Eileen Penman is a beloved Scottish folk singer and activist who has dedicated her life to sharing, teaching, and performing traditional songs in her local community. Born in 1943, Eileen was first introduced to folk music by her brother, who was a fan of American artists like Woody Guthrie and Leadbelly. After hearing seminal Scottish singers like Ewan MacColl and Jeannie Robertson, Penman was hooked on folk. She comes from a politically active, left-wing family and music was a constant part of her upbringing.
In the 1960s and 70s, as a young mother, Penman had little time to perform. But she brought music into her children’s lives, singing songs like Pete Seeger’s “Abiyoyo.” Her real immersion in Scottish folk began in the late 1970s, when she started attending lively sessions at the Waverley Bar in Edinburgh. This inspired her to become more involved with the local scene.
The 1980s were a golden era for Penman. Through the Crown Folk Club, she met enthusiastic musicians who introduced her to a wealth of folk. She saw legendary performers like Dick Gaughan and gained confidence to sing publicly. Penman performed at the Edinburgh Folk Festival and co-organized a women’s music event during the “Women Live” festivals. She formed the group Women’s Voices and also began hosting sessions at the Royal Oak pub. Also in the late 80s Eileen was asked by academic Alie Munro who wrote The Democratic Muse: The Folk Music Revival in Scotland to perform in one of a series of traditional song concerts in the Edinburgh Festival. The programme included songs from the Greig Duncan Collection.
In the 1990s, Penman taught traditional song classes through the Gorgie-Dalry Adult Learning Project. This allowed her to share her deep knowledge and passion for the folk tradition. She later started a women’s singing group that included a young Karine Polwart. Out of this class grew the band Stairheid Gossip, which Penman performed with for over a decade. She also founded and led the women’s choir Wildfire for many years.
Penman’s musical journey continued into the 2000s and beyond. She studied Performing Arts and taught community singing groups. Deeply committed to social justice, she sang with political choirs like Protest in Harmony. Penman weathered personal tragedy and loss, but kept singing and passing on her love of folk music.
Eileen’s younger son Stevie Palmer has followed in his mother’s footsteps by becoming a hard working singer songwriter & drummer with two CDs to his name.
Now in her 80s, Eileen Penman is still a beloved fixture in Edinburgh’s sessions and song circles. Her tireless dedication to grassroots music-making has enriched Scottish cultural life for over half a century. Though humble about her contributions, Penman’s artistic spirit and passion for bringing people together through song cement her legacy.