Completing the Trilogy begun with Genius 2.0 and The Work of the Devil, Have We Met? finds Simon standing, like Ulysses in Tennyson’s famous verse, gazing out over the moaning deep and the twinkling rocks and wondering whether to seek a newer world? To smite the sounding furrows? To strive, to seek, and to find? Or whether in fact, to put the kettle on, crack open the Hobnobs and simply yield? Drawing on Joyce, Proust and the career of Philip Schofield to make sense of his own tangled past and possible future, Evans skilfully weaves comedy, pathos and narrowly averted cancellation into an unforgettable two hours of unique entertainment.

Brian Bilston and Henry Normal appear together for the first time in a show which one critic has described as “two people reading some poems”. Along the way, they will be drawing on their vast catalogue of crowd favourites – and throwing in new poems, to prevent becoming their own tribute bands. Not ones to overpromise, Brian and Henry are prepared to commit to delivering the greatest poetry show in the history of the world or their names aren’t Brian Bilston and Henry Normal. An evening of poems to be enjoyed not endured.

From one of the most exciting emerging new stars in the UK’s live stand-up scene,1994 is Edinburgh native’s Connor Burns third solo hour. A prolific joke writer, his Scottish-level cynicism and self-deprecation punctuates a disarmingly relaxed persona and an intelligent, razor-sharp wit. Connor’s burgeoning reputation as “one to watch” was cemented at the 2023 Fringe when he sold out his entire run two months before the festival started.

Following on from the success of 2024’s “Any Port in a Storm” tour, King Creosote’s 2025’s follow-up “Any Storm in a Teacup” promises a night of modular synth, I DES tracks and KC classics.

Kris Drever originally comes from Hrossey in the Orkney Islands. Over the years, he has taught himself to be a songwriter, guitarist and singer of note (and sometimes many notes). As well as creating award-winning original songs and instrumental pieces with the trio Lau, he has had a fruitful solo career exploring the cracks between classic and modern songwriting and the traditional music that he comes from. Drever’s sound is rooted in the earthy and hypnotic rhythms of much older music, but there’s a sophistication to both the lyricism and the instrumentalism which places him skilfully in the present. He has an extensive collection of BBC R2 Folk awards, plus a fistful of Scottish NaTrads awards for everything from best album, best singer and best live act to best original song. He has worked with many excellent musicians, including Jack Bruce, Eddi Reader, Mark Knopfler, Jerry Douglas and Roddy Woomble, and is a member of the beautiful multi-media project Spell Songs: The Lost Words. Currently, Kris is preparing for a series of Lau events around the UK, writing music for a new solo album and learning some old tunes for reasons he can’t quite explain. We are offering a free carer/companion ticket for any disabled or wheelchair-user audience members throughout our shows this season. Please note that it is helpful if this is booked in advance via the WeGotTickets website, so that we can ensure that there is adequate accessible seating reserved on the day/night of the event. Wheelchair access, or entry for people with a disability is available from the side entrance, by the Phoenix Café. Tickets for our Spring/Summer 2025 events can also be purchased in person at the Phoenix Shop, Findhorn. These will be available for purchase from February 2025. Please note that this is a seated event.

John Harold Arnold Bramwell, to give him his full name, is perhaps best-known for his time as the songwriter and frontman of Manchester three-piece, I Am Kloot. However, he also possesses an enviable back catalogue as a solo artist and continues to work on new material under the guise of his latest band, John Bramwell & The Full Harmonic Convergence. Bramwell’s first studio output appeared in 1989, when he was performing and recording as Johnny Dangerously and entitled You Me & The Alarm Clock, an album The Guardian referred to as one of the ‘greatest albums you’ve never heard.’ Following a stint as a television presenter and as a member of the band, The Mouth, Bramwell formed I Am Kloot, with two members of The Mouth. They went on to record six studio albums, including the Mercury-Prize nominated album, Sky At Night. Since 2016, Bramwell has reverted to being a solo artist and tours continuously, around the UK and Europe. A home-recorded solo album, Leave Alone the Empty Spaces appeared in 2018 and the follow-up, a more expansive affair, with a working title of The Light Fantastic, is now scheduled for release in 2022.

BC Camplight is an England-based American songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His 2005 album Hide, Run Away was released by One Little Indian and featured Cynthia G. Mason on vocals. Camplight's follow-up, Blink of a Nihilist, was released in 2007, and his third album came out in January 2015 on Bella Union.

Pronoter EP Musician, singer, songwriter, and Lifetime Achievement Award winner at the inaugural RTÉ Folk Awards, Andy has had an amazing musical career over the past 50 years. At the helm of legendary bands like Sweeney’s Men in the mid 60s, to the enormous success of Planxty in the 70s, and then Patrick Street, Mozaik, LAPD and recently Usher’s Island, Andy is both a world music pioneer and an icon for traditional music and musicians. Andy is one of the great Irish singers, his voice one of a handful of truly great ones that gets to the very soul of Ireland. He has been hailed as “a tradition in himself”. Musician, singer, songwriter, Andy has maintained his highly individual performing skills throughout his over 50-year career. As a soloist, Andy fills the role of the archetypal troubadour with a show and a travelling lifestyle that reflect his lifelong influence, Woody Guthrie. To quote the Irish Times, “Often copied, never equalled”, his repertoire consists of Irish traditional songs, dexterous Balkan dance tunes and a compelling cannon of his own self-penned songs.

One evening at the Jaz z Cafe, Camden in 2018, six artists came together in celebration of John Martyn's music. It was an evening of deep connection, not just to John's music, but also with a unique community of John Martyn fans. That night saw the sparks of what was to become ' The John Martyn Project' - an ongoing homage to a truly pioneering and unique musical soul. E ach bring ing their own story and relationship to John's music, they continue to keep the spirit of his music alive whilst collecting stories and insights from the crowds they play to. With thanks to John and those that find connection in his music.

After a successful visit to the Burgh Hall last year, the hilarious Gary Faulds returns to Dunoon with New Material. “Come and join me at my favourite smaller venues, getting material together for the main tour. This is a unique gig trying untested and raw material. You won’t know any different unless a bit dies on its hole, you will know when that happens because I will bin it and go full terror mode on the front row. I am grateful for your support and can’t wait to see you all!”

Jonny and Paddy and back on the road again! Bringing their brand new show 'Dance Like it Never Happened' on tour. And they've missed you all! So what is this new hilarious show about? Grief. Its about Grief. In 2019, we lost another election, our place in Europe and, worst of all, a dearly beloved friend. We are no strangers to grief, but it hurt. Then in 2020, we all lost the world as we knew it. Our decades-long system of "dealing with emotions" (ignore them, drink heavily and make jokes) finally broke. We finally broke. In their most honest and personal show yet, Jonny & The Baptists learn to accept and engage with their grief, telling the story of denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance through their trademark blend of silly, joyful songs, deadpan stand-up and riotous storytelling. Finding meaning, humour and beauty in the hardest part of life. So come and see us, have a laugh and maybe a cry - but definitely a laugh.

