Trad Music in Glasgow with Maggie Wallace & Callum Forsyth

Episode 80: Trad Music in Glasgow with Maggie Wallace & Callum Forsyth

Let’s go to the pub and listen to some music! Join me for conversations with Trad musicians Maggie Wallace and Callum Forsyth, and live music from a Trad session in Glasgow!

Join me for two conversations with Irish tin whistle player Maggie Wallace and Trad music session host Callum Forsyth about all things traditional music in Glasgow.

First, we’ll hear from Maggie Wallace, a musician hailing from Ireland, who now lives in Scotland and plays regular live gigs across Glasgow, including a weekly session at Sloan’s. Apart from playing, she’s also a tin whistle teacher (in fact, she’s my tin whistle teacher). We talk about the joys of playing the tin whistle, Maggie shares some advice for anyone who wants to start learning an instrument as an adult, and we play two tunes I’ve learned since starting my lessons.

Then, we head out into the big world of Glasgow’s Trad music scene and meet with session host Callum Forsyth at the weekly Drum & Monkey Trad music session. Callum has carried traditional Scottish music with him for a long time – from growing up in a musical family and attending a music high school in the Highlands, to moving to Glasgow and joining the lively Trad music scene in the city. We talk about how sessions are structured, what makes Glasgow such a hotspot for great Trad music, and more.

In these conversations, we cover:

The commonalities & differences between Irish and Scottish Trad music scenes
What it’s like to learn an instrument as an adult
Why Glasgow is such a hotspot for traditional music
How pub sessions in Glasgow are usually structured
and more!

Connect with Maggie on Instagram @mw_ceol, especially if you’d like to take lessons with her near Glasgow! You can follow her band Fuaim @fuaimfolk to find out about their upcoming gigs.

Head to the Drum & Monkey pub in Glasgow for a Trad music session hosted by Callum Forsyth and Craig Harrison, every Sunday from 4-7 pm.

TRANSCRIPT

Disclaimer: All information provided in this podcast is based on personal travel experiences. Companies mentioned in the story or tips were active at the time of release. If you listen to episodes at a later point, note that this information may have changed in the meantime.

Resources

Search for your closest local Comhaltas

Trad music classes in Glasgow: Glasgow Folk Music Workshop

Trad music classes in Aberdeen: Scottish Culture & Traditions

Plockton Music School: Sgoil Chiùil Na Gàidhealtachd

Find sessions everywhere via TheSession.org

A Selection of Trad Music Sessions in Glasgow

Drum & Monkey (city centre): Sunday 4-7 pm
Ben Nevis Bar (west end): Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, 8-11 pm
The Aragon Bar (west end): Sunday evening
The Park Bar (west end): every Thursday from 9.30 pm
The Lismore (west end): Monday and Tuesday
The Islay Inn (west end): Wednesday, from 8 pm. Sunday from 4 pm
The Machair (west end): Tuesday, 8-11 pm
Sweeney’s on the Park (southside): Tuesday, 8.30-11.30 pm
Queen’s Park Cafe (southside): Scandi/Nordic session on Monday, 7.30-10 pm
Waxy O’Connors (city centre): Sunday, 3-6 pm

A Selection of Trad Music Sessions in Scotland

Edinburgh: Sandy Bell’s, daily; The Captain’s Bar, most days; The Leith Depot, regularly on Saturday, 1-4 pm (check their website)
Inverness: Hootananny, Wednesday 8.30 pm & Sunday, 6 pm; MacGregor’s, Sunday, 4-7 pm
Isle of Skye: The Old Inn in Carbost, Wednesday, 9 pm-12 am and Thursday, 8.30-11.15 pm; The Edinbane Inn, Sunday, 3-5 pm
The Glenelg Inn in Glenelg, every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month
The Volunteer Arms in Dunbar, Tuesday, 8-12 pm
Orkney: The Royal Hotel in Stromness, fortnightly on Saturday, 8 pm; The Ferry Inn in Stromness, Sunday, 3-6 pm