Folk

Northern Ballet Theatre's reputation has grown immeasurably since David Nixon took over as Artistic Director in 2001. Since then he has created and choreographed nine full-length ballets for the company and in December last year won an OBE for services to dance. 

English folk musician Kate Rusby, who won a Mercury prize nomination with her 1999 album Sleepless, headlines the eighth Ceilidh Culture, Edinburgh's festival of traditional music and culture, which runs 26 March to 18 April. Rusby, reckoned to be one of the most talented contemporary folkies around, plays at the recently re-opened Usher Hall (18 April).

The Edinburgh International Festival may have come first, but generally it's the Fringe that Edinburgh is best-known for. There's really nothing quite like it: "the largest show on Earth" they say. The latest stats seem to bear that out: the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2009 saw 34,265 performances of 2,098 shows at 265 venues. It's a sprawling, anarchic, sleepless month of live performances.

A celebration of Scotland's spoken and musical traditions. Free, but booking required via web site

The Premiere of Edinburgh Hogmanay's Off Kilter sees artistic director Morag Deyes draw together world class choreographers, dancers, musicians and visual artists under a multicultural Scottish banner. Off Kilter, a specially commissioned work funded by the Scottish Government, plays each day of the five-day Hogmanay festival (see end for times).

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is the unique South African acappella group who gained worldwide recognition after their collaboration with Paul Simon on two tracks from his Graceland album - Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes and Homeless - which the leader of the group, Joseph Shabalala, co-wrote with Simon. 

The Scots Fiddle Festival's "Grand Concert" is a chance to hear Aly Bain & Ale Möller, Maggie Adamson & Brian Nicholson, and Iain MacFarlane & the Henderson Family.

Scotland and Shetland's supreme traditional style fiddler, Aly Bain's playing is unique, vibrant unmistakable tone that has earned him a following throughout the world.

The Scots Fiddle Festival warms up with the "Heat the Hoose" concert in the Assembly Rooms' Music Hall on Friday night.

The 13th annual Scots Fiddle Festival (13 to 15 November) sees Shetland/Edinburgh fiddler Aly Bain and Aonghas Grant topping a bill with some familiar faces and many new ones.

Good times down on Leith Links as the Leith Festival Gala Day - the highlight of the festival - takes place on Leith Links.

In the bright glow of evening sun coming through the three stained glass windows of the Lot, a former Kirk that is now the Grassmarket venue, there was already a warm and friendly atmosphere as the audience mingled and waited for the performance by Kim Edgar, Yvonne Lyon and David Ferrard.

The final line-up of three members of Tinariwen, collaborating with Tunng on this U.K.

te POOKa, Edinburgh performance arts charity are hosting a two week long April Fools Festival at their home The Big Red Door with acoustic music, cabaret, exhibitions, film showings, clothes and

Poets Tessa Ransford, Morelle Smith and Anne Clarke, along with Nancy Nicholson one of Scotland's finest singer/songwriters, celebrate International Women's Day with an evening of poetry and music.

Shortly after Glasgow's folk roots fest Celtic Connections wraps up, Edinburgh embarks on its own traditional arts showcase.

Ceilidh Culture today launched this year's programme of roots based concerts, ceilidhs, storytelling, dancing and more, at Edinburgh's Storytelling Centre.

Free poetry, performers, art and music to celebrate Scotland's most famous bard: Robert Burns.

The 16th annual Celtic Connections festival gets underway this Thursday in Glasgow. The festival which takes place every January (15 January - 1 February this year) also launches the Homecoming Scotland festivities in 2009.

Don't be left speechless when the bells chime and everyone crosses arms to sing in the new year at Hogmanay or when celebrating Burns Night. These are the words to Auld Lang Syne, with glossary for those less obvious Scots words at the end.

Gigs, sessions, worskshops, ceilidhs, talks, stramashes, and a good crack over the course of 3-days in this annual stringed instrumental festival.