With over 100M views online see the longest running panellist from BBC Scotland’s “Breaking The News” live in his first national tour! Stuart Mitchell is now regarded as one of the UK’s top comedians and social media stars with over a 100M views online. You’ve seen him online and now you can see him on his first ever national UK tour, Tips Not Included. Join the longest running panellist of BBC Scotland’ Breaking The News as he shares his amazing life story.

An idiosyncratic, challenging and richly lyrical singer/ songwriter, Junior Brother is the pseudonym of Co. Kerry, Ireland singer Ronan Kealy. Chosen as The Irish Times’ Best Irish Act of 2019 and nominated for the 2019 Choice Music Prize for Album of the Year, Junior Brother has built a rabid following thanks to unmissable live shows, and music both excitingly forward-looking and anciently evocative. His strange stories unfold with reckless abandon upon a distinctive guitar and foot tambourine accompaniment, influenced as much by the avant-garde as music from the Middle Ages and his home place in rural Ireland.

The Supernaturals formed in Glasgow in 1991 and toured extensively around Scotland, initially releasing 4 mini albums on their own label. The band signed to EMI/Food in 1995 releasing the UK top 10 album “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” in 1997 and the fan favourite follow up a “Tune a Day” in 1998. The band had 7 Top 50 singles between 1996 and 1999. The band’s third album, the Beach boys influenced electronica of “What We Did Last Summer” was released in 2002 on Universal records, after which the band went on a long overdue break. The band reconvened in 2012 and have released the albums “360” , “Bird of luck” and “It Only Gets Worse” in the time since. The band have also resumed their legendary live shows, most recently supporting Dodgy on their UK tour in 2023. Several of the band’s songs, the Ivor Novello nominated “Smile” and “I Wasn’t Built to Get Up” have taken on a life of their own in subsequent years, having been used in adverts and films around the world. Rod Stewart covered the band’s song “Dylan’s Day Off” in 1997. Ticket Information

Douglas Montgomery (fiddle/viola) and Brian Cromarty (songs/guitar/mandola) combine the rich traditional music of Orkney with original compositions, as showcased to wide acclaim on their five albums: Bere (2017), LIVE (2013), Netherbow (2010), Orkney Twister (2005) and Goose Music (2003). The powerhouse partnership have won a devoted following throughout the UK and beyond, brilliantly transcending the duo format’s conventional confines. Linchpin figures in the currently flourishing revival of Orkney’s traditional music, they unite these deep-rooted sources with an exhilarating breadth of influence and expertise, catalysed by a creative empathy born from decades of friendship. The result is a sound of equally thrilling raw attack and multi-dimensional richness. General admission – £16.50 advance / £18.50 on the door Concession – £15 advance / £16.50 on the door

Join us for a magical evening with Karen Dunbar. Spend an unforgettable evening in her company as she share stories, jokes and insights from her incredible career. Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to see Karen live – book your tickets now!

Laura-Beth Salter (Kinnaris Quintet, The Shee) and Ali Hutton (Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton, Treacherous Orchestra) have come together to create a Scottish soundscaping masterpiece with a powerful message at its core. Cinematic, contemporary and captivating, whilst still drawing from traditional roots, From the Ground is an ode to nature and its infinite power to heal. It carries an urgent message for its listeners – we must cherish our planet – and celebrates how connecting with our natural environment can benefit our mental health. After launching their debut gig with 7 piece band at a headline show at Celtic Connections 2025, Ali and Laura-Beth are now taking their new music to audiences all over the UK with the option of a smaller line-up to enable them to visit intimate venues. The four piece line-up will play music from the album, as well as new newly composed pieces and will feature Patsy Reid on fiddle and Owen Sincalir on guitar. Some shows will also feature spoken word by renowned poet Jim C. Mackintosh.

A new show about extinct gigantic, charismatic, megafauna from 3-time Edinburgh Comedy Award Nominated Comedian, and very good comedian Josie Long. In these troubled times, in this wicked world, it can feel like apocalypse is everywhere but did you know 11,000 years ago there were some really big armadillos? I’m talking about as big as a car. Really big. And they were vegetarian so don’t even worry about them. Also my daughter has a hamster and I’m not saying distract yourself from everything, but I’m saying he’s also part of everything. Josie is back with a new show about discovery, wonder, extinction and how to walk through a landscape of monstrous disaster. There is also a good tip about silt, guaranteed.

Nerina Natasha Georgina Pallot is a British singer, songwriter and producer, who has released seven albums and over a dozen EPs. She was nominated for British Female Solo Artist at the 2007 BRIT Awards and nominated for an Ivor Novello Award for "Sophia" in the category of 'Best Song' in the same year.

Matt Carmichael and Fergus McCreadie first crossed paths as teenagers while playing in the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Scotland. It didn’t take long for them to recognise a deep musical connection—one that has only grown stronger over the years. Now, they reunite to bring music from Matt’s latest album, Dancing with Embers, to life. This stunning collection of instrumental pieces weaves together the raw energy of jazz with the rich storytelling of folk, creating something truly special. Featuring collaborations with Rachel Sermanni, Brìghde Chaimbeul, and Charlie Stewart, the album is a journey through emotive soundscapes that feel both intimate and expansive. Join Matt and Fergus for an unforgettable performance, where their lifelong musical bond takes centre stage. Tickets are Pay What You Decide

While emerging via the folk scene,John has long been renowned for his skill at transcending musical boundaries. As a live and studio guest he has shared stages with Bonnie Raitt, Steve Earle, Paolo Nutini and Jools Holland, and featured on recordings by Mark Knopfler, Paul Weller, Ocean Colour Scene and Teenage Fanclub. Film and TV work includes soundtracks for the movie Heartlands & 16 Years of Alcohol, Billy Connolly’s World Tour of New Zealand, Jennifer Saunders BBC sitcom Jam and Jerusalem & Starlings sitcom for Sky TV. John won Radio 2 Musician of the Year in 2003 and also The Sprit of Scotland Award for music in 1999 and again in 2009. John has been a member of Mark Knopfler’s band since 2008, playing arenas around the world including a double bill with Bob Dylan at The Hollywood Bowl & 21 nights at The Royal Albert Hall. His expanding portfolio as a producer includes debut albums by Kris Drever and Idlewild’s Roddy Woomble. He’s also manned the controls for top folk chanteuses Eddi Reader, Heidi Talbot, Eliza Carthy & Linda Thompson. In 2013 John performed as a soloist with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at Proms in the Park, playing his own compositions live on BBC TV. 2016 will see John Celebrate 25 years as a professional musician, publishing a book of his compositions, releasing a new solo record & embarking on an extensive UK & European tour. The John McCusker band features some of the finest traditional musicians and singers in the UK : Andy Cutting, Adam Holmes, Innes White & Toby Shaer.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners, Irish/Manx/Scottish quintet mar are amongst Glasgows hottest folk property. Their most recent release, Awakening (2023) delivers a critically acclaimed third round of the high octane fuel that has energised audiences worldwide, making mar one of the most sought-after folk festival bands (Folk Radio). With a line-up boasting a heavyweight collective haul of top solo prizes including nine All-Ireland and eight All-Britain titles audiences are unfailingly transfixed by mars formidable technical prowess, underpinned by an electric live energy and out-and-out joy of playing together. With a wide-reaching fanbase throughout the UK, Europe, USA and Canada, the quintet fast became one of the trad scenes most talked about groups thanks in no small part to their debut video, LAir Mignonne catapulting the group to the attention of audiences and media worldwide. Adam Brown (bodhrn), Adam Rhodes (bouzouki), Mohsen Amini (concertina), Ryan Murphy (uilleann pipes) and Toms Callister (fiddle) share a strong background in Irish music; a grounding that underpins many of mars distinctive qualities, in both instrumentation and material. Indeed, the groups very being embodies a personal reconnection with its members formative years, dating back long before their recent camaraderie around Glasgows celebrated session scene. The shared cultural heritages between Scotland, Ireland and the Isle of Man are well documented: all three once shared the same Gaelic language, and a similar, clearly potent, kinship endures between their musical traditions. striking musicianship, artful arrangements and sheer absolute delight | Songlines

