Rebellious Truth 2026: Dick Gaughan In briefSpeaker - Dick GaughanChair - Dr Lori Watson (Celtic and Scottish Studies)Title - Muckle SangsVenue - Traverse Theatre (in person) or online via live streamFind out more on the Edinburgh Tradfest websiteThe 2026 LectureOur sixth annual Rebellious Truth lecture-recital in collaboration with Edinburgh Tradfest is by musician, singer, and activist Dick Gaughan- a towering figure in Scottish folk music, respected not just in his home country but across the globe. A singer of rare quality, a peerless guitar stylist, a charismatic performer and champion of social justice, Dick will join Dr Lori Watson (Celtic and Scottish Studies) to talk about his life and career.The event will also include a performance by our Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser Fifield.About Dick GaughanA proud Leither (from Leith, the port town to the north of Edinburgh), Dick Gaughan was actually born in Glasgow in 1948 as his father had a temporary job at Colville’s Steelworks. At 18 months he moved to Leith and through an apprenticeship playing the late 60s folk clubs of Edinburgh (where he still resides) became a professional singer/musician in 1970.Influenced by his mother, a Highland Scot, who sang in Gaelic and English, and his Irish father who played fiddle, the music of the Gaels provided the foundation for own music.Dick’s career saw him recording albums for himself and others, composing music for films and working as an actor and theatre music director. In the early 80s he worked with 7:84 (Scotland) Theatre Company and released his LP Handful of Earth, widely regarded as a classic and quoted by many artists as a seminal influence on their own work.His own songs were recorded by, among others, Billy Bragg, Mary Black and Capercaillie, and he was an early member of Boys of the Lough and Five Hand Reel. In the 1990s he founded Clan Alba, a supergroup also featuring Mary Macmaster, Brian MacNeill, Fred Morrison, Patsy Seddon, Davy Steele, Mike Travis and Dave Tulloch.A man of the people, and an artist whose work reflected and addressed the social and political issues of the age, Dick’s career was cut short by a stroke in 2016.About Fraser FifieldFraser Fifield is a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Scotland, performing on low whistle, saxophone, and bagpipes. His distinctive instrumental voice draws influence from many sources; Scottish folk is identifiably present but also Jazz, Indian, Balkan and more. He currently holds the post of Traditional Artist in Residence at Edinburgh University.From the mid-90’s, Fraser has worked with many artists in the Scottish folk scene, including Old Blind Dogs, Salsa Celtica, Capercaillie, and Karen Matheson, while further afield, Zakir Hussein, Afro-Celt Sound-System, Balkanopolis, and Nordanians.In 2014, his low whistle featured on Montenegro’s Eurovision entry song, followed in 2015 with an award from Hands Up for Trad for Innovation in Scottish Traditional Music. Celtic Connections Festival 2020 commissioned ‘Secret Histories’, performed in its opening concert by the 70-strong Grit Orchestra.Meet our Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser FifieldHow to attendThis is an in-person event at Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. It is now sold out - apologies!However, you can also watch the lecture live on Edinburgh Tradfest's website. A link to the live stream will be published closer to the date.Find out more on Tradfest's websiteRebellious Truth LectureAs part of the SSSA at 70 celebrations, Celtic and Scottish Studies partnered with Edinburgh Tradfest to live stream the first Rebellious Truth Lecture in May 2021.Through presentation and live performance, the Rebellious Truth Lecture explores the importance of traditional arts and the role of traditional artists of all backgrounds and practices in addressing societal concerns: environment, sustainability, identity, social cohesion, health, understandings of economy, employment, education, and diversity.Read our blog post about the first annual Rebellious Truth LecturePrevious lectures in the seriesSpeakerDateVenueThemeJoy Dunlop11 May 2025Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)No Wrong Path: A Gaelic Learning JourneyArchie Fisher12 May 2024Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)Once Upon A Song: Seven Decades of Scottish FolkMischa Macpherson7 May 2023Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)The mental pressures that traditional musicians face, and insights into the joys of playing the music you loveDr Úna Monaghan3 May 2022Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)121 Stories: The impact of gender on participation in Irish traditional musicKarine Polwart10 May 2021Online (live stream from St Cecilia’s Hall)Ecological observations relating to songs and creative projectsAre you interested in studying with us?Home of the School of Scottish Studies Archives, we are the longest established Celtic department in Scotland.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate degrees in Celtic, Scottish Ethnology, Scottish Studies, and Primary Education with Gaelic, or a range of postgraduate programmes, including our Masters by Research in Scottish Ethnology.Find out more about Celtic and Scottish Studies Tags Celtic and Scottish Studies May 10 2026 14.00 - 16.00 Rebellious Truth 2026: Dick Gaughan Join us for the annual Rebellious Truth lecture by musician, singer, and activist Dick Gaughan, with a performance by Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser Fifield. Traverse Theatre 10 Cambridge Street Edinburgh EH1 2ED Scotland, United Kingdom Livestream the event on YouTube This article was published on Tuesday 13 August 2024
