The Carrying Stream Session & Branch AGM - Sunday 13 November

As part of the 15th Carrying Stream Festival (2016), The Traditional Song and Tunes group welcomes the TMSA Edinburgh & Lothians Branch to join them in a splendid session, downstairs at the Canon's Gait, 232 Canongate, EH8 8DQ 3.00. - 6.00. pm. Celebrating the legacy of Hamish Henderson and those who inspired him. For all singers, musicians, story-tellers, listeners everywhere. FREE. Preceded at 2.00.pm by Edinburgh & Lothians TMSA Branch AGM (members only able to vote). Further details from: eltmsa@yahoo.co.uk or 0795 1918366 or 07762 101002. Also in association with Edinburgh Folk Club - more details about The Carrying Stream Festival - www.efc1973.com/programme-2016-2017

Don't miss the Back to Blairgowrie TMSA 50th anniversary concert!

Obviously there's alot of great traditional music offerings on around Edinburgh this month such as at the Acoustic Music Centre and Wee Folk Club.

But we wanted to draw attention to a one-off concert on Saturday 27 August, 7.30pm, Blairgowrie Town Hall, PH10 6EX where we will celebrate 50 years of history in one night! In 1966, the TMSA emerged from the Blairgowrie Folk Festival. This unique event features a selection of the people who have made the TMSA and make it what it is today such as Archie Fisher, Sheena Wellington, Doris Rougvie, Joe Aitken, Kenny Hadden, Davey Stewart, Aileen Carr, Pete Shepheard, Gillian Frame and Simon Thoumire. Supported in memory of Ian (Jock) Hunter. Tickets available through the TMSA website www.tmsa.org.uk, or or visit Mitchell's Newsagents, 1a High Street, Blairgowrie or on the door. TMSA members can also send a ticket order with a cheque payment to reach the TMSA office by Monday 22 August to book tickets.

Northern Streams 2016 revisited

A wee reminder for those who were there and a wee taster for those who weren't able to make the festival this year with a video on the Northern Streams website: www.northernstreams.org - enjoy!

Great festival options this weekend!

We are wishing all the best to Geiteberg Folk Festival which is taking place just out of Oslo (Norway) 10 & 11 June. Some of the Northern Streams performers - Sally Simpson, Markus Rasanen, Ingunn Bjorgo, Aasmund Reistad, Amy Henderson and Brian OhEadhra are appearing on the programme so if you're in the area - check it out at: http://www.geitebergfolkfestival.com/ A little closer to home is TMSA Keith Branch in the first official 'Scots Toun' - Keith! In its 41st year, headline act is Rura with many other wellkent faces and performers in concerts, competitions and sessions in various venues. Details at http://tmsakeithfestival.blogspot.co.uk Finally even a bit more local is the Loanhead (yes the one near IKEA Edinburgh) Music Festival with a Friday night concert, then open mic, competitions, craft fair and sessions over the rest of the weekend. Again details at http://loanheadfest.webeden.co.uk Just some great ways to enjoy the official start to Summer!

Northern Streams Thanks!

Thanks to all the performers who made Northern Streams 2016 great, those who took part Northern Streams' concerts & ceilidh, workshops and sessions, and those who supported us such as the Grassmarket Centre, Norwegian Consulate General and Creative Scotland.

Northern Streams 2016 tickets now available!

Northern Streams 2016 tickets are now available at www.northernstreams.org. Come along to experience the best and new of Scandinavian and Scottish folk music from: The Quiggs - Stephen and Pernille Quigg: singing duo - Scotland/Denmark (pictured); Ingunn Bjørgo and Åasmund Reistad: diatonic accordion and guitar duo - Norway; Sally Simpson and Markus Räsänen: fiddle and free bass accordion duo – Scotland/Sweden; Sandy Brechin: accordionist - Scotland; Amy Henderson: accordionist and singer - Scotland; and Laine Ruus – Scandinavian Dance tutor with workshops, sessions, concert and a ceilidh - plus a trip to Inverness. Visit the festival website for details including how you can save up to £14 with an all in one Festival ticket!

Northern Streams 2016

We are currently working on finalising the programme for this year's Northern Streams

Festival and the website - so please excuse us if you can't access www.northernstreams.org for a few days - but try www.northernstreams.org.uk instead as one of them should be working! Any queries please email or ring us through the contacts at the bottom of this page - thanks!

Young Traditional Singer of Merit - Singers Gathering 2016

We are pleased to announce the Young Traditional Singer of Merit, sponsored by the TMSA Aberdeen Branch, joining us at the evening concert on Saturday 20 February is Niamh Boadle. Described as “A great talent and a fabulous singer” by Mike Harding she has a strong background in traditional music and song - more details at http://www.niamhboadle.co.uk/

Singers' Gathering - 20 February 2016 - bookings now open!

