Lanterns for the Gloaming: An Autumn Folklore Workshop

As the days grow shorter and the air carries the scent of firesmoke, join us for an afternoon where story, song, and craft meet the deep-rooted folk traditions of Scotland’s autumn.

We’ll gather first around folk belief and folklore led by Scott Richardson-Read () exploring the ways Scottish communities marked the turning of the seasons from charms for protection to whispers of spirits wandering the liminal spaces.

Then, guided by , we’ll shape our own willow and paper lanterns inspired by what we have heard.   

As we craft our lanterns we’ll learn a special seasonal folk song together taught by and , that will then carry us into the dusk in procession, to the concert at Greyfriars at 6pm Three Steps Hame: Into the Gloaming Grey, our voices and lights rising as one in honour of the gloaming.

This is an invitation to step into the story, to make something with your hands, and to walk out into twilight with a flame of your own and join us later for an evening concert with your lanterns in hand.

A ticket for this workshop entitles you to a free space at the concert at Greyfriars included in the ticket price.

Anna is a basketmaker who loves making string, and who works with local plants where she lives in rural Northumberland. These may be found, foraged or cultivated, from moors, meadows, woods, waysides and gardens. Materials include leaves, grasses, rushes, roots, moss, straw and bark. They all have their stories to tell and directions to follow.

Anna brings a deep love of plants and respect for the natural world to her work. She is fascinated by the relationship between people and plants and seeks to explore and deepen these connections.

Maya McNeil is a California born queer Scottish-American songwriter, vocalist, healing artist, and award winning filmmaker.  In folk-song craft & healing work, their artistry endeavors for the collective recovery and revival from systemic corruption, creatively, with an ear to the Earth. Lauded as ahead of their time, McNeil does not draw within the lines of short of a singular genre. Their debut album, ‘Waiting For The Light To Change’ speaks for itself. Find it on Bandcamp, and select singles on all streaming platforms. “It's a folk singer's job to comfort disturbed people and disturb comfortable people.” -Woodie Guthrie www.mayamcneil.com @maya_mcneil_music

Fiona Soe Paing's crossover folk-theatre performance Sand, Silt, Flint brings to life the acclaimed album of the same name, described by Iggy Pop on BBC6 Music as "advanced, and beautiful" and with glowing reviews from The Guardian, The Scotsman and Songlines Magazine. Scotland's darker ballads and folklore  are reframed in a cinematic fusion of music, myth and moving image.  Melding otherworldly vocals, recorded contributions from some of Scotland's finest traditional instrumentalists, electronica textures, archive audio and striking visuals, by film-maker Isla Goldie, Sand, Silt, Flint conjures a mesmerising brew of tradition and innovation.   

Scott Richardson-Read is a queer working-class writer, folklorist, and alternative cultural historian with a deep connection to Scotland’s folk heritage. As the creator of Cailleach’s Herbarium, a platform dedicated to reviving and preserving Scottish folk traditions, Scott has spent years researching and sharing the stories, practices, and beliefs that define the working-class and animistic roots of Scottish culture. His work reflects a blend of deep archival exploration, oral history, and personal experience in the landscapes of Scotland.

With a background steeped in human rights, ecology, activism, and traditions, Scott’s writing bridges the past and present, offering fresh insights into the enduring significance of folk belief. Throughout his decades-long journey, he has continued to advocate for the preservation of Scotland’s sacred sites and cultural heritage.

When not writing, Scott often explores Scotland’s wild spaces, old libraries, and archives, drinks tea with his cats, or engages with vibrant communities that keep traditions alive.

Scott is the author of two books, The Tales of the Taibhsear (2018) (and an associated album) and released this year, Mill Dust and Dreaming Bread – Exploring Scottish Folk Belief and Folk Magic (2025).

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Grassmarket Community Project, 86 Candlemaker Row, Edinburgh, United Kingdom