SPRING festivals
tradfest SOUNDING OUT
glasgow zine fest DRAWING ROOM
Talisk Travis Alabanza
Katharine Gemmell hails this year’s Glasgow Zine Fest is a triumph of DIY talent,
Edinburgh Tradfest line-up as Katharine Gemmell discovers
O riginally launched in 2013, Edinburgh Tradfest has its roots in the Edinburgh Folk Festival and has remained a platform for showcasing the very best traditional arts in Scotland (and beyond). Since its inception, the festival has been organised by TRACS (Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland), but last year a question mark loomed over the festival’s funding and future.
Thankfully for the city’s trad aficionados, the festival has been reclaimed by the Soundhouse Organisation, a charitable group that promotes independent music, and is headed up by trustees who are passionate about music. ‘Scotland’s traditional music scene is thriving,’ says Douglas Robertson, Soundhouse founder and programmer of this year’s Edinburgh Tradfest. ‘The calibre of our homegrown artists is exceptional and the demand from audiences is increasing all the time. This is why we wanted Tradfest to continue.’ Award-winning folk band Lankum will open the festival at the Queen’s Hall with their ethereal mix of traditional folk roots, contemporary elements and enthralling storytelling. Other highlights include What A Voice, a celebration of traditional women musicians featuring Kathleen MacInnes, Fiona Hunter and Kaela Rowan, and a double-bill from fiddler Adam Sutherland and Talisk, the 2017 Folk Band of the Year.
Elsewhere, there’s representation across the globe with Grammy Award-winning bluegrass from John Reischman and the Jay Birds, and an appearance from Canada’s supergroup, the Fretless. Events will take place across the city in various venues including Traverse Theatre, Scottish Storytelling Centre and the Queen’s Hall. ‘Scotland’s folk and trad music sits at the core of our cultural identity and is a driving force in our dynamic music industry,’ commented Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland. ‘It’s great to know that Tradfest will continue to showcase this brilliant music to audiences from near and far.’
Tradfest, various venues, Edinburgh, Fri 26 Apr–Mon 6 May.
28 THE LIST 1 Apr–31 May 2019
‘G lasgow Zine Fest is particularly focused on the revolutionary potential of DIY,’ says director Lauren Davis. The two-day festival first began in 2017 and celebrates self-publishing’s DIY ethos through workshops, events and a zine fair. ‘From mural making to mental health, from bookbinding to decolonising drawing, it allows people to learn a new skill or improve upon an existing one,’ explains Davis. ‘Talks by Chardine Taylor-Smith, TabloidArtHistory, and Category Is Books encourage discussion and the sharing of ideas.’
The festival is the brainchild of community-based Glasgow Zine Library, situated on the city’s Southside. It’s a centre for Glasgow’s community of makers, sharers, and doers, and the library uses the annual zine festival to spread its message. For the 2019 festival, with the help of Creative Scotland funding, the programme has expanded and built on earlier incarnations, which has allowed organisers to bring artists from further afield. One example is the appearance of artist Travis Alabanza, one of the UK’s leading trans voices, who will close the first day of the festival with a reading of their critically acclaimed poetry book, Before I Step Outside (you love me). Other draws are politically engaging workshops like exploring the history of black women’s independent publishing, or Jacob V Joyce’s workshop that takes a practical and theoretical approach to decolonising drawing. There are also practical-focused events like the coptic bookbinding and mural-making sessions.
For Glasgow Zine Fest, accessibility is a key component in making sure everyone can be involved. The CCA is a fully accessible venue and the festival works on a sliding scale ticketing system, providing financial flexibility to those who need it. The main event, The Zine Fair, takes place across both days with over 75 makers showcasing and selling their self-published works.
Glasgow Zine Fest, CCA, Glasgow, Mon 20 & Tue 21 Apr.