info@kingsplace.co.uk Tel 020 7520 1440

Date

A weave of words and music

Welcome to Scotland Unwrapped, the 16th edition of our award-winning year-long series. Celebrating Scottish music and spoken word culture, the series will highlight both its traditional and regional riches but also explore the diverse contemporary scene and the writers and composers which give Scotland its distinctive voice. As well as covering a wide range of musical genres from cutting-edge contemporary composers, folk musicians and Scottish classical ensembles, Scotland Unwrapped also embraces the heady literary scene and wealth of Scottish festivals.

Scotland Unwrapped features Artist in Residence Karine Polwart and Guest Curators Aidan O’Rourke and Jackie Kay.

View shows & offers

Nur: Aidan O’Rourke with Brighde Chaimbeul, Bashir Saade, Graeme Stephen and Rachel Sermanni

Folk / Scotland Unwrapped

A project brought together by Guest Curator Aidan O’Rourke, celebrating the grit, calibre and charisma of Edinburgh’s grassroots music-making, featuring Brighde Chaimbeul, Bashir Saade, Graeme Stephen and Rachel Sermanni.

Book tickets Find out more

Aurora Orchestra with Donald Grant

Classical / Scotland Unwrapped

Share in an evening inspired by the hardship, wild beauty and community spirit of an island winter, with traditional Gaelic and contemporary string music from Aurora, fiddler Donald Grant and friends.

Book tickets Find out more

Lost Map Records: Pictish Trail + Afterlands

Contemporary / Scotland Unwrapped

Kings Place and Eat Your Own Ears are proud to present a very special label night for Scottish imprint Lost Map Records, featuring a headline set from label boss Johnny Lynch’s psychedelic outfit Pictish Trail, and support from new collaborative duo Afterlands (featuring members of The Phantom Band and Strike The Colours).

Book tickets Find out more

Louise McMonagle: Ancient Modernity

Contemporary / Scotland Unwrapped

Scottish cellist Louise McMonagle (Riot Ensemble) presents Scottish composers from Anna Meredith to John Maxwell Geddes, plus works for cello and electronics spatialised in soundscape.

Book tickets Find out more

Ali Smith & Jackie Kay

Words / Scotland Unwrapped

Author Ali Smith and former Makar Jackie Kay discuss the soundtrack to their lives – a shared passion for a wide range of music from Celtic folk to jazz, from blues to Bach, musicals to Mozart.

Sold out Find out more

Drew McDowall

Contemporary / Scotland Unwrapped

For the opening night of our month-long Luminate series, Kings Place is proud to present Scottish experimental/electronic musician Drew McDowall (formerly of Coil), with a live set performing music from his latest album.

Book tickets Find out more

The Marian Consort

Classical / Scotland Unwrapped

The award-winning voices of The Marian Consort present a programme of sumptuous Renaissance polyphony from some of Scotland’s few surviving sixteenth-century manuscripts.

Book tickets Find out more

Kinnaris Quintet

Folk / Scotland Unwrapped

Based in Glasgow, MG Alba Trad Music Awards 2018 & 2022 Folk Band of the Year Kinnaris Quintet take influences of traditional Scottish, Irish, Bluegrass, Classical, Scandinavian and Appalachian music, creating technically dazzling and evocative arrangements. Expect uplifting and driving harmonies, intricate arrangements, and joy in abundance.

Sold out Find out more

Àrainn: Electroacoustic music from Scotland 

Contemporary / Scotland Unwrapped

Àrainn means ‘sound’ in Scots Gaelic, and this promises a captivating evening of spatialised performances of electroacoustic music, sound art and visuals from/of Scotland.

Book tickets Find out more

Ensemble Hesperi

Classical / Scotland Unwrapped

Relive a musical evening in 18th century Edinburgh with the dazzling young Ensemble Hesperi and soprano Harriet Burns, where fashions combined the best of the Italian Baroque with the soaring melodies and dance rhythms of traditional Scottish music.

Book tickets Find out more

Dunedin Consort & Hebrides Ensemble

Classical / Scotland Unwrapped

Two of Scotland’s award-winning ensembles join forces to present James MacMillan’s extraordinary setting – by turns intimate and dramatic – of the Resurrection story.

Book tickets Find out more

The Dark Matter Choir: Weekend Workshop and Performance

Folk / Scotland Unwrapped

A unique opportunity to form Karine Polwart and Pippa Murphy’s 'The Dark Matter Choir', and take part in a weekend of workshops, as part of Karine’s Sing to the Dark Weekend as Artist in Residence at Kings Place.

Sold out Find out more

Heal & Harrow: Rachel Newton and Lauren MacColl

Folk / Scotland Unwrapped

Celebrated folk musicians Rachel Newton and Lauren MacColl pay a humanising tribute to victims of the 16th and 17th Century Scottish Witch Trials, while also exploring historical beliefs in the supernatural and modern-day parallels in our society.

Book tickets Find out more

Rachel Sermanni + Kim Carnie

Folk / Scotland Unwrapped

As part of Karine Polwart’s Sing to the Dark Weekend, enjoy an intimate evening from two of the most exciting young Scottish voices, singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni, and Gaelic singer and composer Kim Carnie.

Book tickets Find out more

Karine Polwart with Pippa Murphy and special guests

Folk / Scotland Unwrapped

Inspired by seasonal traditions, Scottish songwriter and storyteller, Karine Polwart, journeys into and out of darkness via some of the best-loved songs of her 25-year career, as well as new music, story and immersive sound, crafted in collaboration with sound designer and composer Pippa Murphy.

Sold out Find out more

Admiral Fallow

Folk / Scotland Unwrapped

Glasgow-based folk-indie group Admiral Fallow (Louis Abbott, Kevin Brolly, Phil Hague, Sarah Hayes and Joe Rattray) make their Kings Place debut as part of Scotland Unwrapped.

Book tickets Find out more

Douglas Stuart & Jackie Kay in conversation

Words / Scotland Unwrapped

A rare opportunity to hear 'Shuggie Bain' and 'Young Mungo' author Douglas Stuart in conversation with Scotland Unwrapped Guest Curator, Jackie Kay CBE.

Book tickets Find out more

Siobhan Miller Band

Folk / ‘Under 30s’ Tickets

A richly celebrated Scottish folk singer and songwriter, Siobhan Miller’s soulful and stirring renewal of traditional song has won numerous accolades, including the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards’ Scots Singer of the Year an unprecedented four times. She returns to Kings Place with her first-ever full band tour.

Book tickets Find out more

Fergus McCreadie

Jazz / EFG London Jazz Festival

Critically acclaimed Scottish pianist Fergus McCreadie plays the opening night of the EFG London Jazz Festival at Kings Place with music from his new album 'Stream,' following two sold out performances in our Scotland Unwrapped series in January. With support from Scottish cello and guitar duo Juliette Lemoine and Chris Amer.

Book tickets Find out more

Norman&Corrie

Jazz / EFG London Jazz Festival

Scottish musical duo Norman&Corrie bring their unique musical setup to present bewitching, adventurous interpretations of traditional melodies at Kings Place as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival, ahead of the release of their debut album in November 2024.

Book tickets Find out more

Aurora Orchestra: The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse

Family / Scotland Unwrapped

Join a duck and a mouse on an adventure inside a wolf, as Aurora and Scottish composer Martin Suckling bring Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen’s much-loved children’s story to musical life. “Early one morning a

Book tickets Find out more

Cryptic at 30 presents: Kathy Hinde, Konx-om-Pax & others 

Contemporary / Scotland Unwrapped

Cryptic continue their 30th birthday celebrations in November, presenting an eclectic evening of audiovisual work.

Book tickets Find out more

Steven Osborne with Principal Aurora Players

Classical / Scotland Unwrapped

Scotland’s most revered pianist, Steven Osborne, is joined by two of Aurora Orchestra’s Principal Players for an evening of mesmerising French music.

Book tickets Find out more