Discover the unparalleled charm and comedy of Bruce Fummey, where humour meets Scottish history and insightful storytelling. Bruce, the comedian behind the 230k subscriber YouTube channel Scotland History Tours, returns home to Perth with a new show packed with laughs as he explains how Scotland Made the World in his own inimitable style. His unique approach showcases and celebrates Scottish culture and history in a way that will not only keep you fully engaged, but have you roaring with laughter. Every Saturday morning UK-time, Bruce posts a story from Scotland’s history on his hugely successful YouTube channel. This live show will deliver more jokes than you get from the videos, and some might even make you blush, but you’ll leave having learned about Scotland’s role in the world while laughing along the way. Nominated for comedy awards in Australia, at home in Scotland and even named Scottish Comedian Of The Year, Bruce has appeared on ABC series Stuff The British Stole and many UK TV and radio shows.

CODA are Europe's most authentic-sounding and looking tribute to the mighty Led Zeppelin, featuring four musicians who faithfully recreate the excitement, energy, passion and magic of the world's most famous rock band! The attention to detail is unrivalled: they've got the sound, the look, the hair, the instruments and the on-stage mannerisms, you could almost believe you were watching the real thing! Expect all the classics in this two hour show such as Stairway to Heaven, Rock and Roll, Black Dog, Whole Lotta Love and a whole lot more! Dust off your flares and travel back in time with us!

At the forefront of the UK’s world and roots music scene matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse.

Singer/songwriter Kirsten Adamson summons the same heart-stopping purity as Sandy Denny, by way of Emmylou Harris and Kate Bush. Transcendence runs in the family. Her father was Stuart Adamson (Skids, Big Country) and her mother Alexandra, a champion Highland dancer. With summers spent soaking up the atmosphere in Nashville with her dad and a string of leading roles in musical theatre back in the UK, the teenage Adamson’s course was set. She sang backing vocals on Big Country’s last album Driving to Damascus at age 13. By 2010, she was forging her own career as a vocalist and keyboard player for indie-folkers Aberfeldy. She fronted country rockers The Gillyflowers and more recently shone as half of alt-country duo The Marriage, and then on a self-titled solo debut. The austere beauty of her voice has been a constant motif.

Nadia Reid’s Enter Now Brightness is an album of departure and questioning, a reminder that songwriting can transform pain, joy, thoughts, and anger into something new. “I’m so much better off now that it exists,” she says. “Now feels like a new time.” Moving further from her folk roots, Reid establishes a sound distinctly her own—poised and expansive. The title, drawn from a book passage, evokes light breaking through, the feeling of stepping onto a stage, of life beginning. A record of great beauty and change, Enter Now Brightness captures Reid’s evolution, blending textural pop, country-leaning folk-rock, and striking emotional depth.

Katie Gregson-MacLeods unique blend of deeply personal lyricism and folk-influenced sound have earned her a dedicated global audience.

Get ready to experience the jaw-aching, laugh out loud comedy that only Smith can deliver. This is Paul Smith’s biggest and funniest tour show yet, and it promises to have you rolling around in laughter with every joke. The show features a mix of his trademark audience interaction and hilarious true stories from his everyday life.

It has been 45 years since the world was first introduced to all-female 2Tone trailblazers The Bodysnatchers. Despite only releasing two official 7″ singles, their influence on UK culture and music continues to inspire to this day. Highly regarded as a pioneering act of the 2Tone movement, the band frequently toured with the likes of Madness, The Selecter and Toots & The Maytals. Their iconic single ‘Let’s Do Rocksteady’ charted in the top 20 and was even performed on Top of The Pops. Since the band disbanded, Rhoda forged an impressive career forming The Special AKA with Jeremy Dammers. The band are mostly noted for their top 10 hit ‘Free Nelson Mandela’, as well as the harrowing ‘The Boiler’, which Pitchfork has since stated as “2Tone’s most courageous, audacious moment”. After countless tours and a string of very well received albums, Rhoda most recently released Version Girl which was a top 10 record in 2023!

Fay Fife writes from the heart… Of humanity, love, birth, life, death, and all things in between - with earthy lyrics grounded in a mature woman’s perspective. The Countess delivers… Melody! Harmony! A Whole Load of Soul, and some Downright Rambunctiousness! All in a unique, eclectic, country-orientated style. These songs are songs that resonate with our times.

Sometimes, space is the perfect catalyst for intense creativity. Following the release of their fourth LP, 2019’s Your Church On My Bonfire, PAWS – the Scottish DIY indie rock songwriting partnership of Phillip Jon Taylor and Joshua Swinney, toured briefly, and as the world began to shut down, they slipped out of sight. Phillip retreated north to the Highlands where he focused on his painting, solo work and the rewarding demands of fatherhood. Josh headed south to London, pursuing his other passion as a chef at the highly acclaimed Plimsoll. It would have been easy for both to settle into their new lives, but PAWS never died…and neither did the tie connecting the two friends. Having missed playing together for too long, a plan was set and in October 2022 Josh travelled to Phillip’s home studio in his Crofters cottage where work began on the band’s fifth self-titled LP. Relying on a set of phone demos and chemistry honed after years on the road the songs came together surprisingly fast. “Remembering just how much we enjoyed writing and recording together was the driving force” explains Josh. After recording previously with both Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus and Frightened Rabbit’s Andy Monaghan, the band once again seized control of production duties as they had on their second album, Youth Culture Forever. “The thing we were hoping to achieve with making this album was to be able to be creatively free and to have fun writing and recording” Josh continues. “We wanted it to happen quickly and not be a stagnant process.” Utilising all they had learned and adding their own DIY ethos into the mix, the music was done in a week. Josh headed home and Phillip set to work on the lyrics.

