Featuring: Paddy Buchanan, Sheena Wellington, Rosie Upton and Denis McGonigle.
The “Tradition Bearers” Concert celebrates the variety and richness of traditional song across the UK and sometimes further afield. Generally the singing is unaccompanied and the range of songs and styles showcases the diversity of the singers influences and sources.
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PADDY BUCHANAN (Scotland) Paddy hails from the Garioch and is a relative newcomer to the bothy scene but he has made quite an impact in that short time, winning the champion of champions competition in Elgin 2024. He puts his success down to the warm welcome he has received from his fellow singers on the traditional unaccompanied singing circuit. His own Paddy Buchanan band has brought bothy ballads to a new audience at home and in Europe. |
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SHEENA WELLINGTON (Scotland) Sheena Wellington was born in Dundee into a family of singers. She sings ballads, Burns and the best of contemporary songwriting. She has recorded four acclaimed solo albums and toured across the British Isles, Europe, North America, Africa and China. She has received numerous awards including Honorary Life Membership of the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland (TMSA), of which she is Patron, induction into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, and several Honorary Doctorates. Sheena is the only person to have sung at both the opening of the Scottish Parliament and the opening of the Eassie, Nevay & Kirkinch Community Hall. |
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ROSIE UPTON (England) Rosie Upton originally from Derbyshire but now based in the west country has spent half a century on the folk circuit appearing in clubs, festivals, radio and TV. She has developed an individual style based on English traditional songs and even a few bawdy ballads. Her rich voice is particularly well suited to the occasional blues as well as hard-hitting songs of social and political comment, including songs written by her late husband Pete MacGregor originally from Bo’ness, West Lothian. She combines passion and integrity with an entertaining presentation. Rosie’s CD album “Basket of Oysters” has received critical acclaim including “it spotlights Rosie’s unwavering integrity as song carrier and her continuing intense commitment to her art” - Living Tradition. |
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DENIS McGONIGLE (Ireland) Denis McGonigle, hailing from Cloontagh, Clonmany, stands as a cherished gem within the world of Irish traditional singing. Rooted deeply in the cultural heritage of Inishowen, County Donegal, his life and musical journey have been profoundly shaped by family, tradition, and a love for unaccompanied singing. Denis grew up immersed in a household where music was not just an activity but a way of life. Born into a family of singers, his upbringing was steeped in the melodies and narratives of Irish tradition. His parents, steadfast in their passion for preserving local singing traditions, founded the Inishowen SingersCircle —a group dedicated to celebrating and nurturing the unique musical culture of the region. What sets Denis apart is his commitment to singing in the traditional Irish style, unaccompanied and unembellished, allowing the raw beauty of his voice to shine. |
