folk

travellers

gaelic

shetland

Country Dance

The area often associated with the Scottish 'bothy ballads' is the agriculturally fertile East Coast and in particular the Grampian region of Aberdeen and beyond round the shoulder of Scotland to the river Spey. This region holds a rural population who traditionally speak a strong dialect called 'Doric' which is often incorporated into lyrics. Until last century many of the bothy songs were used by the army of agricultural workers who travelled the country as seasonal employment demanded. They would use the songs at gatherings to make comment on the issues of the day as well as maintaining historical accounts of heroic and dastardly deeds. Many of the bothy ballads continue to be an integral part of the folk song cannon. Listed to the right are some of the noted exponents of bothy ballads.

Ian F Benzie

Robin Williamson

Peter MacLeod

Mallochy Tulloch

Eric Bogle

Jenny Clark

Kenneth McKellar

Andy M Stewart