Unfortunately, this event has been cancelled. Ticket holders will be contacted and offered a full refund.

Mix Heather Small and Julie Fowlis and you’ve got singer songwriter Ainsley Hamill.

One of the UK’s leading and most diverse singers, Ainsley has a long list of nods including the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist and Gaelic Singer of the Year Finalist at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. She represented Scotland at Eurovision in Gothenburg and has appeared at folk festivals the world over, including The Festival Interceltique de Lorient and Celtic Connections for the last ten years.

Her debut album Not Just Ship Land produced by BBC composer Malcolm Lindsay showcases her songwriting ability, inspired by the surroundings and unsung heroes of Govan and Glasgow.

Hailing from the West Coast of Scotland, Ainsley specialises in song writing and songs in Scottish Gaelic and English. Her love of Gaelic song was nurtured whilst studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and trad roots are close to her heart. With this new album however, Ainsley is exploring new sounds and ideas as she pushes out from these roots to create personal material that encompasses big topics close to her heart, including feminism and equality, while unearthing forgotten stories and places that deserve a voice.

For many years Ainsley performed and toured with folk bands Barluath and made appearances with The Unusual Suspects. During this time, her accomplished song writing skills were evident in Barluath’s two studio albums; Source and At Dawn of Day as well as various singles including Touch the Gate and At the Fair. Ainsley is a current member of folk band Fourth Moon, performing Gaelic, English and her own material, as well as step dancing.

Dates & Times

Last session: Fri 26 May 2023 at 8:00 PM - This event has now passed
The Box @ The Met
£16 (inc fees)

Duration approx. 1 hour 45 minutes.

Reviews

“One of the best of her generation.”

RnR Magazine

“Her voice thick with velvet and mirk... hovering between the comforting warmth of The Breath and the whip-smart forlorness of early Adele... Hamill has a big intriguing voice, it’s Scottishness ever-present.”

The Guardian Album of the Month for Not Just Ship Land

“Anyone listening to these songs today cannot fail to be moved and impressed.”

Mike Ritchie of Fatea Magazine on Not Just Ship Land

Ainsley Hamill

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