FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER @ ST MARGARETS BRAEMAR

Born out of Glasgow’s vibrant traditional music scene, TRIP unite the Celtic traditions of Scotland, Ireland, Northumbria and the Isle of Man. Their sound is dynamic, driving and distinctive, celebrating 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 lineup features 6 young musicians, including BBC Traditional Musician of The Year 2021 and members of FARA, Gnoss, The Canny Band and HEISK. TRIP are Isla Callister on fiddle, Tiernan Courell on flute and whistle, Michael Biggins on accordion, Alasdair MacKenzie on guitar and vocals, Rory Matheson on piano, and Craig Baxter on bodhran. You can see TRIP perform at our Friday night concert in St. Margaret’s, on Friday 3rd October.

SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER @ ST MARGARET’S BRAEMAR

Valtos are Skye natives Daniel Docherty and Martyn MacDonald, and they have taken the Trad and Electronic music worlds by storm. Since their debut shows in December 2021, they have entertained audiences at festivals and sold-out venues nationwide. Their music has been described by Folk Radio UK as "like nothing you've heard before," blending influences from electronic and folk music. Inspired by artists like Martyn Bennet, Peatbog Faeries, Odesza, Madeon, and Bicep, Valtos creates a unique and genre-defying sound.

Valtos' talent and innovation has garnered recognition, seeing them getting to the finals of BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year, earning a spot on The List’s 2024 Hot 100, the title of Up and Coming Artist of the Year award in 2022 and a nomination for Best Live Act 2023 at The Scots Trad Awards. Their dedication and boundary-pushing artistry continue to impress critics and fans alike. Valtos' fusion of traditional, Gaelic and electronic music inspires and reshapes the musical landscape. You can see Valtos perform at our Saturday night concert in St. Margaret’s, on Saturday 4th October.

FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER @ ST MARGARETS BRAEMAR

Winner of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award and MG Alba Scots Trad Music Award for Gaelic Singer of the Year, Mischa Macpherson is ’one of the most exciting and fully rounded talents to emerge from the Scottish scene in many a year’ (Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2). Having grown up immersed in the distinctive culture of the Outer Hebrides, she unearthed her love for music and Gaelic at a very early age, and it is these influences that the singer now presents with clarity and tenderness to audiences around the world. You can see Mischa perform at our Friday night concert in St. Margaret’s, on Friday 3rd October.

SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER @ ST MARGARETS BRAEMAR

Originally hailing from the high desert of Northern New Mexico, Cahalen Morrison has made a name for himself over the past decade as a soloist, in a duo with Eli West, and in his roadhouse country band, Western Centuries. Equally at home on guitar, banjo, mandolin, and singing, he has carved out a place for himself within the country and folk scenes. Cahalen has played gigs and at festivals all over the world, performing on stage at Celtic Connections, Edinburgh TradFest, Shetland Folk Festival, Kilkenny Roots Festival and many more across the globe, showcasing his subtle and accomplished sounds as a multi-instrumentalist and captivating singer. Over the past 10 years, Cahalen has collaborated with many Scottish and Irish musicians, leading to a unique blend of his American roots sound, incorporating elements of Scottish traditional music, as well as jazz and classical genres. We are delighted to be welcoming Cahalen to this year’s Braemar Folk Festival, you can see him perform at St. Margaret’s on Saturday 4th October, at 8pm for our Saturday night concert.

SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER @ THE HIGHLAND GAMES PAVILION

Award-winning Scots singer, Shona Donaldson, is one of Scotland’s leading tradition bearers. Shona grew up in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, and was surrounded by the music and song from the area for as long as she can remember. Shona is a former winner of the MG Alba Scots Singer of The Year, and to date is the only woman to ever win the prestigious Bothy Ballad Champion of Champions competition. Shona is also a talented fiddle player and sought-after tutor, and particularly enjoys singing and teaching local Aberdeenshire songs in Doric. She has performed all over the world, from local Folk Clubs to concert halls around the globe. You can see Shona perform on Saturday 4th October, in the Duke of Rothesay Pavilion Highland Games Pavilion, at 1.30pm.

SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER @ THE HIGHLAND GAMES PAVILION

The Madeleine Stewart Trio are a Glasgow-based band, playing traditional music from both sides of the Atlantic. The trio is composed of Madeleine Stewart on fiddle, Rory Matheson on piano, and Craig Baxter on bodhran. Originally from New Hampshire, Madeleine grew up immersed in the contra dance tradition of New England and developed her uniquely expressing and lively style of fiddle-playing, through influences of her more recent home of Glasgow. Madeleine was a finalist in the 2023 BBC Young Traditional Musician of The Year competition which takes place annually as part of the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow. The trio have been playing together since 2018, and in that time they have released their self-titled album, The Madeleine Stewart Trio, and toured both the UK and Madeleine’s home of New England. You can watch The Madeleine Stewart Trio in the Duke of Rothesay Highland Games Pavilion on Saturday 4th October, at 4pm.

FRIDAY 3RD OCTOBER @ INVERCAULD MEWS BAR

Ellie and Ciar are a fiddle and pipes duo, hailing from Braemar and Dundee. Inspired by piping traditions of South Uist, Ciar plays Scottish smallpipes and Border pipes, as well as Highlands with current Grade 1 World Pipe Band Champions, Inveraray and District Pipe Band. With close ties to Braemar, Ellie released her EP, ‘Dargai’, at the festival back in 2022 and has been at every Braemar Folk Festival since the beginning. The duo were nominees for the ‘Up and Coming Award’ at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music awards in 2023, and have been fortunate to play at festivals and events all over Scotland and further afield - including Celtic Connections, Piping Live!, Music at Paxton, Barbados Celtic Festival and more. You can join Ellie and Ciar for our Welcome Session and Late Night Session, on Friday 3rd October at the Invercauld Mews Bar.

SUNDAY 5TH OCTOBER @ BOTHY CONCERT

Rebecca and Charlie are a harp and fiddle duo based in the thriving traditional music scene in Glasgow. Their debut album 'Thawcrook' recorded in 2022 seen them reach the finals of the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards 'Composer of the Year' category in 2023. The pair experiment with contemporary compositional techniques, creating hypnotic themes and integrating large sections of improvisation within arrangements, which brings an off-the-cuff, conversational feel to tracks such as 'On the Mountain'. 

We are thrilled to welcome Charlie and Rebecca to Braemar once again, for our very special Bothy Concert on Sunday 5th October. Tickets will be on sale soon - watch this space.