EDINBURGH TRADFEST 3 – 13 MAY
KARINE POLWART + BRUCE NCUBE + EVIE WADDELL + ANNA-WENDY STEVENSON
At this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest (3-13 May) workshop participants can learn everything from traditional Zimbabwean song and Scottish step dance, to how to sign, how to improve your onstage patter, and how your favourite music can provide a springboard to your own songwriting ambitions.
Kicking off on opening weekend, is the Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin (EYG), a three day workshop programme supported by the William Grant Foundation.
Aimed at13-18 year olds, and led by band tutors – Kirsty Law, Tom Oakes and Lori Watson the workshop culminates in a showcase performance by all participants as part of Edinburgh Tradfest’s main music programme.
Plus, new this year, there will also be two taster workshops on 20th and 27th April, for those new to being in the EYG Big Band and making music with others.
Also running during the festival is a workshop teaching traditional songs from Zimbabwe in 3 to 6-part harmonies, with Bruce Ncube.
Bruce is a Zimbabwean artist who specialises in teaching songs and harmonies that are emotionally charged and uplifting, and his workshop is designed to build participants confidence with singing.
His method of teaching is the traditional oral/aural way and is reminiscent of when people would gather around a fire in the evenings, or whilst working in the fields would start weaving harmonies together.
Workshop Tutor Bruce Ncube
Participants can also learn how to sign songs in Scots and Gaelic with Evie Waddell. Evie’s workshop invites people to participate in Gaelic culture as they learn and play with some Scottish step dance and British sign language, looking at rhythm and communication with hands and feet.
Over at the Storytelling Centre, storyteller Svend-Erik Engh will be teaching musicians how to improve their patter and song introductions on stage, with some basic rules of storytelling.
Plus, Anna-Wendy Stevenson will teach a class to intermediate/advanced level fiddle players, and renowned singer and composer Karine Polwart will teach participants about songwriting, how to work with others and strategies for finishing a song, even if it is never likely to see the light of day!
Bruce Ncube said: “Through colonisation, we (Africans) were made to believe that our music, our stories, our ways of living and our languages were less important than the colonisers’, unfortunately its legacy lives on and many of the young people shun their own music and choose to sound western.
“My mission is simply to preserve our own unique identity and showcase the best of us. I am the guardian of my cultural history and traditions. I enjoy doing what I do because I have seen the benefits of groups singing, I have seen the joy in people’s faces and I have witnessed healing through song in the workshops that I run,
“I enjoy what I do because through my workshops; I have provided a platform, space & opportunity for humans to connect and interact through harmony singing.
“I have watched people’s faces transform from being reserved to being more expressive and joyful within a couple of hours of singing together, I enjoy doing what I do because; as a citizen of this world, that is my only contribution to this wonderful world that humans do not seem to appreciate.”
Jane-Ann Purdy, Co-producer of Edinburgh Tradfest said; “We’ve been building up our workshop programme for the past few years and this May it will be better than ever.
“We hope that musicians and singers of all abilities will learn loads of new tips and techniques to help them develop their own creative practice or just have fun with picking up a new skill.
“We met Bruce Ncube at one of his singing workshops on the west coast last year and we’re delighted that he agreed to come back up to Scotland and be part of this year’s programme. There’s no one better at building a relaxed and fun environment for learning. He’s amazing.”
The full programme for this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest including traditional music at the Traverse theatre, events at the Scottish Storytelling Centre, the Folk Film Gaitherin, and the Edinburgh Folk Club is now on sale.
The programme includes an unmissable line-up of music, talks, adult and children’s music workshops, ceilidhs, films, and storytelling thanks to continued support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, and the William Grant Foundation.
Edinburgh Tradfest 2024 will run from Friday 3 May – Monday 13 May. For tickets and more information visit edinburghtradfest.com