The second North Atlantic Song Convention took place at the Scottish Storytelling Centre in Edinburgh, Scotland between 28-30 April 2023.
The event saw singers and supporters from far and wide congregating to discuss, learn and share our song traditions. There were talks, workshops, panels, song circles, concerts and more.
This convention supports, encourages and develops three main audiences:
1. Grassroots community and non-professionals.
2. Academics, educationalists and archives.
3. Professional artists and industry.
The North Atlantic Song Convention is grateful for the support from Creative Scotland Heritage Lottery Fund and the Traditional Music Forum as member of Traditional Arts & Culture Scotland. Thanks also to Northern Streams Festival of Nordic & Scottish Music, Song & Dance.
Registration (now closed)
Please register for the convention via the Scottish Storytelling Center Website.
The fee for attending the whole event is £50 UK or £25 Concession - Students, Unemployed, OAP).
If you would like to attend one or only a few events then you can make a payment of £7.50 per event to our Paypal account here. You then need to email us to let us know what event you will attend.
NORTH ATLANTIC SONG CONVENTION 2023 Schedule
Thursday 27th April (bonus event)
Northern Streams Festival of Nordic and Scottish Music & Song Concert at the Scottish Storytelling Centre
Featuring Danish Folk Awards Winners - Duo Fromseier & Hockings (Ditte & Sigurd) – Fiddle/Guitar/Song and The Låtmores – Paul Sinclair, Fiddle (Scotland) & Janeta Österberg, Accordion (Finland).
Tickets are £14 (£12) but NASC ticket holders can use the code TMSA10 to claim for ticket for only £10! If buying through the online channel you have to to select a full price ticket and then enter the code at checkout available here or supply the code to the box office if booking on the phone or in person.
Friday 28th April
1300-1400 Welcome & Registration
1400-1430 Keynote speaker - Margaret Bennett
1430-1530 Panel & Q&A - Participation in Folk Singing Today
Esbjörn Wettermark, David Francis, Emma Björling
Workshop - Danish Folksong - Ditte Fromseier
With thanks for the support from the Northern Streams Festival
1530-1600 Break/Networking
1600-1700 Workshop - Swedish Harmony Singing - folk’appella with Kongero
Discussion - The Folk “Industry” A Perspective - Tom Besford &
Brian Ó hEadhra
2000-2200 North Atlantic Folk Song Club (SSC Court)
Saturday 29th April
0945-1000 Welcome
1000-1050 Panel - Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion in Folk Song
Catriona Hawksworth (BIT Collective) / Grace Stewart-Skinner / Lotta Andersson
1100-1200 Workshop - Acadia/Quebecois Song Tradition - Seán Dagher
Discussion - Folksong in Education - Christina Stewart & Anna Wikenius
1215-1315 Workshop - Irish and Scottish Gaelic song - Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich
Workshop - English Folk Song Tradition Today - Alice Jones & Bryony Griffith
1315-1400 Lunch
1400-1515 Concert (SSC Theatre)
Brian Ó hEadhra & Fionnag NicChoinnich | Kongero & Seán Dagher | Scott Gardiner
1530-1700 Networking / Song Circle (Theme: Songs of the Sea)
2000-Late Pomegranet Festival Cèilidh Dance (SSC Court)
NB Dances will be called and demonstrated
North Atlantic Folk Song Club (The Canon’s Gait)
Sunday 30th April
1100-1230 NASC General Meeting and Future planning. All welcome.
1230-1400 Folky Edinburgh Walking Tour with Donald Smith
1400-1700 Open NASC & Northern Streams Festival Session (SSC Court)
Travel & Accommodation
The Scottish Storytelling Centre is based at 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1SR and is just a five-minute walk from Waverley train station and central bus/tram stops. The bus station is a ten-minute walk away.
There are many hotels, hostels and self-catering options in the centre of Edinburgh. Use your normal travel app to find accommodation or use Google Travel.
NORTH ATLANTIC SONG CONVENTION 2023 - Press Release 21 Dec 2022.docx