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/289402087759974. 

The Branch AGM will be held online on Thursday 1st December 2022 at 6.30 pm via Zoom. Branch members should have received direct information about it already. If you have any further enquiries, please contact Branch Secretary, Paul Streater: paul.streater@hotmail.co.uk; or phone 01506 843592 or 07557 797139. Other events in The Carrying Stream Festival are The 21st Annual Hamish Henderson Annual Lecture at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, High Street, Edinburgh Saturday 12 November 2022 from 12:30pm - 1:30pm by Tom McKean, Director of the Elphinstone Institute at the University of Aberdeen and a former student of Hamish Henderson. Alison McMorland and Geordie Macintyre will be providing some songs and tunes. Free but ticketed available from https://scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/events/ or by calling 0131 556 9579.Also 2 shows at the Ukrainian Community Centre (at 3:30pm and 8:00pm) featuring the talents of Paul Anderson, Gary West and Steve Byrne -  IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF COLM CILLE and THE BANES O THE TURAS – more details can be found at: https://efc1973.com/carrying-stream-festival.

Northern Streams 2022 Programme Information

Northern Streams 2022 is on this weekend with archive concert footage available online from 7.30pm Friday 22 April; Workshops to watch and learn from online from 11am on Saturday 23 April and then an inperson ‘Scandi Session’ celebrating World Nyckelharpa Day at Teviot Student Union 2-5pm on Sunday 24 April (details in the post below). The online content will be available through the relevant pages (concerts/worskhops) on www.northernstreams.org These are all free but if you would like to give a donation to help this and future Northern Streams Festivals happen - please consider donating through the Paypal button below - thanks!

Northern Streams 22-24 April 2022

Northern Streams Festival 2022 Update

Due to the unexpected closure of our planned venue, we will not be presenting an Northern Streams Festival concert and workshop programme this year. Instead we will be presenting some online content and a ‘Scandi Session’ celebrating World Nyckelharpa – Sunday 24 April, Day 2-5pm in the Lounge Bar at Teviot Student Union, 13 Bristo Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AJ – Free entry! (We hope to be presenting a full programme in 2023!!). More details at www.northernstreams.org as they get arranged!

Muckle Sing & Northern Streams Festival postponed to 2022

It will come as no surprise that the Branch have decided to postpone both The Muckle Sing and Northern Streams Festival events to 2022 due to the ongoing COVID-18 situation. If things allow next year we would hope to be running The Muckle Sing in Linlithgow in February and Northern Streams in late April. There may also be a project around Northern Streams launching online before then. We hope to have details soon!