Simply Scottish

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, this episode kicks off a two-part series exploring the connections between Ireland and Scotland, two Celtic countries whose histories and cultures are interwoven. Learn about the six Celtic nations and their ancestors from continental Europe. Hear musical examples of Irish and Scottish Gaelic, and discover what is being done today to preserve cultural and linguistic traditions. All this plus great Irish and Scottish music from the Chieftains, Capercaillie, Maeve O’Boyle, Altan, and more!

A castle, a palace, a cathedral, and more! Explore Edinburgh's Royal Mile on this episode of Simply Scottish! The magnificent St. Giles Cathedral has been a focal point of Edinburgh's faithful for hundreds of years. Learn some surprising facts about the High Kirk of the capital city. And what do you get when you combine the vision of a world-class architect with Scotland's landscape, history, and culture? Learn about one of Edinburgh's most distinct buildings, the Scottish Parliament. All this plus music from Heidi Talbot, Old Blind Dogs, Runrig, and more!

"All children, except one, grow up." So begins the classic story of Peter Pan. On this episode of Simply Scottish, discover the story behind the story as we look at the life of 19th century Scottish author James Matthew Barrie. Fact and fiction merge together in a tale of personal tragedy and triumph. Hear a selection from Peter Pan, as well as some great Scottish music from the Trashcan Sinatras, Patrick Street, Emma Christian, Leahy, and more!

The Scottish roots of Gospel music and the Clan Houston are explored on this tribute to singer Whitney Houston. Hear an example of the Gaelic psalm singing style that evolved into the “call and response” technique found in gospel music. Learn how the Houston clan made their mark on America, and hear contrasting examples of the song Whitney sang in her first public performance. All this plus music from Capercaillie, John Richardson, Paul Machlis. and more.

Discover the artistic vision and creativity of renowned architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his artistic muse Margaret MacDonald Mackintosh. Part of the Glasgow Style that influenced art movements throughout Europe, the Mackintosh's collaborative output is still admired and cherished today. Enjoy a great selection of Glasgow-themed music that celebrates this remarkable couple, including songs from Mike Katz, Blair Douglas, and Deacon Blue.

Scotland’s sweets and most popular drinks are the subject of this episode, our third in a series exploring Scottish cuisine. Learn about the sweet treats the Scots savor, including boilings, tablet, macaroons, and other goodies. You’ll also hear from Andrew McDiarmid Sr. about three of Scotland’s most enduring drinks – tea, IRN-BRU, and whisky. Hear music from Alasdair Fraser, Natalie Haas, Niamh Parsons, Runrig, the Old Blind Dogs, and more.

Scotland's most famous poet, Rabbie Burns is celebrated the world over for his Scots and English language poetry. More than just a writer, Burns is part of our social consciousness today and embodies the ideas we continue to hold dear, including the equality of humankind, liberty, and brotherhood. Tune in to learn more about Burns' life, loves, and legacy. Listen to stirring arrangements of Burns' songs from Eddi Reader, George Duff, Phil Coulter, Mae McKenna, Alan Reid & Sylvia Barnes.

Visit the podcast section of www.simplyscottish.com for links to Burns books and websites.

Scottish innovation and creativity have benefited the world in many ways. On this episode of Simply Scottish, we look at just three of Scotland's contributions - the inimitable Lulu, the best-selling King James Bible, and the pedal-driven bicycle. Did you know Lulu was barely into her teenage years when she started singing publicly? Or that it took a team of several dozen translators seven years to produce their new English translation of the Bible under King James? And if people considered early velocipedes a thrill, wait until they saw what Kirkpatrick Macmillan came up with! All this plus music from The Silencers, Lulu, Niamh Parsons, and more!

A rags to riches story that typifies the American Dream...tune in as we explore the life of Andrew Carnegie on this episode of Simply Scottish, part of an ongoing series on famous Scots and their contributions to the world. Learn about Carnegie's humble childhood in Scotland and how a combination of hard work, ingenuity, and providence would help him achieve unparalleled success as a businessman and philanthropist during America's industrial age.

What do people in Scotland eat today? What's a Scotch pie? Do restaurants in Scotland serve traditional or modern dishes? Why is shortbread called "short" bread? Tune in to this episode of Simply Scottish, the 2nd in a series exploring Scottish cuisine. Enjoy music from Capercaillie, Phil Cunningham, the Bluebells, and more!