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Hands Up for Trad

@handsupfortrad.bsky.social
655 followers 18 following 145 posts

Hands Up for Trad are a Scottish organisation funded by Creative Scotland who work to promote Scottish music, culture and languages throughout the world. linktr.ee/handsupfortrad

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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Sponsor an award at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, Sat 5 Dec at the Lagoon Centre, Paisley. Venue of the Year and Industry Person of the Year are still available to sponsor. Present the award on stage! #NaTrads
projects.handsupfortrad.scot
Sponsor a category at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026
Venue of the Year and Industry Person of the Year are still available to sponsor.
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Mony congratulations tae Dr Clive Young, oor Scots Champion 2026! From coining the word "wabsteid" in 1996 to his ongoing work on Scots, class and confidence. Sponsored by Rubric Foundation.
projects.handsupfortrad.scot
Dr Clive Young – Scots Champion 2026
Edinburgh born Dr Clive Young is a scriever noo bidin in Glesga. A Head of Programme Development at University College London.
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Janet Paisley Services tae Scots Award 2026 gaes this year tae Sheena Wellington, a lifelang champion o the Scots leid, o Robert Burns an of coorse, traditional sang. Hertiest congratulations Sheena! Sponsored by Creative Scotland.
projects.handsupfortrad.scot
Janet Paisley Services to Scots Award 2026 – Sheena Wellington
Sheena Wellington wis boarn in Dundee on 29th August 1944 an brocht up in working class Dundee wi the Dundee tak on Scots as her mither tongue.
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
🎙️ The New National Company for traditional music — join the discussion online Live on European Folk Day — Wed 23 Sept, 2pm — a discussion on the proposed New National Company for traditional music, chaired by David Francis.
Hands Up for Trad logo
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
🎙️ New episode of the Foot Stompin' Podcast is live! Featuring TRIP, Spell Songs, Rebecca Hill & Charlie Stewart, Teenage Fanclub, MAL, Birdvox, RANT, The Easy Club & Ali Levack. Listen now 🎧 projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotpodcast/...
Foot Stompin' Podcast logo
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
🎻 Battle of the Folk Bands 2027 is open for entries! Got 3-5 musicians and 2 demo tracks in you? You could be playing Celtic Connections in Jan 2027 and win a day's recording at GloWorm. Deadline: Sun 11 Oct 2026. Enter: handsup.link/BOTFB2027
Battle of the Folk Bands 2027 logo
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
🎻 The 12 semi-finalists for the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 2027 have been announced! Meet this year's incredible artists and read all about them here: handsup.link/youngtradsem... #YoungTrad2027
Rachel Groves, BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award winner 2026, with harp and quaich
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 22/07/2026
Applications are open for BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2027! 🎻 Singers/instrumentalists aged 18-27, resident in Scotland 1+ year — apply by Sun 2 Aug. Grand Final at Celtic Connections. Details: www.bbc.co.uk/youngtrad #YoungTrad #TradMusic
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
That's Tinto 2026 done. 💚 Abair seachdain! What a week. From the first tune on Monday tae the final concert on Friday. To every young musician who came this year: you were brilliant. We hope to see you back next year or for the first time! Tinto 2027 5-9th July — see you 📸 Martin Forry
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Tonight’s concert for parents and families brought the hoose doon . Every single one o these young musicians has worked their socks aff this week and it absolutely showed. Tapadh leibh gu mòr to every one! Tinto Summer School 2027 5-9th July.
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
The annual fancy dress ceilidh did not disappoint — the costumes, the dancin, the absolute stramash. Tinto Thursday is somethin else entirely. Abair oidhche! Pure joy fae start tae finish. You can also see some photos from our room tidy event - hint - there was no tidying…🕺💃
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
World-class music. A cracklin bonfire. Stars above Wiston Lodge. 🔥 Our tutors took tae the stage the nicht and reminded everyone exactly why they’re here — and then we headed ootside for ane o those evenings you never forget. Oidhche nach dìochuimhnich sinn. ✨ This is Tinto.
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
🎸 On this week's Foot Stompin' Podcast: Skerryvore's 'Fly' — lead single from their upcoming album Beautiful Mistakes, produced by Jamie Squire (The 1975). Hear it in the full episode handsup.link/JulyPodcast2...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Day two and the young people are ALREADY performing. 🙌 Tha sinn cho toilichte! Tonight’s room concert had us absolutely beamin — the talent in this building is somethin else entirely. These young mucisians are fab. Watch this space all week. 🎻🪗🎵
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Tinto Summer School 2026 is GO! 🎉 Wiston Lodge has officially come alive again — instruments unpacked, new new freendships formin, and tunes already filling the air. There is nothing quite like Tinto week. Fàilte mhòr air every young musician joining us! 🎶
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
🎧 Missed it? This week's Foot Stompin' Podcast is still live — featuring A.D.A.M, Skerryvore, Maggie MacInnes, Hamish Napier, Muriel & Mairead Urquhart, Greg Lawson & Donald Shaw, Colin Steele, Rod Paterson & Alasdair MacCuish. Catch up now handsup.link/JulyPodcast2...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Tiree Music Festival's 15th edition line up just grew — including Dàna! 🎉 Also this week: Hamewith opens at St Andrews Heritage Museum & Buain Gaelic Arts Gathering registrations open on Skye. Full newsletter: handsup.link/HUFTnewslett...
