Button Boxes & Moothies

03/10/2026

We had a wonderful Autumn Fling event last weekend. Many thanks to the fantastic participants and artists Luke Daniels, Tom Roche, Katherine Liley, Frances Wilkins, Brian Ó hEadhra, Owen O' Connor and Reuben Henderson. It was great to be able to hold a tuition day, come-and-try event and concert and we hope to be bringing more of these smaller events to Aberdeen in the future, in advance of our main festival which takes place in 2029!

We have some great photos from the event which we will share soon. In the meantime, here is some footage from the day and the evening concert.

Many thanks to Md Bakebillah and Billy Rough for film footage.

University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Council - City Events
Traditional Musicians

23/09/2026

Our new website is live!

Visit our new website to find out more about our festival and book tickets for upcoming events.

Discover the Button Boxes & Moothies festival celebrating small free reed instruments like concertinas and mouth organs. Join us for performances, workshops, and cultural preservation.

17/09/2026

Ever thought of trying out a new instrument?

We are delighted to be including a come-and-try event as part of the Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling on Saturday 26th September!

The event is open to all to come along and find out more about these wonderful instruments, watch demonstrations from players, and get advice on purchasing instruments and getting tuition. We even have a limited number of harmonicas for sale at the event (priced £10).

Concertinas - Harmonicas - Button Boxes

Details below - hope to see you there!

Saturday 26th September 2026
MacRobert Building Cafe (ground floor), Kings College, Aberdeen AB24 3FX

12-3pm

This event has been made possible by the support from the Traditional Arts and Culture Fund, administered by TRACS, with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Aberdeen City Council - City Events
Luke Daniels
Aberdeen Folk Orchestra: The Woods
University of Aberdeen

13/09/2026

We are looking forward to bringing the Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling to Aberdeen on 25-27th September 2026.

Sessions, workshops, come and try events, concert and talk. Follow the link for more information on what is in store!

This event has been made possible by the support from the Traditional Arts and Culture Fund, administered by TRACS, with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Welcome to the Button Boxes and Moothies 2026 Autumn Fling

11/09/2026

Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling 2026

🪗Opening Music Session - All Welcome! 🎻

The weekend kicks off with a music session at:

The Red Lion, 130 Spital, Aberdeen AB24 3JU
7-9pm
Friday 25th September 2026

All Welcome, musicians and listeners alike. Led by fantastic local button box players, Tom Roche and Rachel Sheridan.

For more information on the Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling, which includes a day's tuition in Button Box and English Concertina, plus come-and-try events, evening concert and more, visit www.buttonboxesandmoothies.com

06/09/2026

Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling Concert 2026 🪗
Join us at the Elphinstone Institute for a special evening celebrating the rich, vibrant sounds of free-reed instruments and the traditional music of Scotland and beyond!

We are thrilled to welcome virtuoso Luke Daniels, along with outstanding local musicians Tom Roche, Frances Wilkins, Owen O'Connor, and friends for an unforgettable night of button box and concertina playing.

This concert holds a special place in our hearts as we celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Professor Ian Russell, who founded the festival back in 2003. His passion for sharing and preserving our local traditions continues to be central to much of our work today.

Event Details:
Dunbar Street Hall, Old Aberdeen AB24 3UJ
Saturday, 26 September 2026
Time: 7:00 PM
Tickets: £15 Standard | £12 Friends of the EI | £6 Under 25s/student
BYOB

🎻 BRING YOUR INSTRUMENTS! The concert will be followed by an informal open session—come along and join in!

🎟️ Get your tickets from www.buttonboxesandmoothies.com
Please share this post with friends, family, and fellow musicians! We look forward to seeing you there.


University of Aberdeen
Aberdeen City Council - City Events
Luke Daniels

13/07/2026

We're very excited to have special guest Luke Daniels joining us on 26th September to lead a day's tuition in B/C button box at the University of Aberdeen!

We will be running a tuition day for people of all levels to explore the wonderful B/C button box. Luke will be providing learning materials in advance to suit all levels.

The tuition day is from 9-5pm with an evening concert from 7:00pm in the Dunbar Street Hall. There will be other events over the weekend including informal music sessions on the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday!

Tickets for the tuition day and concert are £85/75 (Friends of the EI)/40 (students/under-25s) including lunch and refreshments. There are also a limited number of bursaries available - please contact [email protected] for more information.

The evening concert in Dunbar Street Hall is £15/12/6.

For more information and tickets, visit the website at www.buttonboxesandmoothies.com

This event has been made possible by the support from the Traditional Arts and Culture Fund, administered by TRACS, with support from the National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

Luke Daniels University of Aberdeen Aberdeen Folk Orchestra: The Woods Aberdeen City Council - City Events

24/06/2026

Button Boxes & Moothies festival director, Frances Wilkins, has recently released her 5-track EP released as a CD. Solo English concertina with guitar accompaniment from Brian Ó hEadhra.

The CD is available through her bandcamp site, priced at £7.50 plus p&p, at https://franceswilkins.bandcamp.com/album/frances-wilkins-ep

It is also available to buy directly from the Elphinstone Institute in Aberdeen.

Frances will be leading a tuition day as part of the Button Boxes & Moothies Autumn Fling on Saturday 26th September for all players of the English concertina system.

For more information and to book, visit www.buttonboxesandmoothies.com

16/06/2026

For anyone who would like to join Prof Ian Russell's celebration service, please find the link below.

The celebration will be taking place at King's Chapel, University of Aberdeen. This will be taking place at 2:00pm this Thursday 18th June 2026.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84768766834?pwd=emEqEhho8qrpLS5eRQxEIt8oCGkTtb.1

17/05/2026

We were so incredibly sad to hear of the passing of Professor Ian Russell MBE over the weekend.

Ian was a huge inspiration to so many people in so many ways. He founded Button Boxes & Moothies back in 2003 and as well as playing the button box himself was incredibly supportive of players of free reed instruments who have attended the festival over the years.

Ian will be greatly missed by many people in all corners of the globe. Our sincere condolences go to Norma, who has been so supportive of the festival over the years, and to their son Joe and grandson Tomas.