Rebellious Truth 2026: Dick Gaughan In briefSpeaker - Dick GaughanChair - Dr Lori Watson (Celtic and Scottish Studies)Title - Muckle SangsVenue - Traverse Theatre (in person) or online via live streamFind out more on the Edinburgh Tradfest websiteThe 2026 LectureOur sixth annual Rebellious Truth lecture-recital in collaboration with Edinburgh Tradfest is by musician, singer, and activist Dick Gaughan- a towering figure in Scottish folk music, respected not just in his home country but across the globe. A singer of rare quality, a peerless guitar stylist, a charismatic performer and champion of social justice, Dick will join Dr Lori Watson (Celtic and Scottish Studies) to talk about his life and career.The event will also include a performance by our Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser Fifield.About Dick GaughanA proud Leither (from Leith, the port town to the north of Edinburgh), Dick Gaughan was actually born in Glasgow in 1948 as his father had a temporary job at Colville’s Steelworks. At 18 months he moved to Leith and through an apprenticeship playing the late 60s folk clubs of Edinburgh (where he still resides) became a professional singer/musician in 1970.Influenced by his mother, a Highland Scot, who sang in Gaelic and English, and his Irish father who played fiddle, the music of the Gaels provided the foundation for own music.Dick’s career saw him recording albums for himself and others, composing music for films and working as an actor and theatre music director. In the early 80s he worked with 7:84 (Scotland) Theatre Company and released his LP Handful of Earth, widely regarded as a classic and quoted by many artists as a seminal influence on their own work.His own songs were recorded by, among others, Billy Bragg, Mary Black and Capercaillie, and he was an early member of Boys of the Lough and Five Hand Reel. In the 1990s he founded Clan Alba, a supergroup also featuring Mary Macmaster, Brian MacNeill, Fred Morrison, Patsy Seddon, Davy Steele, Mike Travis and Dave Tulloch.A man of the people, and an artist whose work reflected and addressed the social and political issues of the age, Dick’s career was cut short by a stroke in 2016.About Fraser FifieldFraser Fifield is a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Scotland, performing on low whistle, saxophone, and bagpipes. His distinctive instrumental voice draws influence from many sources; Scottish folk is identifiably present but also Jazz, Indian, Balkan and more. He currently holds the post of Traditional Artist in Residence at Edinburgh University.From the mid-90’s, Fraser has worked with many artists in the Scottish folk scene, including Old Blind Dogs, Salsa Celtica, Capercaillie, and Karen Matheson, while further afield, Zakir Hussein, Afro-Celt Sound-System, Balkanopolis, and Nordanians.In 2014, his low whistle featured on Montenegro’s Eurovision entry song, followed in 2015 with an award from Hands Up for Trad for Innovation in Scottish Traditional Music. Celtic Connections Festival 2020 commissioned ‘Secret Histories’, performed in its opening concert by the 70-strong Grit Orchestra.Meet our Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser FifieldHow to attendThis is an in-person event at Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh. It is now sold out - apologies!However, you can also watch the lecture live on Edinburgh Tradfest's website. A link to the live stream will be published closer to the date.Find out more on Tradfest's websiteRebellious Truth LectureAs part of the SSSA at 70 celebrations, Celtic and Scottish Studies partnered with Edinburgh Tradfest to live stream the first Rebellious Truth Lecture in May 2021.Through presentation and live performance, the Rebellious Truth Lecture explores the importance of traditional arts and the role of traditional artists of all backgrounds and practices in addressing societal concerns: environment, sustainability, identity, social cohesion, health, understandings of economy, employment, education, and diversity.Read our blog post about the first annual Rebellious Truth LecturePrevious lectures in the seriesSpeakerDateVenueThemeJoy Dunlop11 May 2025Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)No Wrong Path: A Gaelic Learning JourneyArchie Fisher12 May 2024Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)Once Upon A Song: Seven Decades of Scottish FolkMischa Macpherson7 May 2023Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)The mental pressures that traditional musicians face, and insights into the joys of playing the music you loveDr Úna Monaghan3 May 2022Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh; Online (live stream on Edinburgh Tradfest's website)121 Stories: The impact of gender on participation in Irish traditional musicKarine Polwart10 May 2021Online (live stream from St Cecilia’s Hall)Ecological observations relating to songs and creative projectsAre you interested in studying with us?Home of the School of Scottish Studies Archives, we are the longest established Celtic department in Scotland.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate degrees in Celtic, Scottish Ethnology, Scottish Studies, and Primary Education with Gaelic, or a range of postgraduate programmes, including our Masters by Research in Scottish Ethnology.Find out more about Celtic and Scottish Studies Tags Celtic and Scottish Studies May 10 2026 14.00 - 16.00 Rebellious Truth 2026: Dick Gaughan Join us for the annual Rebellious Truth lecture by musician, singer, and activist Dick Gaughan, with a performance by Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser Fifield. Traverse Theatre 10 Cambridge Street Edinburgh EH1 2ED Scotland, United Kingdom Livestream the event on YouTube This article was published on Tuesday 13 August 2024
May 10 2026 14.00 - 16.00 Rebellious Truth 2026: Dick Gaughan Join us for the annual Rebellious Truth lecture by musician, singer, and activist Dick Gaughan, with a performance by Traditional Artist in Residence Fraser Fifield.
