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Beyond the Tradition at Celtic Connections 2026

BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra with special guests

It’s usually hard to decide, as there are so many concerts on over the festival’s weekends, which concerts to attend. This year I decided to attend Friday’s concert which brought together the Scottish Symphony Orchestra and five outstanding Scottish folk singers to perform new orchestral arrangements by Pippa Murphy, Kate St John and conductor-arranger Greg Lawson.

Emily Smith, Kris Drever, Karine Polwart, Fiona Hunter, Janice Burns, Lori Watson, John Doran, Scots folk singers, performed at a Tribute night to Dick Gaughan,True and Bold, at Celtic Connections 2026 Photo Pauline Keightley

Six singers of traditional ballads were acclaimed Scots folk singers: Karine Polwart, Kris Drever, Lori Watson, Janice Burns with guitarist Jon Doran, Emily Smith and Fiona Hunter.  Backed by House band – Duncan Lyall (double bass), David Mulligan (piano), Calum MacCrimmon (whistles & pipes), Anna Massie (guitar).

Kris Drever, Scottish folk singer, performed at Beyond the Tradition, with the Scottish Symphony orchestra, Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

Drever performed two of Dick Gaughan’s favourite Burns songs – Westlin Winds (written when Burns was only fifteen) and Parcel of Rogues. One is about nature and love, while the other is about deceit and betrayal. Celebrating Burns many varied writings – from satire, humour, reform, political, nature, equality and rights for all.  And his own story telling song Scapa Flow.

Emily Smith, Karine Polwart, Fiona Hunter, Janice Burns, Scottish folk singers, performed , with the Scottish Symphony orchestra, a at Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

Emily Smith sang with her clear, intimate voice the ballads Clerk Saunders and King Orfeo. Janice Burns impressed along with guitarist Jon Doran, the dramatic bothy ballad, Johnny My Man, and the popular song She Moved Through The Fair. Lori Watson sang two older ballads: Thomas the Rhymer and Flooers O the Forrest, about Flodden and the loss of James IV’s army. Fiona Hunter sang Maccrimmons Lament, about the loss of a piper during the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Karine Polwart sang her own poignant song, Let Earth and Stone Still Witness Bear.

Glasgow Scotland. 16 January 2026. Janice Burns, Scottish folk singer, and Jon Doran, performed at Beyond the Tradition, with the Scottish Symphony orchestra, at Glasgow concert hall, at Celtic Connections 2026. Photo Pauline Keightley.

To finish their set all five singers sang the well kent song Wild Mountain Thyme and the heartening Final Trawl. For their finale they sang the heartening In Friendship’s Name and the poet Hamish Henderson’s Freedom Come all Ye. The ballads ranged from poignant haunting traditional songs, to songs of protest and to ballads of renewals and friendship. While II would have enjoyed more stories around the choice of these ballads..

The BBC Scottish Symphony orchestra added resonance and depth to these traditional songs. This was a hugely enjoyable evening of quality performances, musicianship and top song choices. The traditional ballads taken to a new level.

Photos and Review Pby auline Keightley –  www.pkimage.co.uk

Set List – 1st half

Westlin Winds – Kris Drever

Clerk Saunders – Emily Smith

King Orfeo

Johnny My Man – Janice Burns

Let earth and stone still witness bear – Karine Polwart

Winter cheer  – Lori Watson

Flooers o’ the forest

Sailors life – Fiona Hunter

Maccrimmon’s lament

2nd half

Thomas the Rhymer – Lori Watson

Song of the Fishgutters – Janice Burns & Jon Doran

She moved through the fair

The Cruel Mother – Fiona Hunter

Parcel of Rogues – Kris Drever

Scapa flow

Craigie hall – Karine Polwart

Wild mountain Thyme – ALL

Final Trawl

Encore  In Friendship’s Name – ALL

Freedom come all ye

This section: Celtic Connections 2026, Music Reviews, Pat's Home Page Blog, Pauline Keightley, Photography