Articles categorised as Singing

Songs and Rhymes from Childhood

Ewan McVicar has written the first comprehensive book regarding the lore, songs and rhymes of Scottish children, collected form the street and playground during the last 150 years. People are sure...

New Year singalang

Don't remember all the words to Auld Lang Syne? Don't worry - they're all here along with the words and tune to a Guid New Year tae Ane an Aa. You'll have no excuse for not joining in the...

Doric Cabaret Evening

As pairt o the city o Aiberdeen’s St Andra’s Weekend, the Associe o Grampian Storytellers is haein a Doric Cabaret Eening on Seturday 1 December at Union Terrace Gairdens, Aiberdeen, fae 7.30pm...

Stuart McHardy Traditional Night

Screivar an Scots steerar Stuart McHardy is tae sing tradeetional sangs at the Dumfaurlin Fowk Club, Thistle Tavern, Baldridgeburn, Dumfaurlin, on Wadensday 12 December, 8 for 8.30 stert. Tickets...

Supper Wi Burns

The Scots Centre for Storytelling is haudin a Supper Wi Burns on Wadensday 23 an Thursday 24 Januar. Linda Bandelier, David Campbell an Donald Smith is tae interteen fowk wi stories, poyems an...

Hogmanay

Thanks to Steve Byrne and Greentrax for giving permission to use this song http://www.greentrax.com/ 'Hogmanay' is a poem by Violet Jacob (1863-1946), collected in Songs of Angus (1915)

Auld Lang Syne

For a karaoke version of Auld Lang Syne to sing along to click here http://www.hogmanay.net/history/auldlangsyne Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind? Should auld...

Burns on youtube

To celebrate Burns nicht we’ve put together a selection of just a few of the thousands of videos on youtube with a Burns connection.

Keltickev on youtube

Have a look at keltickev’s selection of Burns songs on youtube - some have the words in the accompanying information panel. Keltickev’s own web site has more information on Burns. Visit it at

Happy Valentine's Day

We're continuing our Burns theme by celebrating Valentine's Day with one of his most famous poems, My Luve is like a Red Red Rose. We hope you'll enjoy Isla St Clair's bitter sweet version of the...

Now Westlin Winds

Kevin Thompson, known as keltickev on youtube, is a regular on our site. Here he is singing, Now Westlin Winds, another of Burns many love songs.

The Bonnie Lass o Fyvie

A favourite from the North East, this is another of those love songs with a tragic ending. Performed by the Joe Gordon Folk Four, this video is from the old BBC TV programme, The White Heather Club.

Broken Gong

Fifer Andy Chung’s latest album, Broken Gong, contains all the voices that make up one of Scotland’s most unusual and distinctive singers. Kirkcaldy born Chung comes from a musical family with a...

Night of traditional song in Scots

The Aberdeen and Regional Oral History Association will be holding a traditional concert party on the night of Saturday 26 April. On the night there will be a series of traditional songs in Scots,...

The Scottish Song Tradition

The old style ballad (before 1700) The leading and oldest kind of song in Scots is the historical ballad. The ballad was composed for two kinds of audience: the ordinary people or the courtly...

Ballads, Ridings and Truces

Summer time in Scotland marks the celebration of the Common Ridings during which some towns – particularly in the Borders – organise ceremonies to confirm the boundaries of the town and other...

Up wi’ auld Hawick

For an example of a modern Common Riding ballad please follow this link to hear Iain Scott leading others in singing ‘Up wi’ auld Hawick’ which also includes shots of the riders:

Dublin and Lewis acts win minority language song competition

Last Saturday night two young acts were chosen to represent the Celtic & Scots languages at the Liet International Song Competition for European minority languages. Ten acts from the various...

Traditional Arts Working Group - Public Meetings

David Francis, the chair of the Traditional Arts Working Group, will be hosting a series of public meetings across Scotland to allow as many people as possible the opportunity to feed their views...