Dàna – four musicians smiling together on a beach, promotional photo
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
🎙️ New episode of the Foot Stompin' Podcast is live! Featuring A.D.A.M, Skerryvore, Maggie MacInnes, Hamish Napier, Muriel & Mairead Urquhart, Greg Lawson & Donald Shaw, Colin Steele, Rod Paterson & Alasdair MacCuish. Listen now 🎧 handsup.link/JulyPodcast2...
Foot Stompin' Podcast logo
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 19/06/2026
The Scottish Poetry Library has been a proud partner in this year's Gies A Scots Poem Day, commissioning new poems in Scots to mark the centenary of Hugh MacDiarmid's A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/handsupfortr... #GiesAScotsPoemDay #ScottishPoetry
Hugh MacDiarmid
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
🌟 2026 Hall of Fame inductee: Sarah Northcott — 30+ years with Scots Music Group Edinburgh, running the Inspire Project bringing trad music to homeless and mental health charities. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame... #HallOfFame #HandsUpForTrad
Sarah Northcott
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
🌟 2026 Hall of Fame: Anna Murray — piper, Gaelic singer & educator from the Isle of Lewis. Founder of Lewis & Harris Youth Pipe Band, piping teacher in Lewis schools 2011–2023. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame... #HallOfFame #HandsUpForTrad
Anna Murray
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
🌟 2026 Hall of Fame: Linda & Mark Morpurgo — Glasgow & Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshops, trad music in Argyll schools, and Community Project of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame... #HallOfFame #HandsUpForTrad
Linda and Mark Morpurgo
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
🌟 2026 Hall of Fame inductee: Douglas Montgomery — thirty years teaching fiddle in Orkney's schools, performer with Saltfishforty & The Chair, and musical director of The Gathering at Orkney Folk Festival for 15 years. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame... #HallOfFame #HandsUpForTrad
Douglas Montgomery
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
🎵 Distil Meet-Up #3 — Thu 18th June, 2–4pm Scottish Music Centre, Glasgow Workshop with BBC Proms composer & improviser Shiori Usui — "entirely individual ears" (The Times). Free, limited places! Book: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/distil-mee...
Composer and improviser Shiori Usui
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
🌟 2026 Hall of Fame inductee: Donald 'Maroot' Macleod — founder of Care for a Ceilidh, bringing Gaelic singers and musicians to hospices, care homes & special needs schools, all on a voluntary basis. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame... #HallOfFame #HandsUpForTrad
Donald Maroot Macleod
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
🌟 Meet our first 2026 Hall of Fame inductee: Joella Foulds — co-founder of Celtic Colours International Festival, Cape Breton. Returned as Artistic Director aged 81 for 2025's award-winning festival. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame... #HallOfFame #HandsUpForTrad
Joella Foulds
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Announcing the 2026 Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame — Services to Community inductees: Joella Foulds, Donald Macleod, Douglas Montgomery, Linda & Mark Morpurgo, Anna Murray, and Sarah Northcott. #HallOfFame #HandsUpForTrad projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame...