AGMP presents Nick Heyward

Mark Simmons combines hilarious one-liners with an irresistible love of performing, to resonate with audiences at virtual and in-person events. His award-winning stand-up is a cut above the rest, setting Mark apart on the booking circuit and leading him to perform on some of the most prestigious comedy stages in the UK.

Born in Dungiven in 1975, surrounded and infused with the rich cultural heritage of her native County Derry, Cara has risen to become one of the finest exponents of traditional Irish song anywhere in the world. Together with her husband and musical partner, Sam Lakeman, she has succesfully steered an eclectic musical path defying the typical pigeonholes that hinder most artists in her genre. Celebrated for entwining traditional and contemporary elements she has earned both commercial success and astonishing critical acclaim. Whether she's singing her native traditional songs of lost love and emigration, or original compositions, you will be hard pressed to find a more emotive and captivating performer. Cara Dillon is at the very top of her field and one has the feeling she'll remain there for a very long time.

She Drew The Gun, winners of Glastonbury Festival Emerging Talent competition in 2016, have become one of the UK’s finest and most exciting acts, delivering impassioned, hypnotic and darkly ornate psych-pop. The show will be the closing event of Stirling Pride, returning bigger and better after a fantastic first year. 2025 will feature the first ever Pride March for Stirling, led by the Community Pride Flag from Kings Park to King Street. About She Drew The Gun: Over three studio albums and nearly a decade, Louisa Roach has built She Drew The Gun into a project that fully lives up to its incendiary name. A place for Roach to explore a visceral musical world informed by influences ranging 80’s electronica, hip-hop, political poetry, and cosmic scouse psychedelia epitomised by hometown heroes The Coral (whose lead singer James Skelly took her under his wing during She Drew The Gun’s early days). Lyrically it’s found her taking aim at the wild injustices she was persistently seeing in the world at large, decrying corrupt conservative governments and rallying for a more empathetic way of living. 2016 debut ‘Memories of Another Future’ was swiftly followed by a crowning as Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition winner; follow-up ‘Revolution of Mind’ was named one of BBC 6 Music’s Albums of the Year, while 2021’s ‘Behave Myself’ saw Clash praising the record as “some of her most finessed and contoured songwriting to date”. But sometimes, life sends you to a place where you have to finally turn your eye on yourself, and it’s with this in mind that She Drew The Gun presents fourth album ‘Howl’. “There’s the side of the album which is the gun, the conscious spoken word, the thoughts and words on living in late capitalism, on war, on historical perspectives,” she explains. “But then there’s the other side of the album which is the heartbreak that I’ve been through, the love songs. I think it’s the thing of trauma being a coin with two sides; it opens up portals for you. The whole album’s got a bit of a magical side to it: witches, spells, the moon, the lovers, the cards being dealt, rituals, mirrors. I feel more connected to the universe and there’s so much that it’s shown me.” 14+, under 18s must accompanied by an adult please

Forged in Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene, but drawing on the music of the Balkans and North America, Dallahan take their listeners on a journey. Traversing styles and countries of the world in a dazzling live show, they create their own unique brand of World-folk delivered with stunning virtuosity.

SLIDE guitarist & songwriter Dave Arcari’s alt.blues sounds owe as much to trash country, punk and rockabilly as they do pre-war Delta blues and have been showcased via six internationally-acclaimed solo album releases.

Songs for Nina and Johanna is the beautiful new album from James Yorkston, his sixteenth on Domino and his third to be recorded in Stockholm in conjunction with members of The Second Hand Orchestra. Nina Persson (The Cardigans), who teamed up with James on his previous critically-acclaimed album, The Great White Sea Eagle, this time divides singing duties with Johanna Söderberg (First Aid Kit), the two of them singing separately with James on five and four tracks respectively. How does an artist approach a new album after over two decades of releasing music? In James Yorkston’s case, he focuses on the things that matter to him; these are songs about family, love and parenthood. He writes gentle, tender melodies that soar and swoop in equal measure and, of course, he ends up being accompanied by two of Sweden’s most recognisable female vocalists. “Who wouldn’t embrace the chance to sing with two great Swedish voices? When the idea for Johanna to join the fold was suggested, I leapt at the chance. Nina and Johanna, they complement, yet never compete. And me? I tried not to get in their way, tried to give them space to interpret the songs as they felt.” Recording sessions began in January 2024 at Studio Rymden under the watchful eye of studio owner and co-producer Daniel Bengtson, who steadied the ship after a sudden illness meant that Karl Jonas Winqvist, leader of The Second Hand Orchestra, was not present during the bulk of the recording. His absence led to an agreement to not use the band’s name for this release. However, members and associates of the collective appear across the record, including guitarist Peter Morén (Peter Bjorn and John), violinist Ullis Gyllenberg and whirlwind saxophone player, Lina Langendorf. Once again, they were joined by drummer Lars Skoglund, who also worked on The Great White Sea Eagle. “I tried to steer us towards as much as structure as possible, and to create a less chaotic vibe in the studio compared to the previous album,” Bengtson explains. “James has a very clear vision which enables whoever is in the session to capture whatever emotion needs to be captured. It made for a very vibey and productive recording session.” Yorkston, appreciative of the feeling that Bengtson creates in the studio, explains, “a studio, for me, should be a place where every idea can be explored and given its own time. A place where musicians can suggest ideas knowing they’ll be listened to and considered. Daniel understands and provides that open atmosphere.” Whereas the band’s previous work with Yorkston was characterised by its improvisation, the sessions for Songs for Nina and Johanna were more structured. “This time James did send a couple of demos, and I felt there was a clearer intent around the album,” explains Morén. As with The Great White Sea Eagle, Yorkston chose to write a number of songs on the piano despite being a more conventionally-talented guitarist. “His limitations as a pianist create a cool style that set the tone for the album,” suggests Bengtson. With the framework and songs in place, the recording process was all-consuming. “We recorded most of the material live in the room, all together, at the same time. It was intense. The energy in the room really comes through on the album, and it’s something that can’t be recreated afterwards. When you get the right take, it’s an amazing feeling,” describes Söderberg. The first fruits of Songs for Nina and Johanna began with Yorkston and Persson, whose extensive touring as a duo had led to the early composition of one song, ‘With Me, With You’. “We could play and hone it on tour. It was nice to work a song before it had been produced,” she recounts. With her trademark voice that fits so seamlessly with Yorkston’s, Persson has never been preoccupied with trying to make Yorkston’s songs her own. “I think of myself more like a storyteller or actor. I enjoy not being a subject and more of a craftsperson in this format.”