Scotland and Norway come together in Boreas

Boreas, a musical outfit that brings together musicians and singers from Scotland and Norway, are looking for opportunities to perform and undertake workshops round about the middle of November...

Stanley Robertson

Stanley Roberston (1940-2009) was well known as one of the country’s most accomplished storytellers. He was a singer, a writer and a campaigner for the traveller community. Stanley’s life and...

EXCLUSIVE - ChielMeister talks to SLC

Nae Mince in Moray has been this year’s surprise Scots language hit on youtube. Writer and singer, The Chielmesiter, talks exclusively to the Scots Language Centre about mince, rowies, French...

Remembering Wee Willie Winkie

On 2 September a new memorial was unveiled on the wall of Tennents’ Brewery, Duke Street, Glasgow, to Scots language writer William Miller (1810-72) and his most famous composition ‘Wee Willie...

Launch of 'For A' That'

The launch of a new book entitled 'For A' That' will take place at the Dundee Rep Theatre at 7pm. The University of Dundee has commissioned various wriers to put together an anthology celebrating...

Annual Collogue of Scots Language Society

The Annual Collogue of the Scots Language Society will take place on Saturday 10 October 2009 at the A.K. Bell Library, York Place, Perth. This year’s theme is ‘The Interaction between Scots and...

Mither tongue in fine fettle, say Doric fans

Doric Festival report from the Press and Journal. www.pressandjournal.co.uk

O Aw The Airts

Well-known broadcaster and writer Billy Kay, together with singer Rod Paterson, and Derek Hoy and Norman Chalmers from 'Jock Tamson's Bairns', will be appearing at the Imprint Book Festival in...

The Poozies

The Poozies have a new CD out on Greentrax - 'Yellow like Sunshine'. Using a mixture of Gaelic, English and Scots, their songs reflect the diverse backgrounds of the band members. Further...

Doric Sampler

The 16th Doric Sampler from the Monymusk Arts Trust will be at 7pm. For more information enquire with The Arts Trust at www.artstrust.org

Old Songs with Scots Words

Monymusk Arts Trust presents Irene Drummond (soprano) and Alasdair Beatson (piano) performing songs with words by Scots poets. Monymusk Arts Centre, near Inverurie. Doors opem 3pm, tickets cost £8...

Tam Lin - a song for Halloween.

The Scots Language Centre has teamed up with the Traditional Music and Song Association to encourage the enjoyment and singing of Scots songs. Tam Lin, one of Scotland's oldest ballads, fits in...

Scots language songs online.

A monthly internet radio show has been focusing on Scots language in song and the School of Scottish Studies project 'Kist o Riches'. This project has been focusing on digitising the many Scots...

Merrier Christmas and Brawer Hogmanay at SLC

With December only weeks away, the Scots Language Centre is putting the finishing touches to what should be its best ever Christmas and New Year programme. There are many old favourites – the...

Shetland songs for children.

A new CD of children's poetry, songs and stories has just been launched in Shetland. The dialect promotion group Shetland ForWirds has produced 'Craigsaet' a collection of traditional and new...

Twelve Days of Christmas

The well known festive song gets a Scots accent in this version by Sheena Blackhall. The Twalve Days o Yuletide is sung by a group of Scottish Music students from the Royal Scottish Academy of...

Scots Christmas songs for children

Sheena Blackhall has written many Scots songs and poems for children. Among them are several for Christmas time. We have here short video clips of Sheena singing the songs and below we have some...

Auld Lang Syne

So many have performed Auld Lang Syne, here are a selection of Scottish performers, Paolo Nutini, Dougie MacLean, MSPs at the Scottish Parliament and finally Mairi Campbell and Emily Smith.

Mick West CD

Greentrax Recordings have released a new CD of traditional Scots songs. 'Sark o Snaw' is the latest recording from Mick West and his band of well known and respected traditional musicians. Mick is...

Burns Songs

Performances of some weel kent tunes.

James Hogg songs

A major research project about the early 19th century Scottish writer James Hogg is culminating in the creation of a growing and valuable online resource. It currently contains articles and talks...