projects.handsupfortrad.scot
https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame/scottish-traditional-music-hall-of-fame-services-to-community-2026-inductees-announced/
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 17/05/2026
Very sad news. Aonghas Grant RIP. Read about fiddler Aonghas’ amazing life and contribution to our culture. projects.handsupfortrad.scot/hall-of-fame...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 02/04/2026
🎻 Catch the world premiere of Dà Chòmhlan-Ciùil De Cheathrar — a bold new NAFCo 2026 commission by @simonthoumire, bringing a classical string quartet and a folk quartet together on one stage. 📍 Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen 🗓️ Thursday 9 April, 12.45–1.30pm 🎟️ Free — just turn up! NAFCo 2026: 24–28 June 🎶
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 27/03/2026
Check out our BRAND NEW Hands Up for Trad shop (designed by Mayfin) with lots of great products in Scots, Gaelic and English. Here's our latest t-shirt. handsupfortradshop.com/shop/i-love-...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
🎵 Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin' is back! Join us on 4th May for a day of folk workshops for young instrumentalists and singers, in partnership with @EdinTradfest. No trad background needed — just curiosity and your instrument. Tutors: Lori Watson and Phil Alexander. 🎶 handsup.link/EYG2026
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Celebrating 20 years of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame! 🎵 Photographer Louis DeCarlo has captured every inductee since 2005. Watch him share stories from his remarkable journey with David Francis. 📸 handsup.link/halloffame20
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 17/02/2026
Celebrating 20 years of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame! 🎵 Photographer Louis DeCarlo has captured every inductee since 2005. Watch him share stories from his remarkable journey with David Francis. 📸 handsup.link/halloffame20
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
As a Scots speikir wha haes bin ettlin tae lairn a wee bittie o oor braw Gaelic leid, am ay delichtit whan a cam ower wirds whaur richt awa a juist ken whit thae mean! Wirds like ‘briogais’ soondin like oor ain Scots wird fir troosers, ‘breeks’. handsup.link/whitsinawird... #ScotlandLovesLanguages
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 03/02/2026
Watch the winning performance from Battle of The Folk Bands winners The Way North. Congratulations to all the bands who competed on Saturday. youtu.be/ufYrW4E-19I
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
Congratulations to Rachel Groves - 2026 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award Winner. Read about Rachel's winning performance here handsup.link/youngtradwin...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 26/01/2026
At the Scots Trad Music Awards every year - one of the most important sections is the Departed Friends where we remember people who have passed over the last year. We've made a form where you can add people you know who have been involved in Scottish folk / trad music. handsup.link/DepartedFrie...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
🎶 Meet your Battle of the Folk Bands 2026 finalists! Last but not least is Àirdan. Read about the band here handsup.link/airdan
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 22/01/2026
🎶 Meet your Battle of the Folk Bands 2026 finalists! Fourth up is Evie Waddell Band. Read about the band here handsup.link/eviewaddellb...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 21/01/2026
🎶 Meet your Battle of the Folk Bands 2026 finalists! Third up is Ketu. Read about the band here handsup.link/ketu
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 20/01/2026
🎶 Meet your Battle of the Folk Bands 2026 finalists! Second up is Raivelt. Read about the band here handsup.link/raivelt
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
🎶 Meet your Battle of the Folk Bands 2026 finalists! First up - The Way North. Read about the band here handsup.link/thewaynorth
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
🎵 Tinto Summer School 2026 bookings OPEN! 6-11 July @ Wiston Lodge for ages 11-17. Brilliant tutors lined up: Anna Robertson, Ada Francis, Michael Bryan, Rae Maciver, Eleanor Tout & Laura Penman Week of trad music, campfire songs & memories! All instruments welcome 🎻🎸🎹 handsup.link/TintoSummerS...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 13/01/2026
🎶 Battle of the Folk Bands finalists are HERE! Àirdan • Evie Waddell Band • Ketu • Raivelt • The Way North 31 Jan, 1pm @ Celtic Connections. Five bands, one winner, unlimited talent! Come support the future of Scottish trad Tickets via Celtic Connections www.celticconnections.com/event/9/batt... 🎵
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
Very sad news this morning to hear of two passings from legends of the Scottish music scene. Pipe Major Ian MacLellan and Adam McNaughtan. RIP and our thoughts are with their families.
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 04/12/2025
🎉 2025 Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame inductees sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal! Services to Performance: Andrew Rankine, Colin MacLellan, Dr Steve Forman, Elspeth Cowie, Iain MacDonald (Neilson) & Sprangeen 6th Dec at Aberdeen Music Hall 🎵 Read more: handsup.link/halloffamepe...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Yesterday at the Scottish Storytelling Centre - David Francis interviewed photographer Louis DeCarlo about the 20 years of the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame. Look out for the video coming soon on YouTube.
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
🎵 SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITY: Venue of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2025! Champion the venues that keep Scottish trad music alive. Present the award live on stage at Aberdeen Music Hall, 6th December. 📺 BBC ALBA broadcast 🗳️ 100,000+ votes Find out more handsup.link/venueoftheye...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
🎻 The Strathspey and Surreal Fiddle Orchestra returns! Saturday 15th Nov, 7:30pm at @ScotsFiddleFest, Pleasance Theatre Edinburgh. 12 fiddlers bringing fresh energy to classic Scottish tunes. With Saltfishforty. Get your tickets now! handsup.link/strathspeyan...
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Hands Up for Trad @handsupfortrad.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
🎻 Patsy Reid's new album "I Am Disposed To Mirth" features the fiddle music of Simon Thoumire. An exceptional performance of compositions that expand Scottish traditional music into contemporary concert works. December 5 on Bandcamp. handsup.link/patsyreid
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