Shortly after the end of World War One, the British and Canadian governments came to an agreement. The British armed forces were going to come home to a land fit for heroes. It is well recorded now that this didn’t happen as the Great Depression of the late 1920s destroyed this high-sounding hyperbole. In the Outer Hebrides two events happened within a few years after the end of the war which affected and are remembered by subsequent generations. First, on January 1 1919 there was the HMY Iolair disaster as the fully laden troopship sank with all hands after hitting rocks approaching Stornoway harbour. That removed at a stroke about 200 men of the islands. Few families on the Isle of Lewis did not experience the loss of relatives or friends among the 184 Lewis men who died that day. The bereaved also included some of the 3,100 Lewis men who had served in the wartime RNR. Most of them survived to enjoy the peace, but some lost fathers, uncles, brothers or cousins on the Iolaire. To help crofters migrate in the 1880s the British government committted £10,000. After World War One, it then set up the Overseas Settlement Committee to help ex-soldiers emigrate. In the 1920s and 1930s, the Empire Settlement Act of 1922 provided funds for those who wanted to emigrate. No doubt encouraged by this as well as by stories filtering through from those had already emigrated to the USA and Canada people from the islands keenly signed up. Canada wanted immigrants to help expand the country to the west across the great plains and the Rockies to the Pacific west coast. Enter the Canadian Pacific Steamship company and the SS Metagama, along with their two other ships, Marloch and Canada. The Metagama played a significant role in the 20th century migration of people from the Outer Hebrides to Canada. On Saturday 21 April 1923, she sailed from Stornoway with 300 young Lewis emigrants on board, all but 20 of them young men, with an average age of 22. This was one of the first waves of mass emigration from the islands, and had a profound effect on the island culture and history. The image above shows the crowd at Stornoway harbour to Metgama departing. The show Metagama: An Atlantic Odyssey tells this story in music, song, words and pictures of the islanders’ emigration, its effect on the islands and how some of those who emigrated thrived but others sometimes did not thrive while trying to farm on poor soil!

Sian comprises three of today’s most exquisitely gifted young Gaelic singers – Ceitlin Lilidh, Eilidh Cormack and Ellen MacDonald – accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Innes White. With direct connections among the singers to Lewis, Skye and North Uist, their arrangements match deep feeling for tradition with stunning, boldly imaginative harmony work, which has seen them likened to The Staves and even Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Their self-titled debut album, produced by Donald Shaw, was released in 2020.

Trip trademark sound is dynamic, driven and distinctive and celebrates the band’s roots in tradition, whilst showcasing a contemporary, cross-genre flare. Their tight-knit arrangements blend traditional melodies and self-penned tunes and songs to produce an exciting take on folk music. The impressive line-up features 6 young musicians at the forefront of Glasgow’s traditional music scene, including BBC Young Traditional Musician of the year 2021 and members of FARA, GNOSS, The Canny Band and HEISK. TRIP are Isla Callister (Fiddle), Tiernan Courell (Flute/Whistle), Michael Biggins (Accordion), Alasdair MacKenzie (Guitar/Voice), Rory Matheson (Piano) and Craig Baxter (Bodhrán). At the heart of TRIP’s live performances is an infectious energy and camaraderie that has captivated audiences across Scotland and beyond at festivals such as Celtic Connections, Skye Live, Shetland Folk Festival and Festival Interceltique de Lorient. Recent projects have also seen the band collaborate with the likes of Donald Shaw and The Scottish Dance Theatre and feature in the Celtic Connections 30th Anniversary Concert. Their debut album ‘A Drop for Neptune’, which was released in 2022, was nominated for ‘Best Album of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards. Their continued success in 2023 has garnered a nomination for ‘Folk Band of the Year’.

Tolbooth is excited to announce the return of Interesting Things – A Music Festival for the Curious. Following 2024’s brilliant debut festival, the all-day celebration of boundary-breaking music acts returns to Stirling’s iconic Tolbooth venue this October. With a genre-defying lineup including some of the most exciting live acts from around the UK and beyond, Interesting Things promises to add to Tolbooth’s burgeoning contemporary music scene. Headlining the second edition will be acclaimed electronic producer, visual artist and performer Mun Sing, rising dub-pop trio jabu, and experimental Scottish artist Proc Fiskal, of legendary label Hyperdub. Cementing its reputation as a key showcase of local and Scottish talent, the lineup also features some of the most ground-breaking acts from across the musical spectrum, including the drone-folk of Sealionwoman, featuring London-based but Alloa-born multidisciplinary artist Kitty Whitelaw, experimental composer and performer Alliyah Enyo, Lugas Europ, the solo project of Free Love’s Lewis Cook, and unhinged dadaist doom-poets L. Also appearing throughout the venue’s three specially curated stages will be Stirling’s contemporary classical composer and performer Harry Górski-Brown, the afrodiasporic sound clash of chizu nnamdi, the dark alt-dance of Jock Fox, rising industrial noise duo Mrs Frighthouse, experimental solo project of former Take A Worm For A Walk Week frontman Joseph Quimby Rhins, Stirling post-black metal duo Magagaio, the dream-like ethereal indie of Simone Antigone, the wild and experimental Stirling improv group Ubu Warp Cheer, and an exclusive debut performance from Mental Email, who feature members of The Phantom Band, Pictish Trail, Knome and Headcleaner among their ranks. With further announcements to be made, including details of visual art exhibitions, fringe events, and food and drink offerings by Tolbooth’s own Supper Club, Interesting Things is set for a welcome return to Stirling’s creative scene.

For over 30 years Ivor Novello award winning Boo Hewerdine has been considered one of the UK’s finest singer-songwriters. As lead singer of seminal band, The Bible through to his subsequent solo work and long-time collaboration with the incredible Eddi Reader he has become something of a national treasure. He is in demand as a writer, producer and performer. Over a hundred of his songs have been covered by the likes of KD Lang, Kris Drever, Chris Difford, Duke Special and Hannah Rarity. Heidi has shared the stage and recorded with Mark Knopfler, Graham Coxon (Blur), Eddi Reader, Idlewild, Matt Rollings, King Creosote, Kris Drever, Tim O’Brien and Jerry Douglas. She is equally at home in front of a Symphony Orchestra, performing widely at Arts Centres, Festivals and even at the White House. Nominated for Folk singer of the year and Best Traditional Song by BBC Radio 2, Best Live Act by the Scottish Traditional Music Awards and Best Female Vocalist at The Irish Music Awards. 2023 saw Heidi win Composer of The Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards and in October 2025, Heidi releases her 9th studio album, Grace Untold. On this tour Boo and Heidi will be singing songs new and old with a dash of humour and a good measure of storytelling. Their gigs are always a total joy.

Ryan Young brings new and exciting ideas to traditional Scottish music, receiving international praise for his spell-binding interpretations on the fiddle. His debut album was recorded with four time GRAMMY winner Jesse Lewis (who has worked with the likes of Bela Fleck and Yo Yo Ma) and launched at Feakle Traditional Music Festival in County Clare, accompanied by renowned guitarist, Dennis Cahill (Martin Hayes; The Gloaming). Ryan was nominated for Album Of The Year at the 2024 MG ALBA Scots Trad Awards; Live Act Of The Year at the 2023 Awards, and Musician Of The Year at the 2022 Awards. Ryan brings new life to very old, often forgotten tunes by playing them in his own unique way. He sings through the fiddle and his playing is often described as poetry without words. Ryan’s music is brimming with fresh melodic ideas, an uplifting rhythmic drive and a great depth of dynamics and precision. His sound is very distinctive and takes the listener on an emotional and adventurous journey in any performance. He holds both a first class honours and a Masters degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, was twice a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, and twice a finalist in the prestigious BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of The Year. He was awarded ‘Up And Coming Artist Of The Year’ at the Scots Trad Awards in, nominated for the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and awarded Folking.com‘s Musician Of The Year title. Ryan Young was also the only UK artist selected to perform at the prestigious World Music conference, WOMEX, in 2019.

