North Atlantic Song Convention music preview: Strengthening Gaelic bonds
Fostering connection and understanding, this cultural exchange between Gaelic singers and Nordic countries is exploring the strands formed by singing
Returning to Edinburgh’s Scottish Storytelling Centre, the North Atlantic Song Convention is the brainchild of Brian Ó hEadhra, boasting workshops, performances and lectures, linking Scots and Gaelic singers with their Nordic counterparts. The convention welcomes Steve Byrne and Irish sean-nós singer Órla Ní Fhinneadha, alongside Scandinavians Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen and Óskar Freyr Guðnason (pictured).
‘The programme brings together singers and thinkers from across the North Atlantic who come to traditional song from very different places,’ says Ó hEadhra. ‘Some are deeply rooted in family and community traditions; others work through research or contemporary practice. And many move between these worlds.’ That flow is key to the 2026 ethos, with more cultural diversity than ever. Theatre and participatory arts practitioner Femi Oriogun-Williams and Gemma Khawaja (a former winner of the Islington Folk Club Trad2Mad) contribute to ‘a mix of backgrounds’ yielding ‘rich conversations and a real sense of learning from one another’. With a wide range of creative practice to celebrate, traditional song is set to embrace lesser-frequented platforms.
Ó hEadhra hopes people leave feeling ‘inspired, connected, and more confident; understanding song as something living and shared rather than fixed or polished. Attendees often leave with new friendships, fresh ideas and a deeper sense of responsibility towards the traditions they love.’ Culminating with The North Atlantic Song Connection concert, the event will bring performers ‘together on one stage, sharing songs in different languages without amplification or barriers: a powerful, human experience of great singing, cultural respect and genuine connection.’
North Atlantic Song Convention, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh, Friday 6–Sunday 8 March; picture: Ísak Guðnason