Open sessions in Scotland

Here’s a list of folk music sessions I’m aware of that are happening regularly around Scotland. If you’re thinking of joining a session on this list, please check online to see if it’s still running. These things have a habit of changing over time. While I aim to keep this list up to date, changes may happen without me being aware of them.

If you know of any changes to the details below, or know of any other open sessions in Scotland that are not already on this list, please contact me to let me know

If you want to join a session, and you’re not familiar with how sessions run, it’s worth reading about session etiquette before you go along to one!

Page last updated: June 2022

Sessions in Scotland

Shetland
Facebook group for Shetland sessions

Skye
North Skye Music Sessions Facebook page
The Old Inn, Carbost – Wednesdays (April to October).
The Edinbane Inn, Edinbane – Wednesdays (April to October).
The Old Inn, Carbost – Thursdays 9.15pm – 12.30am
The Old Inn, Carbost – Fridays
The Edinbane Inn, Edinbane – Fridays (April to October)
The Edinbane Inn – Sundays 4-6pm

Arisaig
Arisaig Hotel – Friday evenings from 9pm Arisaig Hotel Facebook page

Fortrose
The Anderson Inn – every second Sunday evening from 9pm Anderson Inn website

Fort William
The Ben Nevis – Tuesdays
The Grog and Gruel – Fridays

Ballahulish
Clachaig Inn – Sundays

Dingwall
Tulloch Castle – Monday evenings, term time  Feis Rois website

Struy
Cnoc Hotel – 1st Friday of the month Cnoc Hotel Facebook page

Inverness:
The Gellions – Tuesdays from 9pm Facebook group
Hootanany’s – Wednesdays from 9pm. Pub Facebook page
MacGregor’s Bar – Sundays from 5pm MacGregor’s Bar website

Aberdeen:
Facebook group for Aberdeen sessions
Aberdeen trad sessions website
The Blue Lamp – Monday evenings
Cove Bay Hotel – Wednesdays, 9pm-11pm
Blackfriars -Thursdays, 8pm till 1am

Banchory:
The Stag, Banchory – 2-6pm one Sunday a month

Brechin:
The Caledonian – Friday evenings once a month (? last Friday of the month?)

Kirriemuir:
Three Bellies Brae – Tuesday evenings.

Dunkeld:
Perthshire Tunes Facebook page
Facebook group for Dunkeld sessions

Dunning
The Dunning Hotel, Perthshire – Monday nights 8 pm

Burntisland:
The Star – 2nd Saturday of the month 8-11pm Pub Facebook page

Edinburgh:
Facebook group for Edinburgh sessions
Sandy Bells – every evening from around 9pm
The Royal Oak – regular sessions most nights
Captains bar – regular sessions most evenings
Sandy Bells – Mondays 6pm – fiddle-led session
The Black Cat, Rose Street – Monday evenings
The Diggers – 1st Tuesday in the month from 7.30pm
The Black Cat, Rose Street – Wednesday evenings
Canon’s Gait, High St – Wednesday evenings
The Diggers, Angle Park Terrace – Wednesday evenings from 9pm
Leslie’s Bar, Causewayside – Wednesday evenings
The Black Cat, Rose Street – Thursday evenings
The Antiquary, St Stephen St, Stockbridge – Thursday evenings
The Golden Rule –
Sofi’s, Southside – Scandi Session, fourth Sunday of the month, 2-5pm. Session website
The Waverley Bar – Sunday 3-7pm
Sandy Bells – Sunday afternoons from 4pm
The Black Cat, Rose Street – Sunday afternoons
Ensign Ewart, Lawnmarket – Sunday evenings

Aberlady:
The Old Inn – every 2nd Sunday from 1-3pm

Kirkliston:
Newliston Arms – Monday evenings

Linlithgow:
Black Bitch – 1st Thursday of month from 8pm
Black Bitch – 3rd Sunday of month from 2pm

Glasgow:

Islay Inn, Argyle Street – Mondays 9pm-midnight GFW website
Lismore bar – Tuesday evenings from 9pm Pub Facebook page
Knolls Kitchen Bar – tutor-led session. Alternate Tuesdays 7.30pm GFW website
Ben Nevis – Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays 9pm
The Botany – tutor-led slow session Thursdays (once a month) 8.30pm GFW website
Ivory Hotel – 1st Thursday of the month 7-9pm
The Park Bar – Thursday evenings from 9.30pm
Bam cafe, Nithsdale Rd – Friday afternoons, from 4-7pm Nordic tunes session Session Facebook group
Ivory Hotel, Camphill Avenue, Friday evenings 9pm-midnight
Babbity Bowsters – Saturdays, 2pm
Waxy’s – Sundays 3pm
The Dram, Woodlands – Sunday evenings

Paisley:
Facebook page
Bull Inn, New Street – Monday evenings.

Lochwinnoch:
The Brown Bull and The Corner Bar – Sunday evenings from 8.30pm (runs in alternate venues, every fortnight).
Facebook page

Largs:
The Waterside Pub – once a month on a Sunday 2.30pm – 5pm
Facebook group

Gigha:
Gigha Gallery – every Sunday from 2pm

Other resources
Scottish Folk Music website – link to section on folk clubs and sessions around Scotland. Click on the tab for folk music sessions to see where they’re held.

Many Box and Fiddle Clubs also welcome visitors

 

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