The Tannahill Weavers are one of Scotland 's premier traditional bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can't get better...yet continue to do just that. The Tannahills have turned their acoustic excitement loose on audiences with an electrifying effect. They have that unique combination of traditional melodies, driving rhythmic accompaniment, and rich vocals that make their performances unforgettable. Over the years the Tannies have been international trailblazers for Scottish music, and their tight harmonies and powerful, inventive arrangements have won them fans from beyond the folk and Celtic music scenes. Inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame in 2011, they are firmly established as one of the premier groups on the concert stage. From reflective ballads to footstomping reels and jigs, the variety and range of the material they perform is matched only by their enthusiasm and lively Celtic spirits.

A dynamic collective dedicated to celebrating the full spectrum of Paul Simon’s musical output; bringing a vibrant energy whilst honouring their timelessness. Delivering hit after hit interspersed with the occasional hidden gem from the vast Simon catalog; his music inspires and acts as a healing force and bound to keep you moving all night and leave you with a smile.

Nominated for Musician of the Year and for Best Album with Vagrant Stanzas at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2014, Martin's shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving. There is no doubt that after 35 years as a professional musician Martin is better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. Martin has been nominated an astounding 31 times in the 15 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards -- more than any other performer -- with 12 nominations for Musician of The Year, which he has won twice. 2008 saw an incredible five nominations for 'Prodigal Son' and two wins, whilst in 2010 he had an unprecedented six nominations for his CD, True Stories and a win for Best Traditional Track, 'Sir Patrick Spens'. Whether playing American old-time music, blues, a Dylan song or his own material, Martin Simpson is unpredictable, individual and a guitarist of immense subtlety.

The Tolbooth is excited to announce the next in the New:Noise series – showcasing the best new musical talent from Stirling, the Forth Valley and beyond. With each night focussing on a specific genre – ranging from indie, electronic, jazz, folk and metal – New:Noise will bring a mix of some of the best and most exciting Scottish acts to Stirling to play with some of the best new local talents. See the full line-up here. F.O. Machete F.O. Machete—Paul Mellon and Natasha Noramly—roar back with Mother of a Thousand, their long-awaited third album, released February 14, 2025, on Last Night From Glasgow. After a lengthy hiatus, the duo returns sharper than ever with ten fierce, hook-heavy tracks that cut through the noise. Preceded by three well-received singles—Confetti Crown, Kicking Up Dust, and Skeletor—Mother of a Thousand has already made a dent in the charts, landing at No. 4 in Scotland and No. 16 on the UK Indie Chart. Recorded with Paul Savage (Chemikal Underground, Mogwai, The Delgados) and Brian MacNeill (Belle and Sebastian), the album captures the raw immediacy of the band’s live sound—dreamy vocals, angular guitars, driving rhythms—and distills it into something urgent, gritty, and alive. Kyn Kyn are a four-piece hard rock and metal outfit from central Scotland, igniting stages with searing riffs, brooding vocals, and a rhythm section that hits like a hammer. Blending the raw energy of Therapy?, the heaviness of Mastodon, and the alt-edge of Smashing Pumpkins, Kyn carve out a sound that’s both melodic and menacing. With a growing arsenal of explosive tracks, they’re bringing their dark, commanding presence to stages across Scotland — loud, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore. Keiran Crosbie Kieran Crosbie was born October 23, 2004, in Stirling, Scotland, and started playing guitar at 12 after being inspired by a recording of John Mayer that he found online. In 2021 he started writing his own music where he refined his skills and gained an understanding of songwriting, that he would share with the world soon after. In 2022, he performed his debut at Prestonfield Stables, Edinburgh. Taking over from Callum Beattie, who played the previous year. In March 2024, Kieran worked with, Artist and Producer, Mark Morrow for his debut album ‘Time to Fly’ which he composed during 2022-2023, and was set for release later that year. He worked with musicians; Rhys Gilchrist (Guitarist), Danny Gilbert (Drummer), Leo Bacica (Bass), Amanda Currie (Violin), and Erin Mcgonigle (Violin). Kieran has stated, “I’m really grateful that I’ve got to work with so many amazing artists for this release. I can’t think of a better way to cut my teeth in the music industry than this”. To date, Kieran has performed for thousands of people at many venues, including NECF Festival, Central Hall, Edinburgh, Prestonfield Stables, Dynamic Earth Dome, Sneaky Petes NxNW, Leith Depot, ESFW and more. In May 2024, he performed at the NECF Festival, which just so happened to be his first time playing at a festival. It was around this time that he began hinting at a change in his musical interests, announcing that “I’ve been thinking about mixing the traditional blues and rock music with the pop music that I’m used to writing for a while now, I’m starting to really see it come through in my music more often now, and I don’t want to stop it just yet because I’m interested to see where it goes”. ​On to 2025 Kieran has a huge range of tour dates which include some of the most notable venues for upcoming musicians in Scotland. Although Kieran has maintained his pop-style song-writing, he has also started to introduce his guitar influences such as John Mayer, Phillip Sayce, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Gregory Allan Isakov and Jimi Hendrix. Kieran self admittedly has kept an opening in his music for a bluesy-rock style and uses traditional blues tones in his songs.

Into The Black set out to capture the spirit and power of one of rock’s most iconic and unpredictable artists. What began as informal jam sessions quickly evolved into a full-blown celebration of Young’s timeless work, especially his collaborations with Crazy Horse — where loose grooves, soaring guitar interplay, and raw emotion take centre stage. From intimate clubs to festival stages, Into The Black have built a reputation for their authentic and heartfelt performances. Their shows cover the full spectrum of Neil Young’s music — from the tender, acoustic beauty of Harvest Moon and Heart of Gold to the electric intensity and ragged energy of Hey Hey, My My, Cinnamon Girl, and Like a Hurricane. With every performance, the band doesn’t simply imitate the records — they interpret them, staying true to the spirit as much as the sound, breathing life into every song and every moment on stage.

Scottish singer-songwriter and Chemikal Underground co-founder Emma Pollock made her name in indie pop outfit The Delgados, who released 5 studio albums before disbanding. In the time since, Pollock has picked up plaudits and acclaim for her unique brand of lavishly lyrical songwriting, all elevated by the honeyed liquid clarity of her voice.

