Singer Joy Dunlop to perform new songs at Cottiers

Broadcaster and Scottish singer Joy Dunlop celebrates her new album at Cottiers this week.

The star of BBC Scotland and BBC ALBA will play a launch concert for her third solo album Caoir.

Joy’s first solo material to be released in a decade, Caoir (pronounced koor), features contemporary recordings of traditional Gaelic songs.

Having grown up immersed in the traditional music scene of Argyll, Joy was inspired by contemporary folk acts including Peatbog Faeries, Sian, and Elephant Sessions, and Gaelic singers like Julie Fowlis and Arthur Cormack.

'Boundaries'

Musicians featuring on the album are Ron Jappy on guitar, Mhairi Marwick on fiddle, Gus Stirrat on bass, Ifedade Thomas on drums, and Euan Malloch on electric guitar, with drum and bass brought into the mix on Joy’s music for the first time.

"I’ve always loved music that pushed the boundaries of what was considered ‘trad’"

Joy said: “I’ve always loved music that pushed the boundaries of what was considered ‘trad’, without losing the soul of the songs.

“As a Gaelic singer, I’m always trying to make my music accessible to those who don’t speak the language.

“With this recording I wanted to capture the sentiment of the songs, whether the listener understands Gaelic or not, while adding new engaging elements to the music.

“Caoir started as a jam session with four fantastic musicians, and soon grew into something more – a selection of music that we all loved and a real friendship and bond between us all.

With this recording I wanted to capture the sentiment of the songs, whether the listener understands Gaelic or not, while adding new engaging elements to the music.

Joy Dunlop

“I think that sense of joy really comes across in the recording.

‘That mix of trust, creativity and drive for exploration eventually emerged asan album that will hopefully resonate with both trad fans and those who just love music.”

Joy’s coveted singing career has led her all over the world, from Canada to Japan.

She has been nominated as Gaelic Singer of the Year no less than four times and has a Royal National Mòd Gold Medal to her name.

Joy’s coveted singing career has led her all over the world

Her face and voice are well-known from her wealth of television and radio work including as BBC Scotland and BBC ALBA weather presenter, BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year presenter and host of SpeakGaelic.

• Further information and tickets for the album launch are available here