Scottish Independent Music
A treasure hole for music lovers
There is a treasure of musicians in the Scottish highlands, some are more famous than others. This blog was created to shine some light on Scottish musicians, but also on concerts, festivals, album releases and more, so if you are into "homegrown" music, stay tuned!
On this blog we don't discriminate. We look into all genres, ages, genders, ethnicities and religions - the focus lies on music being created and produced here in Scotland, not so much on the history of the musicians.
We love music and music is the language that overcome barriers - it is the language of the soul. With that said it is fine to love the place you live in and that is why we want to focus on music being born here in beautiful Scotland.
Ancient Scottish Music
28 Jul 2021
The history of Scottish music is exceptionally vast. While it is common for people to assume that bagpipes are an intrinsic instrument for Scottish culture, this was not always the case. Earlier musicians utilised cruder objects to produce their sounds. One element that has endured for centuries is using birdsong for inspiration.
Bagpipe Street Performances in Scotland
5 Feb 2020
Being the country's national heritage musical instrument, bagpipes are frequently spotted on the streets of the city of Edinburgh. The woodwind instrument has become a national symbol of the Scottish Highlands. People love the sight of traditionally dressed artists playing bagpipes on crowded streets. It's something not to be missed.
Bagpipe music in Scotland
22 Jul 2019
The history of the bagpipes
Of course, when we think about Scotland and music, one of the first things that comes to mind are the traditional bagpipes, which date back to around 1400! Interestingly enough, the bagpipe actually arrived to Scotland from Europe and is not a Scottish invention. However, it seemed to fit in a lot with local culture, so much so that many Scottish towns had their own official pipers who were paid by local taxes (WhyGo.com).
Bagpipe music today
Bagpipe music seems to pervade Scotland today, infusing the landscape and towns with its power and creating an atmosphere that’s truly unique to the country. It’s not uncommon to encounter street pipers and folk songs played with fiddles, pipes and accordions all over the towns as well as inside the pubs.
If you head to the rolling green highlands of Scotland in Spring or Summer, you’re even more likely to encounter a group of traditional pipers, fully dressed in the traditional attire. In fact, due to the powerful instruments involved, bagpipe music is best heard outside, as it seems to reverberate for miles, adding a touch of the sublime to the landscape. That said, in the Scottish highlands it rains for over 250 days a year, and sometimes it’s not possible to enjoy bagpipe music out in the open. In that case, you might be better off sitting at a traditional pub or in your hotel lounge, and distracting yourself by playing games at a Paypal casino while listening to Scottish music in the background!
Indie Music Scene in Scotland
27 May 2019
Scottish people are very proud of their tradition and history, so it comes as no surprise the locals are keen on supporting indie music groups. If you come to Scotland, you'll be amazed at how artistic the city of Edinburgh is, and how many street performances you come across a day.