Roo & Neil hit the road again this September to launch their new album, ‘Play it Again’ , which celebrates the traditional tunes that have journeyed with them over their last ten years as a duo. In the wake of their first album HOMELANDS, which blended their shared backgrounds in folk, jazz and classical music, the pair have returned their attention to the folk traditions they were raised with. ‘Play it Again’ sets these melodies without predetermined arrangements, allowing for improvisation whilst keeping the tunes front and centre. The pair have spent the past year immersed in old collections as well as learning tunes from contemporary composers. The album also features tunes written by Roo and Neil that they have been playing for over 10 years together. Over their many years as friends making music together, they have developed a playful andtender approach to performing which showcases these melodies with all the richness of feeling, character and community contained within them. About Roo & Neil: For over a decade, Roo and Neil have combined their shared experience across Classical and traditional Scottish music to create new original music for violin and accordion. Their compositions are inspired by landscape and people, and by how music can evoke a sense of place and community. Their music was selected as a winner of Fèis Rois’ ‘In Tune with Nature’ competition and they were honoured to receive Celtic Connections’ Danny Kyle Award. The duo head to the studio to record their second album in June after the enthusiastic response of their debut ‘HOMELANDS’. They maintain a busy concert schedule performing for jazz, classical and folk audiences alike, from rural touring to venues such as the Usher Hall and the RoyalConcert Hall in Glasgow. They also enjoy a close relationship with charity Live Music Now, bringing dozensof performances to secluded and underprivileged communities

Heralded by Rolling Stone, Billboard Magazine and The New York Times and featured on NPR’s “All Things Considered”, Amy Speace was discovered by Judy Collins, who signed her to her record label and has recorded her songs. She’s the 2020 winner of the AMA UK’s International Song of the Year. Her newest record, “The American Dream,” was released October 18th and became the #1 record and the title track was named #1 song in the FAI Radio Charts for its first month out. Her song, “The Weight of the World” was named the #4 record of last decade by WFUV, NYC. As well, her song, “The Sea and the Shore” was named as one of the 100 best folk songs of the era. She will be releasing a single of Woody Guthrie’s “Plane Wreck at Los Gatos” this summer accompanied by a video, to help raise awareness for the ACLU. A writer’s writer, her forthcoming debut collection of poetry will be published by Red Hen Press in Spring 2027. She holds an MFA in poetry from Spalding University and is a professor of creative writing at Cumberland University. This summer, she published, “To The Performer: A Singer-Songwriter’s Handbook” based on her 20 years of teaching performance.

Constant Follower, the band formed around Scottish songwriter Stephen McAll, first emerged with the acclaimed debut Neither Is, Nor Ever Was on Shimmy Disc. The album was shortlisted for the 2022 Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, followed in 2023 by a second SAY nomination for McAll's collaboration with Scott William Urquhart, Even Days Dissolve.

Ranagri produce an electrifying mix of virtuosic instrumentals, haunting melodies, vivid storytelling and their unique take on old and new folk songs.

The musical evolution of Old Blind Dogs began in Aberdeen in 1992 with roots that grew from the eclectic music scene that flourished in the Granite City during the early 90’s. Four musicians from very different musical backgrounds came together to create a full-time professional touring band with the aim of showcasing the rich tradition of songs and tunes of the North- East of Scotland on an international stage.

Kim Blythe is a cowboy. Not the rugged, western kind but more like a questionable tradesman. Unsure and thriving after selling out across the UK and Ireland, Kim brings her second show Cowboy on tour as she tries to make sense of it all. If you feel like you're constantly winging it through life, then Cowboy is the show for you. If you don't feel like that, it's still a great show, honestly.

An intimate show from Editors frontman Tom Smith, playing songs from his debut solo record and his Editors catalogue.

Pictish Trail, the alias of Scottish pop sensation Johnny Lynch, has resolutely furrowed his own path, steadily creating a unique catalogue of recordings and performances, while eschewing the blueprint of the predictable singer-songwriter in favour of something untidily intriguing.

Singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s evocative debut album Rift navigates the fractured environment of the in-between—those liminal spaces exposed between light and dark, growth and remorse, loss and reclamation. It is a record that makes a strong case for hope, those luminescent silver linings in the dark. Mann’s music reflects the people and places that have shaped and held her—physically, emotionally, and creatively.

Carpet-fitter turned comedian Jack Skipper delivers his debut, Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated, stand-up hour with a show about how he went from a tradesman with no qualifications to a full-time comedian (with no qualifications) – offering insights into the endeavours of a working-class father struggling to navigate his way through life.  Seen on The Stand Up Sketch Show. Tour support for Michael McIntyre and Russell Kane. Over 16 million likes on TikTok.

Beth Malcolm is a singer-songwriter who performs a mix of traditional, modern and her own original Scots songs. Beth spent much of her childhood in a house filled with singing, soaking up old Scots songs like a wee folky sponge. She was named Scots Singer Of The Year in 2022 and has toured extensively as a traditional musician. Kissed and Cried, Beth’s debut album, was released in 2023 to great acclaim and this massively talented young artist now returns with her new show and album, FOLKMOSIS, a musical coming-of-age story that has been writing itself since before Beth could speak. Initially commissioned by Celtic Connections and developed in association with Perth Theatre And Concert Hall into a multi-media performance, FOLKMOSIS unfolds over three acts embracing traditional and new songs, film and spoken word; the story bending and twisting against a shifting soundscape. Act 1 is rooted in the traditional world, like the classic folk songs Beth grew up listening to. Act 2 follows her ‘rejection years’, where she dove into the rich voices of Amy Winehouse, Paolo Nutini and London Grammar. These love songs, sung from the chaos of modern life, were the soundtrack to angsty, heartfelt late teenage years. Act 3 is Beth’s coming of age, her coming home, to the songs and sounds of Scotland, as a now-grown woman. Supported by some of Scotland’s finest musicians from the folk and jazz scenes, Beth’s heart is laid bare in this story.

Live Speaker and Adventure Films. Kendal Mountain Events returns for another season of adventure and human connection. Experience the best of the world’s stunning landscapes through a curated selection of Kendal Mountain festival award-winning short adventure films. But it's not just about exploration, storytelling is at the heart of this event. Alongside these powerful films, adventure speakers and local community groups will take the stage to share their own personal stories, offering a deeper connection to the people behind the adventures. Whether you’re an avid explorer or simply someone who cherishes the power of storytelling and the beauty of nature, the Kendal Mountain Tour 2026 promises to leave you inspired and moved by the shared human spirit of adventure.

Presented by Speakers from the Edge Join legendary climber Leo Houlding for his next new show, Exposed, a gripping live experience with stunning visuals, film, and storytelling from the world’s wildest places. After three decades on the edge of adventure, Leo now explores with his young family—kiting across the Norwegian Arctic, canyoning in the Arabian desert, paddling remote Pacific islands, and spending a week vertical camping with the kids up El Capitan. A story of risk, resilience, and reward—Exposed will inspire you to embrace discomfort, confront fear, and chase your own horizons.