Nicola Black sings McDiarmid

Dumfriesshire musician Nicola Black has released a CD of Scots language songs called Moonstruck. Setting Hugh McDiarmid poetry to her own compositions, she has used a variety of styles to bring...

Iseabail's list of resources about Scots language in folksong

Buchan, David (1972, 1997) The Ballad and the Folk, East Linton: Tuckwell Press. The standard work on the ballad tradition of the North-East.Henderson, Hamish (1992) Alias MacAlias. Writings on...

Tannahill Weavers

Inspired by the poet Robert Tannahill, the Paisley band Tannahill Weavers have used many of Robert Tannahill's songs in performance. Here we can watch their version of the song 'The Ploo'boy...

Birds and children

Many Scots songs and poems are about birds. Here are a selection of children's songs and poetry about birds.

Alex Hodgson

Greentrax has released another fine CD of Scots language song. 'Jeelie Jars n Coalie Backies' is the latest release from the Prestonpans folk singer Alex Hodgson. Twice a finalist in the...

Entrants sought for Song Competition

The 7th Liet International minority language song contest is to be held in Lorient/An Orient, in Brittany on 27th November. Liet International is the only song contest for singers and bands who...

Sing a Sang o Soutar

On Thursday 11th November 2010 the Friends of William Soutar Society are hosting a musical celebration of William Soutar poems. Part of the Perth 800 anniversary programme the evening will be a...

Christmas songs in Ulster Scots

Northern Ireland news organisation the 'News Letter' has announced details of a new book of Ulster-Scots Christmas music. Traditional Christmas carols have been translated into Scots by Anne...

New historical recordings resource

The Kist o Riches project aims to digitise, catalogue and disseminate Gaelic and Scots sound recordings. A new website for the project was this week launched in Edinburgh. This website contains...

"A Braw Nicht Oot"

Prestonpans storyteller Tim Porteous, together with storytellers from around Scotland, is set to mark the forthcoming Scots census question with a night of storytelling in Scots followed by a play...

Two new CDs

Two new CD releases show Scots language being used by young professional musicians today. Singers Jeana Leslie and Siobhan Miller's new album is called Shadows Tall, while the Paul McKenna Band...

Land Hunger

A dreep on the trough faas doon,The gate o’ the cattle- coort wallops ajee,The herdsman’s hishin the latchy kye till the byre, Sottar an tyauve, are the terms o’ a fairmer's fee.The plyter...

Alpha an Omega

Sang till the Unborn BairnYe slippit aneth ma breist, Murmerin thrum o life, Soomin in secret watter Kittle an blythe.I maun cairry an keep ye, Bairn i' the bane, Trimmlin sap i' the leaf, Wecht...

Perthshire Traveller songs

A new CD from Greentrax features songs and ballads from Perthshire field recordings made in the 1950s. Part of the Scottish Tradition Series it has been released as part of the celebrations to...

Sisyphus

It wis a doddle; rowin yon stane till the tap Balancin peace o' Mind ower a towerin drap Deistit up frae the foun.Contrary, the stane cowped doon;A game fur the young an swack.Bein gallus, an gey...

Emily Smith

Emily Smith has recently released a new CD of folk songs - Traiveller's Joy. Singing in English and in Scots, Emily is following this up with a six week series of Scots song workshops in...

Mairtimas

The trees hae tyned their clootsNippicks o leaves, like tapsalteerie fire Turn reeftaps, cassies, burn, brae an byre Bluid-reid-organdie, aawye colour-ableeze A swatch o wud Matisse ower lum an...

Michael Marra & Saint Andrew

In 2009 Michael Marra performing as 'Saint Andrew'  released the album 'Hubris', a follow up to 'The Word on the Pavey'. This has been followed by a DVD containing Marra's animations accompanying...

Shona Donaldson of Tarland

Young traditional musician Shona Donaldson is a singer and fiddle player. Her career is continuing to grow with a new album released in 2011. 'Short Nichts and Lang Kisses' is a collection of...