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I’m delighted to be participating in the Elphistone Institute Public Lecture Series at the University of Aberdeen on 18th September. The event is free to attend.

Elected as Rector of the University of Aberdeen in 2024, Iona Fyfe discusses her career as a folk musician and activist rooted deeply in the singing traditions, culture, and language of the North-East.

Hosted by the Elphinstone Institute
📍MacRobert Building, University of Aberdeen, MR051
📅 18th September
⏰ 18:30
🎟️ Free, just turn up

More information: https://www.abdn.ac.uk/events/22749/

Aberdeenshire folksinger, Iona Fyfe, has become one of Scotland’s finest singers, rooted deeply in the singing traditions of the North-East of Scotland. In 2021, she became the first singer to win the coveted title of Musician of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. Iona is a fierce advocate for the official recognition of the Scots Language, leading a successful campaign to pressure Spotify into recognising Scots and add it to its list of languages. Honoured at the Scots Language Awards with the title of Speaker of the Year in 2021, Iona performs both folk and pop songs in the Scots language, remaining true to her rooting in tradition. Iona has featured in several publications including The Sunday Post, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal and The Times. She won the title of Scots Singer of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2018 and was described by Global-Music.de as ‘one of the best Scotland has to offer’.

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Do you want to learn Scots Songs online this #EuropeanFolkDay

To celebrate European Folk Day, award-winning Scottish folksinger Iona Fyfe will be hosting an online Scots Song Workshop on 23rd September at 20:00 BST. The workshop is open to people of all ages and abilities from all over the world. No fluency in Scots is required and all resources will be sent to you. This year, the Scots became an official language of Scotland with the passing of the Scots Language Act as part of the Scottish Languages Bill (2025).

Iona has delivered Scots Language and Song workshops in various formats across the UK, Canada and the USA including at the University of Aberdeen, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, the Old Town School of Folk Music in Chicago and the Freight and Salvage in Berkeley California.

We will learn 3-4 folksongs in the Scots language and will do some listening of source, revivalist and contemporary interpretations of the songs also. Lyrics will be provided in PDF format via email. The Zoom link and resources will be sent to the email you sign up with. Tickets via Bandcamp.

📍Zoom
📅 23 September
⏰ 20:00 – 21:15 BST
🎟️ Tickets → https://ionafyfe.bandcamp.com/merch/scots-song-online-workshop-23rd-september-2025

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Thank you to Lauren Cameron of The Skinny for giving mine and Ellie Beaton’s show at Eden Court Under Canvas a ★ ★ ★ ★ review. 

“Her voice is light and clear, but her delivery carries power and precision. Backed by Michael Biggins on piano, she blends song, humour, storytelling, and sharp social commentary with ease.” 

Read full review here → http://bit.ly/3Jeoll5