Name: EYG Big Band at Edinburgh Tradfest 2024
Start: 2024-05-04T10:00:00+01:00
End: 2024-05-06T22:00:00+01:00
Location: Traverse Theatre

Tickets and registration: https://eygbigband2024.eventbrite.co.uk
Taster workshops – 10am–1pm, 20th and 27th April, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh.
EYG Big Band – 10am–4pm, 4th–6th May, Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh
Performance – evening of 6th May as part of Edinburgh Tradfest's special commission show, Everyone’s Welcome To Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Youth Gaitherin' is back in partnership with Edinburgh Tradfest to offer an exciting opportunity for young musicians in 2024, with support from the William Grant Foundation.
The EYG Big Band is a three-day programme for ages 13–18. It will be led by some of Scotland’s finest musicians, who will support participants to learn traditional music together and create their own arrangements as a group. Our band tutors this year are Kirsty Law, Tom Oakes and Lori Watson, supported by Hailey Beavis and Shea Martin.
New for 2024, there will be two optional taster workshops in advance of the EYG weekend, where young people can try out some music-making together and get to know each other and the tutors. We'd particularly encourage those who are newer to playing music to come along to these – however, all levels will be catered for by our experienced team of band and support tutors. Young people are welcome to attend one or both dates, in addition to the Big Band weekend or as a standalone musical experience.
This event is for young people who want to develop their skills on their instrument, play with other young musicians, sing, write their own songs and learn tunes. There will also be exclusive performances and Q&A sessions from some of the acts appearing at Edinburgh Tradfest. EYG Big Band is all about creativity, making friends through music and having fun.
We are looking for young people who are at roughly intermediate level on their instrument (around 2+ years' experience) who would like to learn about and play some folk music. Singers are welcome and encouraged, too; this year there will be also be the opportunity to try songwriting. Don’t worry if you’re new to traditional music; the Big Band is for young people who are already comfortable playing their instrument but their experience can be from any style of music. Participants must have their own instrument and should also bring along their own lunch each day.
This year we have a number of ticket options to enable young people to attend EYG Big Band and the additional taster workshops:
Free places
Pay What You Can – whatever is available to you at this time. This ticket option also works as a Donation, if you would like to support another young person to attend. William Grant Foundation are lending us their generous support to subsidise more places. Without this, a place at EYG Big Band would be around £350 per person.
Partially-subsidised £60 + booking fee
General ticket £150 + booking fee
If you have any questions about the event or would like more information, please contact Sarah Hayes at [email protected]. Please get in touch if you would like to discuss any additional support measures for you or your young person attending EYG Big Band and Taster workshops 2024.