Hands Up for Trad’s Women in Music and Culture 2024 list has been announced to celebrate just some of the women working in Scotland.
Launched as part of International Women’s Day 2023, we shine the spotlight on 15 women who all contribute towards Scotland’s cultural landscape through their work. Read the 2024 list here.
We asked Sheena Wellington to tell us more about there work, influences and ambitions for the future.
How did you first get involved in the arts and who were your early influences?
I have been singing all my life picking up songs from my father, grandmother and other family members,
At a time which has been very challenging for many people working in the arts, how did you use the last 3 years to develop your creativity?
I listened to a great deal of music from my vast personal collection, online concerts,Bandcamp downloads and so on. I revisited some ballads and songs which had slipped out of my reprtoire, had a go at some I have always meant to get round to and learned a puckle recent compositions.
Who or what interests you creatively?
I like to keep up with what the younger singers are doing. As practically everyone still active is younger than me, that keeps me busy! There’s the middles like Karine Polwart, Amy Lord, Natalie Chalmers, Steve Byrne, Alastair Roberts, the youngsters like Hannah Rarity, Claire Hastings, Annie & Cit Lennox et al and those still at RCS like Ellie Beaton. I am also the programmer for events at the Wighton Heritage Centre – just had a stunning concert from Chrils Miles and Gearaidh Matthews – and we have classes in Scots song, Gaelic song, whistle, fiddle and clarsach so that lets me hear good stuff.
What are your plans for the next year or so and/or what are your longer term creative ambitions?
At my age every day is a bonus so I am happy just to keep on singing and hearing good music!
Find out more about Sheena Wellington here.
Read the Hands Up for Trad’s Women in Music and Culture 2023 List
Hands Up for Trad are an organisation who work with Scottish traditional music, language and culture. If you would like to support our work you can donate here.
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