SCOTTISH traditional music is continuing to enjoy a resurgence, with the vast majority of the population believing it’s a vital part of the country’s culture and heritage, new research has revealed.
More than three-quarters (79%) of Scots say they feel a sense of cultural connection when listening to Scottish traditional music, 88% believe preserving it is important and 61% express interest in supporting efforts to promote and preserve it.
Interestingly, the enthusiasm is notably higher among younger generations, with millennials most likely to express interest in such initiatives.
The report by VisitScotland found 61% of Scots believe the genre is gaining more popularity and 56% stated they are inclined to listen to more trad music in the future.
READ MORE: Musician's 'awesome' take on Scottish trad music goes viral
It highlights that more than a third of Scots (34%) have started listening to it more often in the past year.
The research also found that 84% of respondents believe preserving trad music ensures future generations have a connection to their roots and cultural identity, while an additional 82% believe that it fosters a sense of community that brings people together.
More than half (54%) of people say they prefer listening to Scottish traditional music live and 65% say they would consider attending a live performance this year, with 49% open to travelling to different parts of Scotland to experience it.
Festivals to choose from include Celtic Connections, Orkney Folk Festival, Edinburgh Tradfest, Shetland Folk Festival, Stonehaven Folk Festival and HebCelt to name a few.
Trad music can also be heard at various smaller venues and local bars such as MacGregor’s Bar in Inverness, Alhambra Theatre in Dunfermline, The Ceilidh Place in Ullapool, Bothy Bar in Kirkwall and The Taybank in Dunkeld.
On average, people were found to be planning to attend three live Scottish trad music performances this year.
Blair Teska, of Scottish trad band Tuath Scot, said the research was more evidence of a cultural revival.
“Scottish trad music has experienced a remarkable resurgence of late, captivating audiences spanning multiple generations,” said Teska.
“It’s not just a trend, it’s a cultural revival. As more artists embrace and contribute to the genre’s resurgence, the cultural legacy embedded in Scottish trad music is being brought back to life for today’s audiences.”
He added: “The music scene is thriving, evident not only in chart success but also in the rising number of festivals and live music events dedicated to the genre.
“You can really feel the excitement for it at festivals and live performances, with a growing audience showing a keen interest. There is nothing quite like reaching out to all areas of Scotland with our music and are proud to represent the LGBTQ+ community with the richness and diversity of Scottish trad music.
“This music acts like a time capsule, connecting our past with our present. Each note and melody serve as a vessel, preserving the stories, traditions, and spirit of Scotland’s musical heritage.”
To explore more about the rich history of Scottish trad music and find live events, search traditional music on www.visitscotland.com
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel