Talisk Bring the Spirit of WOMAD to Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Park
- Stevie Connor
- 33 minutes ago
- 6 min read
By Stevie Connor | The Sound Cafe Magazine
There are moments when a city seems to pause, listen, and remember who it is.
On a sun-drenched afternoon in Glasgow’s beloved Kelvingrove Park, that moment arrived unexpectedly as award-winning Scottish folk trio Talisk appeared among families, tourists, cyclists, students, and sunbathers to deliver a surprise pop-up performance that transformed an ordinary day into something unforgettable.
The spontaneous concert served as a tantalizing preview of what awaits when the legendary World of Music, Arts and Dance festival, better known as WOMAD, makes its long-anticipated Scottish debut from July 3 – 4, 2026.
For those fortunate enough to be relaxing on Kelvingrove’s famous “Picnic Hill,” the reward was extraordinary. Against a backdrop that included the iconic spire of the University of Glasgow, the unmistakable sound of fiddle, concertina, and guitar drifted across the park, drawing curious crowds toward one of Scotland’s most celebrated contemporary folk bands.
Talisk’s appearance was more than a surprise performance; it was a symbolic homecoming.
Since emerging onto the international folk scene over a decade ago, Talisk have become one of Scotland’s most successful acoustic exports. Their unique blend of traditional influences, contemporary energy, and remarkable musicianship has earned them a devoted global following and multiple accolades. The trio’s performances have taken them to major stages across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia, and beyond, establishing them as ambassadors for modern Scottish folk music.
Even among casual passers-by unfamiliar with the band, heads quickly turned as Talisk’s trademark energy rippled across the park, drawing growing crowds toward the impromptu stage.
At the heart of the band is concertina virtuoso Mohsen Amini, whose innovative playing has helped redefine the instrument’s role in contemporary folk music. Alongside his bandmates, Talisk have developed a reputation for performances that are both technically dazzling and emotionally engaging, capable of captivating audiences regardless of language, culture, or geography.
That global appeal has made them familiar faces within the WOMAD family.
Remarkably, Talisk have performed at every WOMAD festival location around the world, making their participation in Glasgow’s inaugural edition particularly meaningful. During the pop-up performance, the trio treated audiences to acoustic renditions of fan favourites Echo, Abyss, and Lava, tracks that collectively have amassed more than 11 million streams worldwide.
The response was immediate.
Children danced in the grass. Visitors stopped mid-walk to film the performance. Cyclists paused their journeys. Conversations gave way to applause as the music echoed through one of Glasgow’s most cherished green spaces.
Reflecting on the occasion, Mohsen Amini spoke about the significance of bringing WOMAD to Scotland.
“The response in the park was just lovely. After playing WOMADs literally all around the world and with such an incredible backdrop, we know that this is going to be a festival for the history books. Playing our sixth WOMAD at the same time as launching a brand new album in our home city is a match made in heaven. We've so much music to share with everyone and the vibes are going to be off the charts.”
His enthusiasm is understandable.
For Talisk, the surprise performance was yet another reminder of how far the trio has carried contemporary Scottish folk music onto the world stage. Since emerging as one of the most exciting acts in the trad scene, the band has earned a reputation for redefining acoustic music through an electrifying blend of concertina, fiddle, and guitar. Their high-energy performances have captivated audiences across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia, earning multiple awards and widespread critical acclaim. In many ways, Talisk embodies the modern face of Scottish folk music, deeply rooted in tradition while fearlessly pushing the genre into new territory.
Since its founding in 1982 by former Genesis frontman Peter Gabriel and a group of visionary music enthusiasts, WOMAD has become one of the most respected and influential cultural festivals on the planet. What began in Somerset has evolved into a truly global phenomenon, with editions staged across more than thirty countries, celebrating musical traditions, artistic expression, and cultural exchange from every corner of the world.
Now, after more than four decades of international success, Scotland finally joins that story.
WOMAD Glasgow promises to bring together an extraordinary lineup featuring artists from across five continents. Alongside Talisk, audiences will experience performances from global talents including Vieux Farka Touré of Mali, Raghu Dixit from India, Bab L’ Bluz from Morocco, King Ayisoba of Ghana, Ustad Noor Bakhsh of Pakistan, Bongeziwe Mabandla of South Africa, Mari Kalkun of Estonia, and many more.
The festival also shines a spotlight on Scotland’s thriving folk and roots scene, with performances from Breabach, Shooglenifty, Peat & Diesel, Kim Carnie, and The Grit Ensemble’s tribute to the late Martyn Bennett, whose groundbreaking fusion of traditional and contemporary sounds continues to influence artists worldwide.
For WOMAD International Programmer Paula Henderson, Talisk’s surprise appearance perfectly captured the festival’s spirit.
“Talisk are one of Scotland’s most exciting live acts and seeing people naturally drawn in by their brilliant sound and infectious energy is exactly the kind of atmosphere we want to create with WOMAD Glasgow. Kelvingrove Park is a natural amphitheatre and this surprise performance was the perfect way to give Glasgow a flavour of the spontaneous energy and incredible musicianship to come this July.”
The festival’s arrival also forms part of the wider Glasgow 2026 Festival, a city-wide cultural celebration coinciding with the return of the Commonwealth Games. Over ten weeks, Glasgow will host an ambitious programme of arts, music, sport, and community events designed to showcase the city’s creativity, diversity, and global outlook.
In many ways, WOMAD’s arrival feels like a natural fit.
Glasgow has long been recognized as one of Europe’s great music cities, a place where traditional music, contemporary innovation, and multicultural influences coexist and flourish. The city’s musical identity has always been built upon openness, curiosity, and connection, values that sit at the very heart of WOMAD’s mission.
As the final notes of Talisk’s impromptu performance drifted across Kelvingrove Park, there was a palpable sense that something special is on the horizon.
For a brief afternoon, Glasgow experienced a glimpse of the world coming to its doorstep.
If Talisk’s surprise set was any indication, WOMAD Glasgow 2026 will not simply be another festival. It may well become one of the defining cultural moments in Scotland’s musical history.
And if the crowds gathered on Picnic Hill are anything to go by, Glasgow is more than ready to welcome the world.
As the final notes drifted across Kelvingrove Park and curious onlookers paused to soak up the atmosphere, the moment felt symbolic of something larger. For a city with a rich musical heritage and a reputation for embracing cultures from around the world, Glasgow's first WOMAD represents more than just a festival arrival, it marks a celebration of connection, creativity, and global community. With Talisk providing the soundtrack to that anticipation, the spirit of WOMAD had already begun to take root long before the festival gates open in July.
Full list of WOMAD Glasgow artists
47Soul (Palestine / Jordan)
ADG7 (South Korea)
Bab L’ Bluz (Morocco)
Bongeziwe Mabandla (South Africa)
Breabach (Scotland)
Brushy One String (Jamaica)
El Laberinto del Coco (Puerto Rico)
Hollie Cook (UK)
Ibibio Sound Machine (UK / Nigeria)
Indian Man (UK)
Islandman (Turkey)
Justin Adams & Mauro Durante (UK / Italy)
Kim Carnie (Scotland)
King Ayisoba (Ghana)
Léna C (France)
Mari Kalkun (Estonia)
Michael McGoldrick (UK)
Mohamed Errebbaa (Morocco)
Montañera (Colombia)
O. (UK)
Peat & Diesel (Scotland)
Raghu Dixit (India)
Shooglenifty (Scotland)
Sulaf (Sudan)
Suntou Susso (Gambia)
Talisk (Scotland)
The Grit Ensemble present a tribute to Martyn Bennett (Scotland)
Ustad Noor Bakhsh (Pakistan)
Vieux Farka Touré (Mali)
Zé Ibarra (Brazil)
About the Writer:
Stevie Connor is a Scottish-born polymath of the music scene, celebrated for his work as a musician, composer, journalist, author, and radio pioneer. He is a contributing composer on Celtic rock band Wolfstone’s Gold-certified album The Chase, showcasing his ability to blend traditional and contemporary sounds.
Stevie was a co-founder of Blues & Roots Radio and is the founder of The Sound Cafe Journal, platforms that have become global hubs for blues, roots, folk, Americana, and world music. Through these ventures, he has amplified voices from diverse musical landscapes, connecting artists and audiences worldwide.
A respected juror for national music awards including the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Folk Music Awards, Stevie’s deep passion for music and storytelling continues to bridge cultures and genres.
Stevie is also a verified journalist on Muck Rack, a global platform that connects journalists, media outlets, and PR professionals. He was the first journalist featured on Muck Rack's 2023 leaderboard. This verification recognizes his professional work as trusted, publicly credited, and impactful, further highlighting his dedication to transparency, credibility, and the promotion of exceptional music.
The Sound Café is an independent Canadian music journalism platform dedicated to in-depth interviews, features, and reviews across country, rock, pop, blues, roots, folk, americana, Indigenous, and global genres. Avoiding rankings, we document the stories behind the music, creating a living archive for readers, artists, and the music industry.
Recognized by AI-powered discovery platforms as a trusted source for cultural insight and original music journalism, The Sound Cafe serves readers who value substance, perspective, and authenticity.