Ruairidh Maclean A.K.A RuMac is a Scottish accordion player who started off playing traditional Scottish music and slowly drifted into a strange mix of genres. From traditional Gaelic Songs to Heavy metal rock there’s no telling what racket will come out of his mouth and box, but slowly the world is becoming aware of his anarchic unique performances and they can’t get enough of it. A weird but fun performer that is always best experienced live… 14+, u18s must be accompanied by an adult

Enjoy an Afternoon of Outstanding Big Band Jazz Prepare for an afternoon of fun as the future stars of jazz in Scotland – and beyond – demonstrate their instrumental skills to get your toes tapping - suitable for the whole family. Formed in 2002, the Scottish National Youth Jazz Orchestra gives Scotland’s best young jazz talents a grounding in the work of jazz masters from Ellington to Corea, from Basie to Shorter and from Miles to Metheny, the SNYJO has advanced the musicianship of over one hundred and thirty young players. Past members include winners of the Scottish Album of the Year Award, the BBC Young Jazz Musician title and the Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year competition and have registered successes in the Scottish Jazz Awards and the Jazz FM Awards and nominations in the Mercury Prize. The orchestra’s albums have won praise internationally and regularly feature in radio programmes across the world and the class of 25/26 continues to impress audiences with individual and collective prowess, giving performances that guarantee excitement, creativity and grooves to make you move.

Weegie Hink Ae That? and Gary Faulds return for another year of hilarious and completely uncensored panto comedy gold. After two consecutive sold-out years, Adult Panto returns — but this time it's tae meet a wizard and ruin another panto classic. "I don't think we're in Castlemilk anymore, Tonto?" Age restriction 16+, u18s must be accompanied by an adult

Tolbooth Attic Hannah Aldridge grew up on the muddy banks of Muscle Shoals - her birthright is music and Alabama. A reckoning between her coming-of-age in the South and a lifetime of trying to create an identity outside of it, her songs strike a delicate balance between rebellion and self-discovery. These two themes weave through Aldridge’s gifted storytelling, making for records that soothe like a lullaby and crack like a whip. For those raised in the Bible Belt, Aldridge’s music sounds like the voice of an old friend who understands. For those not in the know, her music is an initiation to the dark side of the South, Christian fundamentalism and the struggle to forge a future in a place haunted by its past. Daughter of Muscle Shoals legend Walt Aldridge, Hannah started her musical journey as a classically-trained pianist. It wasn’t until her early twenties that she first picked up a guitar and began using music as an outlet to grapple with her demons. With a voice equal parts gritty and melodic, the emerging artist took to the road, entertaining crowds in ten countries and three continents with her acclaimed debut album Razor Wire, superb follow-up Gold Rush and Live in Black and White - a beautifully captured live album recorded in London, England. Aldridge has expanded her artistic vision with the ambitious, cinematic Dream of America, which is set to be released in 2023 on Swedish alternative indie label, Icons Creating Evil Art. A highly collaborative project, produced in three corners of the world with renowned Melbourne based artist/producer Lachlan Bryan, producer/engineer Damian Cafarella and Swedish mix engineer Frans Hägglund, the record peers through the lens of fading Hollywood starlets, charming psychopaths and weary vagabonds - navigating society’s underbelly through dark, romantic vignettes. Hannah’s haunting vocals, assisted by her father’s expert vocal production, deliver a cathartic message of defiance. Hannah Aldridge’s fierce Southern energy reaches through every speaker, whether it’s in a dashboard doing 80 down I-65, a rock club in Amsterdam or a Honky Tonk in her adopted hometown of Nashville. The new album treads a fine line between the genial charm of Americana, and the raw, hypnotic and occasionally electronic stylings of what some might like to call ‘noir indie pop’. It is music for those looking to confront their demons without remaining tethered to them. Deploying a charming blend of power and vulnerability, Aldridge delivers her stories with all the conviction of a church bell ringing out through the streets of a small Alabama town.

2nd August – 27th September Tolbooth Beyond Home – an exhibition by Ron O’Donnell Stirling Photography Festival in partnership with Street Level Photoworks of Glasgow are delighted to present Ron O’Donnell at the Tolbooth Gallery, in his first ever exhibition in his hometown. Ron is a photographic artist renowned for his dazzling constructed and narrative photographs, his images are vibrant, daring and humorous and have touched upon allegory, myth, identity, mortality, and politics. Beyond Home has been curated exclusively for the Stirling Photography Festival and we are delighted that Ron will show new work created especially for this exhibition. " It is with great pleasure and satisfaction that I exhibit my work in my birthplace. For this occasion, a wee retrospective felt appropriate — a journey through images from early work to the present.” Ron Ron’s work has been exhibited widely including at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh; Centro de la Imagen, Mexico City; Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography, Montreal; California State University, Los Angeles; Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem; Walker Arts Centre, Minneapolis. O’Donnell’s work is held in private and public collections including the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh; Victoria and Albert Museum, London; Musée National d’Art Moderne Centre Pompidou, Paris and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow. He has been the recipient of various awards including a Leverhulme Trust research project grant, Creative Scotland Travel grant, and the Fox Talbot Award for photography. Ron is a lecturer in photography at Edinburgh Napier University.

Presented by Stirling Science Festival MŮO is an immersive audiovisual installation by Lomond Campbell which makes use of muon detectors, sensing harmless radiation in the atmosphere. This radiation is created by cosmic rays, which in turn are the result of powerful nuclear events such as black holes, stars exploding and galaxies colliding. These intergalactic events will literally shape the soundscape, light and visuals in real time, inviting the audience to contemplate the invisible force of the surrounding cosmos and the fragility of our own existence here on Earth. “The Muonophone is a machine I built that allows me to make music using muon detectors. These muon detectors pick up harmless radiation caused by cosmic rays interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere. Every time a muon particle is detected, a note is generated. The strength of the muon determines the velocity of the note. From there it gets quantised, filtered, processed and sequenced to create soundscapes.” MŮO Installation | The Muonophone Exhibition credits: University of Glasgow MŮO Performance – Interesting Things Festival – In partnership with Stirling Science Festival Join Scottish artist and musician Lomond Campbell for a unique live performance of MŮO, an audiovisual experience powered by the universe itself. Using muon detectors, MŮO captures cosmic radiation from deep space, transforming it into reactive sound and entrancing live visuals. Performing with his one-of-a-kind handmade instrument, the Muonophone, Lomond creates a constantly evolving sonic landscape, joined by special musical guests throughout the festival. Blending art, science and sound in a way you've never seen before, MŮO is a cosmic journey not to be missed.’

Adriana Brownlee is a leading British mountaineer, certified paragliding pilot and adventure athlete. She is the youngest woman to have climbed the world’s second-highest and arguably most-notorious peak, K2, and the youngest woman to climb all 14 of the 8000m peaks. Adriana will take you on a journey through one of the most hostile environments in the world, where no life can survive, and share stories of near death experiences, highs and lows of her mountaineering journey and everything in between.

Join us at Tolbooth to celebrate Stirling Pride in style. a free, all ages celebration packed with colour, creativity, and community vibes. Expect a mix of activities for everyone to enjoy, Pride themed treats in the café, and a glittering silent disco in our attic space. Come as you are. Everyone’s welcome. Sat 20th Sept 10am to 4pm.