Come and join us for this celebration of singing with guests and tutors: Craig & Robson (pictured), Jimmy Hutchison and Karen Dietz with workshops, Muckle Sing and performance platform at the Queen Margaret Hall during the day and an evening concert in the Star & Garter at night - all in Linlithgow. All levels of experience welcome! For details of the guests, timetable, ticket prices and how to get to the Singers' Gathering click on this link: www.tmsa.org.uk/documents/SingersGathering2016Leaflet.pdf. To download a booking form and/or meal order form click through to the TMSA website www.tmsa.org.uk/current-tmsa-projects.asp and then click on the relevant link. If you prefer to book and pay online you can do this through EventBrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/singers-gathering-2016-tickets-20282510535?aff=es2 but if you want to order a pre-concert evening meal you will still need to send in/email a meal order form separately. Please contact us if you have any queries - details at the bottom of the sidebar of this webpage.

2016 events - note the dates now and Happy Hogmanay!

Looking forward to 2016? We are with it being the 50th anniversary of the TMSA!

The Branch has its Singers Gathering 2016 planned for 20 February in Linlithgow with some great workshops, Muckle Sing and evening concert lining up! Then there's our Northern Streams Festival on 22 & 23 April 2016 at the Grassmarket Centre. Put the dates in your new diary or electronic scheduler now! And more details will be forthcoming in the new year...

Carrying Stream Session & Branch AGM - Tuesday 10 November

Please join us once again for what promises to be a stimulating and pleasant evening! Bring any friends too. TMSA Edinburgh & Lothians Branch Annual General Meeting Tuesday 10 November, 6.45pm Downstairs at the Royal Oak, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh EH1 1LT Contact Branch Secretary, Trish Santer, if you require more detail: trishs46@yahoo.co.uk or phone 0131 449 5278 or 07762 101002 “Oh but AGMs are boring” I hear you say! I promise that it will be kept short, but it is your opportunity to have a say in how Edinburgh & Lothians Branch runs and suggest future events: while we are always grateful to have new volunteers on the Committee, attending the AGM does not mean being press-ganged into service! And if anyone is willing to just help at events rather than join the Committee, please ask to go on our volunteer list. Agenda and other papers will be handed out on the night: any apologies to Trish as above, please. Only members may vote. Followed by the The Carrying Stream Session at 8.00pm (same venue) The session celebrates the life and times of Hamish Henderson, but you are welcome to sing or play anything of your choice, or listen in. Please also consider patronising other Carrying Stream Festival events arranged by Edinburgh Folk Club: see: http://www.carryingstreamfestival.co.uk/csf15.htm

Looking forward to our next couple of events

Where have the last few months gone? All of a sudden it's September - and we are looking forward to our Session in The Carrying Stream Festival down for Tuesday 10 November (preceded by our Branch AGM) - other details to be confirmed nearer the time. Plus we are working on Saturday 20 February 2016 as being our next Singers Gathering in Linlithgow - again details to follow as they get confirmed....

Northern Streams Festival Fun!

The Branch's Northern Streams Festival went off well artistically with many of the attendees commenting how much they enjoyed it. Thanks to Oleman, Fjarin, Fiona Driver & Graham Simpson and Simon Chadwick for their fantastic performances and workshops. Also thanks to the volunteers who helped make it happen, the Grassmarket Centre and of course, the audience and participants!

If you want more North Sea cultural mixes - there's Scandimoot this weekend (1-4 May) down in Lancashire and Geiteberg Folk Festival 5-6 June, in Tomter, Norway (near Oslo) as a couple of suggestions. Closer to home, Hydrokoret (the Hydro Choir) from Oslo, Norway are at the Pleasance, 2 May, 4.30pm plus Vasen is at the Pleasance on 4 May, 8pm courtesy of the Edinburgh Folk Club - as part of the Tradfest Edinburgh/Dun Eideann programme.

Just over a week to go to Northern Streams 2015

There's still time to book tickets for Northern Streams next week, including our great value All-in-one ticket for only £30 (£24 concession) which means you get two concerts, 3 workshops and the sharing session for one price and saving around £12. You can hear and learn tunes, songs, about an instrument the Vikings played and dances that make links across the North Sea - all at the lovely Grassmarket Centre. Don't miss Fiona Driver and Graham Simpson from Orkney's debut in the Central Belt. Fiona is an award-winning composer with a large repertoire of tunes from the Northern Isles & Scandinavia and a popular fiddle tutor!

Northern Streams 2015 is getting closer...

Make sure you get your tickets for this festival of music, song, dance and storytelling from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Scotland. Check out the details of performances and workshops from Oleman (Sweden/Norway), Fjarin (Denmark/Sweden), Fiona Driver & Graham Simpson (Orkney- Scotland) and Simon Chadwick (Scotland) - pictured with his reconstruction of the bowed lyre, at www.northernstreams.org (click through the logo on the right hand side of this page). There is also a link to the EventBrite booking page and information on how to book offline too. This year the cafe and bar will be open at the Grassmarket Centre for more of the festival so you'll also be able to support our host venue's community work by enjoying their fine food - look forward to seeing you soon!