by Lucy Ashton
Award-winning Scottish folk band Talisk treated visitors to Kelvingrove Park to a surprise pop-up performance ahead of this summer’s WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) Glasgow.
The spontaneous set saw families, tourists, cyclists and sunbathers watch, film and tap their toes as the sounds of fiddle, concertina and guitar filled one of Glasgow’s best-loved green spaces.
Under sunny skies, Talisk gave crowds a flavour of the atmosphere set to arrive when the internationally-renowned festival lands in Scotland for the first time from Friday 3 – Saturday 4 July 2026.
The trio, who have performed at every WOMAD festival location around the world, treated audiences to acoustic renditions of their much-loved tracks, Echo, Abyss, and Lava, which together have been streamed more than 11 million times globally.
Pictures by Jeff Holmes
Curious onlookers were able to enjoy the surprise gig as they chilled out on so-called ‘picnic hill’, which will be the location of the festival’s Lookout Stage, taking in views of the University of Glasgow’s iconic spire.
Mohsen Amini of Talisk said: “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.”
WOMAD International Programmer Paula Henderson said: “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.”
WOMAD Glasgow will bring artists from across the globe to Kelvingrove Park for a weekend celebrating music, art and culture.
Talisk performs at the Lookout Stage on Friday 3 July 2026. For tickets visit https://womadglasgow.co.uk.
Glasgow Life is a charity working for the benefit of the people of Glasgow. We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life, and we find innovative ways to make this happen across the city’s diverse communities.
Our programmes, experiences and events range from grassroots community activities to large-scale cultural, artistic and sporting events which present Glasgow on an international stage.
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)