There will be two slots for Workshops on Sunday morning: 1: 9:30 to 10:30 and 2: 11:00 to 12:00. Registration includes entrance to one workshop in each slot, but spaces are limited in four workshops, as noted: * We will endeavour to update this page with any changes to these workshops as currently (27/2/26) scheduled.
Singing the Resistance with Rose Ardron
Breton Dance and Song with Ian Buckley
Songs for Changing Times with Ali Burns
Song Writing with Rory Comerford aka Rua Soul
Chartist Songs with Paul Guppy
Gaelic Song Workshops with John Howieson
Walking the Crichton Grounds with Stephen Rutt
Scots and Burns Songs with Emily Smith
Songs of Hope with Penny Stone
Drumming Workshop (tbc)
Singing the Resistance with Rose Ardron
A movement without song is like a bird without wings. John Lewis, Civil Rights activist and leader.
Singing on the street, at rallies and on demonstrations, in support of social justice is powerful – but not always easy. We build solidarity by inviting people to sing together – but what can we do to enable this to happen? What works? We can learn from the struggles of today and those that have gone before, and we can learn from each other. This interactive workshop will encourage us to do both with historical examples and shared experience – both spoken and sung! There will be practical tips, songs and further resources to take away and encourage us to keep singing boldly.
I have been raising my voice on the streets as part of my political activism for many years – outside Durham jail against strip searching, on picket lines during the miners’ strike, with Sheffield Socialist Choir, and most recently at the regular vigils for peace and justice for Palestine, organised by the Dumfries and Galloway Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.
Breton Dance and Song with Ian Buckley
Ian will lead some simple dances from the Breton tradition, danced in chains or rounds. Danced to simple repetitive songs (in French) sung a-cappella by the dancers themselves in call and response style.
Ian is a long-time and much-loved dance caller from Laurieston Hall here in South West Scotland but he calls and learns dances from all over the UK and beyond.
Songs for Changing Times with Ali Burns
Changing times call for new songs that build individual and community resilience. Join Ali Burns for a feel-good workshop of recently written songs with a social context that chimes with the times.
Ali Burns is a songwriter and arranger who loves to write for community choirs: songs with beautiful harmonies and simple, profound text that are easy enough to learn by ear but satisfying and special to sing. “Building a singing community is one of the most fulfillingand humbling parts of my life – a constant and powerful reminder that we need each other to survive. I think of singing workshops as a harbour in a changing and troubled world and I love writing songs that reflect those concerns and move and ‘mend’ us in some way.”
Song Writing with Rory Comerford aka Rua Soul
A fun and varied workshop exploring fundamentals of song-writing craft. Activities including: stream-of-consciousness writing exercises, group discussion of song-writing approaches, ‘Burns Method’ group exercise and solo assignments.
Rory Comerford aka Rua Soul is a musician based in South West Scotland. Trained in guitar and composition at the Royal Conservertoire of Scotland Rory works as a songwriter. Recent highlights include “spine tingling” Songs of the Week on BBC Radio Scotland with Mawadduh and the founding of SONG 101, a new writing programme for Young Musicians at Robert Burns Ellisland Farm Museum.
Chartist Songs with Paul Guppy
For the workshops I shall be offering mostly early 19th-century political songs – Chartist hymns, songs by Samuel Bamford; also settings of William Blake and Walter De La Mare, as well as of Scotland’s Chartist poet John Mitchell and Dumfries’ own Roger Quin. As well as singers, players of orchestral and band instruments will be welcome.
As well as over 50 years as a double bass and tuba player (mostly in the areas of jazz, folk and theatre music) I have led ‘THE GLADLY SOLEMN SOUND’ West Gallery Choir in Lancaster for 34 years. For the choir I wrote and directed Unite And Be Free – a successful ‘music-and-spoken-word’ retelling of the 1819 Peterloo Massacre; I have also published a collection of Chartist Hymns, Bought By Tyrants, Sold By Knaves.
Gaelic Song Workshops with John Howieson
Gaelic song can quite rightly be seen as the emotional outpouring of a minority culture – often downtrodden but always resilient, coping with injustice by finding life’s beauty and fun. In these workshops, John will introduce several Gaelic songs, chosen to be accessible to the beginner and yet satisfying to all. Translations and background information will be provided, emphasis will be placed on meaning and interpretation, and detailed guidance will be given on pronunciation. Above all, John wants to share the songs with you because he loves them, and wants you also to enjoy their beauty and their emotional range.
A native of Dumfries, John had a 35-year career in secondary-school education. Now, he teaches adult community classes for Gàidhlig DumGal, and intensive short courses for Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the all-Gaelic campus on the Isle of Skye, which he attended for seven years. Throughout his life, John has enjoyed singing – in choirs, in folk clubs and in cèilidhs – and he is passionate about sharing his enjoyment with others.
(By the way, the Gaelic version of his name is “Iain”, and so John answers to that too!)
Walking the Crichton Grounds with Stephen Rutt
Join author and naturalist Stephen Rutt on this gentle guided walk through the Crichton to the Maidenbower Craig. Learn about the birds, butterflies and flowers of Dumfries on the way to this beauty spot. Stephen will read some relevant passages from his books.
Stephen Rutt is the award-winning author of five books of nature writing, including the Waterlands, Wintering and The Seafarers. He is an obsessed naturalist, eager reader and spends most of his time birdwatching in the rain. He lives in Dumfries with his daughter.
Scots and Burns Songs with Emily Smith
Emily’s workshop will focus on local songs in Scots language including many from the pen of our national bard Robert Burns who chose Dumfriesshire as his adulthood home and where he wrote what is considered some of his finest work. Songs will be taught by ear and in unison.
Emily Smith is a singer, songwriter and musician from Dumfries & Galloway. Much of her performance career has been spent touring internationally and recording work rooted in the folk tradition of Scotland. Her voice is often described as pure, expressive and deeply connected to place – especially that of her home region. Alongside performing she teaches music to children in educational and community settings and enjoys organising events which champion and raise awareness of Scottish traditions and languages.
Songs of Hope with Penny Stone
Come and learn some harmony songs with Penny – songs that are designed to help us all to sow and cultivate the seeds of hope, despite everything that is happening in the world today. All voices welcome.
Penny Stone is an Edinburgh based Activist, Community Musician and Songwriter. She believes that everyone has the right to use their voice, and that singing together can empower us all to inhabit our individual voices more fully while building harmonious community connection. Penny is a hopemonger. www.singlouderthanguns.com
Drumming Workshop (tbc)
