About

Established in 2020, The North Atlantic Song Convention (NASC) is an inclusive international network that promotes, celebrates and supports our North Atlantic song traditions.

The association’s aims and objects are to promote the study and performance of song traditions and associated practice in all its aspects by:

the holding of conventions and events comprising talks, artistic performances, educational workshops, and other associated activities.
the publication of convention and event papers and performances.
the issue of and participation in any other form of publication, including broadcasting, film, video- and sound-recordings.
the encouragement of interchange between scholarship, artistic performance and teaching.
the encouragement of national and international exchanges.
co-operation in programmes of cultural development and/or maintenance initiated in the region.
co-operation and collaboration with other organisations or individuals sharing these aims.

Governance

Hosted by the Scottish Traditional Music Forum of Scotland, NASC has voluntary board members from across the North Atlantic region with several subcommittees and NASC ambassadors. NASC is still evolving and is seeking to grow wider interest and involvement - nationally and internationally.

Please get in touch if you are interested in supporting the aims of NASC.

NASC is primarily funded by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland (TRACS) through Creative Scotland National Lottery multi-year funding.

NASC Board

Brian Ó hEadhra

Co-Convenor / Director
Based in the Highlands of Scotland, Brian Ó hEadhra is an acclaimed singer-songwriter, musician, and educator. He has toured the globe as a professional musician and has recorded on over twenty albums over a thirty-year career. Brian works in the arts, culture sectors from local to international projects, including Director of the Traditional Music Forum of Scotland.

Emma Björling

Co-Convenor
Emma Björling is an award-winning Swedish folk/trad singer, composer, booking agent, and teacher. She runs the festival Nordic Folk Fest and is an active member in a number of organisations and boards within the folk/world scene. She composes music and writes arrangements for choirs and vocal groups all over the world.

Tom Besford

Tom Besford founded the English Folk Expo, which runs Manchester and Rochdale Folk Festivals, hosts online learning platforms and produced the first Official Folk Albums Chart. He is a member of the first European Music Business Task Force, a founding partner of Global Music Match and is on the Manchester Music City steering group. He’s a keen amateur singer and musician.

Esbjörn Wettermark

Dr. Esbjörn Wettermark, a versatile musician and folk music researcher, contributes to cultural policy and music education. Engaged in Access Folk, he focuses on co-production and inclusivity in folk singing, bringing valuable perspectives to the community.

David Francis

Previously the Director of the Traditional Music Forum, David actively engages with and advocates for numerous folk music projects. He's a musician, songwriter and board member the European Folk Network, contributing to the vibrant Scottish and European folk music landscape.

Molly Gawler

Molly Gawler is a dancer, musician, and choreographer from Blue Hill, Maine. Raised in a musical family, she performs with her sisters and has toured with Pilobolus Dance Theater. Gawler has created her own dance work "Droplet Dance" and participates in various singing groups. She is a mother of two residing in Orland.

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