Edinburgh Festival Folk

"An album that's as fascinating in its scope as it is exciting in its delivery" – Folkwords. String Sisters produces a sound that is awe-inspiring and captivating in equal measure. Capable of capturing an audience from the first few notes, their shows are a masterclass in the emotional power of instrumental music and traditional song. From heart-stopping songs performed by Emma Härdelin and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh to the energetic intensity of the more upbeat fiddle tunes, Between Wind and Water transfers the energy and emotion of their live performances to a studio recording.

Scottish singer-songwriter Roseanne Reid has announced the release of her second album Lawside on June 2, via Last Man Music. Named for the area of Dundee in which Roseanne and her family live, the album was recorded in Perth with producer, musician and fellow Scot David Macfarlane.

Following the exceptional success of its debut album the Maxwell Quartet returns with its second recording of Haydn. The intriguing juxtaposition of Haydn string quartets with traditional Scottish folk music once again forms the basis of the programme. MusicWeb International named Haydn: String Quartets Op. 71 as one of its Recordings of the Year stating: ‘… letting this superb playing simply wash over you has been one of the year’s great pleasures.’ The prize-winning quartet is performing Haydn’s Op. 74 and their selection of folk music will include traditional tunes from the Highlands and Shetland plus music by Niel Gow, Jean Finlayson of Lewis and Isaac Cooper of Banff. Following the Maxwell’s performance of Haydn’s String Quartet in F, Op. 74 No. 2 at the 2020 Edinburgh International Festival The Scotsman wrote: ‘Such distinctive ¬personality informed Tuesday’s opening performance … its finely tailored Classicism enlivened with light-hearted repartee and risky spontaneity.’

Born in the Calton district in Glasgow, Matt McGinn lived with his parents and eight siblings in cramped quarters. Although yearning to go to Protestant school with his friends in his formative years, his parents raised McGinn Catholic. At the age of 12, after being caught breaking into a store, McGinn was sent to St. Mary's Approved School for 18 months. The time away changed McGinn's life around. After leaving St. Mary's, he did a series of odd jobs, from running errands for a florist shop to becoming an assistant for a blacksmith. He was also influenced during this period by local citizens orating about the values of socialism and anarchy. In 1949, he joined the Communist Party and during a Party meeting, he met his future wife, Janette Gallacher. In 1956, McGinn left the Communist Party, but his ideology never left.

Multi-award winning songwriter and musician, theatre maker and published writer Karine Polwart - six-time winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including 2018 Folk Singer of The Year - releases her new album, 'Laws of Motion', on October 19, 2018 via Hudson Records. 'Laws Of Motion' was recorded alongside long-term collaborators Inge Thomson (accordion, percussion, synths & vocals) and brother Steven Polwart (guitars & vocals).

"Grimm Grimm is a tonic for the curious heart" - Cate Le Bon There's more than a hint of the famous Grimm brothers' twisted fairy-tale folklore to Ginormous - the third album from London-based, Tokyo-born experimentalist and former frontman of cult psychedelic-punk group Screaming Tea Party Koichi Yamanoha. Recalling a childhood with Humpty Dumpty and Mother Goose by his side, his latest offering marks the next chapter in a trilogy of self-discovery; a compendium of sonically astute storytelling where nightmares and dreams meet via French yé-yé and Casio beats.

Empires into Sand is the first album of new material from Normil Hawaiians in 40 years. The group first refined their sound during the early 80s, hitting on a pastoral experimentalism that drew on ambient drone, motorik impulse and post-punk pep. Empires into Sand came together in the familiar manner of their original three albums, with improvisation and nuance informing the blueprint of the tracks.

Empires into Sand is the first album of new material from Normil Hawaiians in 40 years. The group first refined their sound during the early 80s, hitting on a pastoral experimentalism that drew on ambient drone, motorik impulse and post-punk pep. Empires into Sand came together in the familiar manner of their original three albums, with improvisation and nuance informing the blueprint of the tracks.

Empires into Sand is the first album of new material from Normil Hawaiians in 40 years. The group first refined their sound during the early 80s, hitting on a pastoral experimentalism that drew on ambient drone, motorik impulse and post-punk pep. Empires into Sand came together in the familiar manner of their original three albums, with improvisation and nuance informing the blueprint of the tracks.