Pre event Communal Walk / Sing

The early bird gets the worm!  For anyone new to NASC or able to join this informal walk to Calton Hill. Note that this walk may take up to 2 hours and have some steep inclines.  Participants are responsible for their own safety.  Information & Tickets.  

Registration and Networking

Register/buy tickets at the box office.  Remember to select the events you will attend (required for numbers). Speak to NASC board members and meet previous and new attendees.  Information & Tickets. 

Keynote Address - Angeline Morrison

Angeline is an award winning folk singer, songwriter, arranger and multi-instrumentalist with Jamaican, Hebridean and English heritage. She approaches the traditional songs of Old Albion with deep respect and curiosity, honouring the Ancestors who have traditionally been absented from the song canon. Her 2022 album The Sorrow Songs: Folk Songs of Black British Experience was The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Year.

Recently listed in MOJO as one of their “voices taking folk into the future”, Angeline believes in the power of enchantment for decoloniality.

This keynote explores the universality and healing power of song, and how song becomes a shared language that connects people across time, place, and culture.

If time, there will be an opportunity for Questions and Answers at the end of the keynote address. Information & Tickets.

Scottish Gaelic Song Workshop - Claire Frances MacNeil 

Claire Frances MacNeil, raised in Barra and Fort William, is a distinguished Gaelic singer and multi-instrumentalist renowned for her deep roots in Gàidhlig tradition. The first MMus Gaelic Song student at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, she is celebrated for her engaging performances and research-driven interpretations. Winner of the 2024 Royal National Mòd Gold Medal, Claire Frances has appeared at major festivals and works as a tutor, performer, and production assistant, sharing her passion for Gaelic music and culture. Information & Tickets. 

Panel Discussion: Singing with Sources - Ethics, Archives and Living Communities

With: Esbjörn Wettermark (moderator), Angeline Morrison, Hazel Marsh, Dave Francis. 

Who do we credit, ask, and repay when we learn songs from recordings, books and living singers? This conversation focuses on permissions, attribution, language care, respectful adaptation and giving back to the people and places that carry the tradition. 

The panel will start with a screening of the short film ‘A Basket Full of Eggs’ which follows Romani dancer and journalist Liza Mortimer as she explores the folk music archives at Cecil Sharp House to uncover her family's forgotten story. Information & Tickets. 

Swedish Song Workshop - Óskar Freyr Guðnason

Krokar, blåtoner och krus (Hooks, blue notes and frills)

Join Óskar Freyr Guðnason, the up-and-coming star singer, for a workshop exploring the richness of songs sung in Sweden. Óskar will teach songs from his extensive repertoire of hymns, herding songs and lullabies and guide us through distinctive features such as ornamentation, phrasing, articulation and intonation. The workshop is open for all levels, whether you are familiar with or new to Swedish singing. Information & Tickets. 

Skills Sharing Session: Learning, Retaining, and Passing on Traditional Songs

Join Emma Björling (moderator), Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen, Gemma Khawaja, and Bennett Konesni for an insightful session exploring the diverse approaches to learning, retaining, and transmitting traditional songs. Each speaker will share their personal perspectives and methods, followed by an open discussion inviting participants to contribute their own experiences and practices. The goal is to encourage open exchange, practical learning, and a deeper appreciation of the ways traditional songs continue to thrive from one generation to the next. Information & Tickets. 

Connections & Conversations

Take time to relax and connect with fellow delegates in an informal setting. Enjoy a drink, exchange ideas, and make new acquaintances. This is a great chance to form dinner groups, share experiences, and build lasting professional and personal connections within the traditional song community. Information & Tickets. 

Open Song Circle

Join us for a welcoming and inclusive gathering where everyone is invited to share songs, listen, or simply enjoy the atmosphere. You will hear songs from diverse languages and cultures from regions across the North Atlantic.  This song circle encourages participation without pressure. Information & Tickets.

North Atlantic Singing Session

Join fellow singers and song enthusiasts for an evening of shared songs, stories, and camaraderie in a cosy pub setting. 

Note that this venue has stairs up to the first floor and could be challenging for anyone with mobility issues. Be aware that the venue can get loud and crowded. Please get in touch if you have any questions.  

Due to the size of the venue, priority will be given to Full Weekend Pass-holders.  £10/£8 for non weekend pass holders. Pay on entry (not available on website). Information here.  

Norwegian Song Workshop - Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen

Join acclaimed singer and folk musician Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen for an engaging workshop exploring the vibrant song traditions of Folldal, Østerdalen, and Trøndelag. Drawing on her award-winning career and deep family roots in Norwegian folk music, Synnøve will guide participants through a few choice songs whilst discussing singing techniques and approaches to singing traditional songs from Norway.  Information & Tickets. 

Panel Discussion: Safeguarding Song: Traditional Singing and UNESCO's Living Heritage Framework

Join Steve Byrne, Esbjörn Wettermark, Claire Frances MacNeil, and moderator Tom Besford for a thought-provoking panel exploring the role of UNESCO’s Living Heritage Framework in preserving and promoting traditional singing practices. Panellists will discuss the challenges and opportunities involved in recognising song traditions as intangible cultural heritage, sharing insights from their work in research, policy, and community engagement. Information & Tickets. 

Open Discussion: Leading and Supporting Participatory Singing – A NASC Approach to Positive Engagement and Sharing

Join NASC board members including Jana Lohrová, Molly Gawler, Dave Francis, and Emma Björling for an open discussion focused on effective ways to lead and nurture participatory singing sessions. Grounded in NASC’s commitment to inclusivity, respect, and cross-cultural exchange, this session will explore practical strategies for fostering welcoming environments where everyone feels encouraged to contribute and share songs. Panellists will discuss approaches to facilitation, building trust, and celebrating diversity within singing communities, drawing on experiences from North Atlantic traditions. Information & Tickets. 

Irish Gaelic Song Performance and Q&A

Supported by Ealaín na Gaeltachta, this special session welcomes three traditional Irish Gaelic singers Cathal Ó Curráin, Ellen De Burca, and Órla Ní Fhinneadha to share their practice, regional styles, and the living traditions that shape their work. Hosted by Brian Ó hEadhra and Ceara Conway, the event will feature song performances, context on song lineage, and an open Q&A. Attendees will gain insight into Irish-language repertoire, ornamentation, and transmission within communities. Information & Tickets.

Open Song Circles

We’ll host three concurrent song circles so you can choose a smaller, more intimate space that feels comfortable. Each circle will be welcoming and lightly facilitated, with room for sharing songs, listening, and joining in when you wish. There’s no pressure to sing—drop in, settle, and take part at your own pace. Information & Tickets. 

Worksongs Workshop - Bennett Konesni

Join Bennett for a participatory singing session exploring songs that make work lighter, stronger, and more joyful. Actively singing  in the sea shanty, farming, and forestry traditions of his native Maine, USA, Bennett draws on 30 years of experience leading and learning worksongs in his home fields, forests, and aboard boats, as well as research across more than a dozen countries. Information & Tickets. 

Scots Song Workshop - Steve Byrne

Drawing on his work with Malinky, the School of Scottish Studies, and Tobar an Dualchais, Steve Byrne will offer a practical session covering core repertoire, styles, and language, with brief historical context and plenty of guided singing. Suitable for all levels—come to listen, join in, and gain insights into Scotland’s rich Scots song tradition. Information & Tickets. 

Concert - The North Atlantic Song Connection

Enjoy an intimate evening of traditional song from across the North Atlantic—unamplified, immediate, and unforgettable. International and local singers will gather together on stage to share ballads, work songs, and chorus favourites in a celebration of voice, language, and place. Audience members are warmly invited to join in true NASC style. Information & Tickets. 

Singers include: Steve Byrne (Scotland); Synnøve Brøndbo Plassen (Norway); Angeline Morrison (England); Bennett Konesni (USA); Claire Frances MacNeill (Scotland); Óskar Freyr Guðnason (Sweden), Ellen De Burca (Ireland), Órla Ní Fhinneadha (Ireland), Cathal Ó Curráin (Ireland).

North Atlantic Singing Session

Join fellow singers and song enthusiasts for an evening of shared songs, stories, and camaraderie in a cosy pub setting. 

Note that this venue has stairs up to the first floor and could be challenging for anyone with mobility issues. Be aware that the venue can get loud and crowded. Please get in touch if you have any questions.  

Due to the size of the venue, priority will be given to Full Weekend Pass-holders.  £10/£8 for non weekend pass holders. Pay on entry (not available on website). Information here.

North Atlantic Song Convention - Annual Meeting and Future Planning

Join us for the NASC Annual Meeting, where attendees can share their experiences, reflect on the convention, and help shape the future of the North Atlantic Song Convention. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with fellow participants, exchange ideas, and discuss next steps for fostering collaboration and celebrating the song traditions of the North Atlantic region. Information & Tickets.

Song Circle Finale

Bring the North Atlantic Song Convention to a heartfelt close with our final song circle. Whether you’d like to sing, listen, or simply soak up the atmosphere, this is the perfect way to wrap up the convention in true NASC spirit. Information & Tickets.