Hands Up for Trad’s Women in Music and Culture 2026 list has been announced to celebrate just some of the women working in Scotland.
Launched as part of International Women’s Day 2026, we shine the spotlight on 12 women who all contribute towards Scotland’s cultural landscape through their work. Read the 2026 list here.
We asked Laura Harrington to tell us more about their work, influences and ambitions for the future.
How did you first get involved in the arts and who were your early influences?
I first got involved in the arts in the most natural way possible, through community. Growing up in the islands, in Orkney and Shetland, music wasn’t something that happened on a stage far away; it happened in living rooms at music parties, or at the bottom of the farm track busking with your cousins for Rousay tourists! Before I could even play, I remember sitting listening intently to Billy and Ingie Jolly, Owen Tierney, Edwin Flaws, to name just a few. The sound of the tunes, the laughter, the sense of belonging – it completely captured me.
My Grandad was my biggest early influence. He played the accordion and would sit for hours with me, playing the same tunes over and over (and over!) again while I learned by ear. There was such patience and happiness in those moments of sharing from both sides.
I started fiddle lessons with the late Bernadette Porter when I was 8 before being taught by Trevor Hunter. I vividly remember working out “Twinkle Twinkle” by ear not long after I started and it felt like a complete lightbulb moment. I was hooked!
Being part of the youth groups, New Tradition and later Swingin’ Fiddles, gave me unforgettable experiences growing up and planted the seed for the youth work I’m so passionate about now.
In terms of other early musical influences, Natalie MacMaster was a firm favourite of mine along with Catriona Macdonald and Duncan Chisholm. I used to save my pocket money and spend it all on their CDs!
Growing up in Shetland was also hugely formative. Having the Shetland Folk Festival and the Accordion & Fiddle Festival right on my doorstep meant I was constantly inspired – not just by the incredible musicians, but by the community spirit, the volunteering, the craic, and the feeling that everyone had a place and was welcome. The arts felt accessible and truly alive.
I didn’t “get involved” in the arts in a formal way — I grew up immersed in them. The people, the places and that deep-rooted sense of community shaped who I am, and they continue to sit at the heart of everything I do.
In a time when many artists and creative professionals are facing significant challenges, how have you developed and evolved your creative practice over the past few years?
The last few years have definitely stretched me, both creatively and personally. With so many challenges facing artists and organisations over the last few years, and still ongoing, including funding pressures, rising costs and general uncertainty, I’ve had to become more adaptable and more intentional about how I work. I wear a lot of different hats, and I’ve learned more than ever to let them strengthen one another. The strategic thinking I use when managing different projects informs how I approach creative work, and staying active as a performer keeps everything grounded and authentic.
I’ve become much more confident over the years in advocating for traditional music. For someone who can sometimes feel quite shy, that is quite something! Part of my creative practice now includes speaking up for its value and articulating why it matters socially, culturally and across generations. That advocacy often feels just as important as playing the tunes themselves.
At the same time, I’ve made a conscious effort not to lose the joy of it. Making space in a busy life for me and my fiddle has been hard at times, but protecting that space for creativity and connection is absolutely worth it.
Who or what interests you creatively?
I’m naturally quite a creative person, so I’m inspired by and interested in lots of things beyond just music.
Nature is a big one for me. Give me the sea, a big sky, a sunrise or sunset, or a wander through the woods and I feel completely reset. There’s something about being outdoors that clears my head and makes space for ideas. It’s not always easy to slow down, but when I do and really notice what’s around me, inspiration almost always follows.
My faith also shapes how I see creativity. It gives me a sense of purpose and perspective, and reminds me that creativity isn’t just about self-expression, but about sharing something that brings people together and builds community.
I love creativity in everyday life, particularly around the kitchen table. Making up stories with the children, decorating cakes, and getting stuck into crafts like needle felting and sea glass art, those small shared moments are often where ideas begin. Before life got quite so full, some friends and I used to have regular “Crafternoons”, which were a space to create, listen to good tunes, have a bacon roll and enjoy a nice piece of cake. It was simple but brilliant, and I’m looking forward to the day we can get back to them!
On a work level, partnership working interests me creatively. I love having an idea and then collaborating with others to bring it to life. There are so many talented people working within the sector, and I genuinely believe we can do incredible things together. Shared creativity, that spark between people, often leads to something far bigger than any one person could create alone.
More than anything, in all areas of my life, I’m inspired by community, by people creating, building and sharing. That’s where my creativity feels most alive
What are your plans for the next year or so and/or what are your longer term creative ambitions?
Over the next year, a big focus will be delivering the 25th Anniversary of the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention (NAFCo) in Aberdeen — do make sure you’ve got 24th–28th June 2026 firmly in the diary! It’s going to be an incredible opportunity for so many different communities to gather, celebrate and showcase the music and dance that connects us… I can’t wait.
Following the very welcome stability of Multi-Year Funding from Creative Scotland for SC&T Youth, I’m excited to focus on deepening the impact and reach of the programme, continuing to widen access and strengthen pathways for young people across the North East to be involved in traditional music.
Creatively, having started up the ‘NAFCo House Band’ last year with some lovely friends, I’m really keen to dedicate more time to simply playing for the joy of it. Over the last six months, developing new arrangements for various gigs has reminded me how much I love the process of learning new tunes, shaping sets, experimenting with arrangements and performing alongside friends. There’s something very special about that shared energy, and it has been a timely reminder of why I do all of this.
Perhaps most of all, I’m looking forward to playing music more with my children. Now aged 11, 9, 8 and 6, they’re trying out different instruments and growing in confidence. So far in the Harrington Family Band line-up, we have guitar, mandolin, piano, a solid bothy ballad singer, and little Innes is on the fiddle! It brings me so much joy knowing they’re growing up in an environment where it’s normal to have tunes in the kitchen and music nights which go on for hours and hours. I’d love for them to grow up feeling as inspired and connected to the music as I did.
Longer term, my ambition is simple but meaningful: to keep strengthening the traditional music sector, passionately advocating for its value, and ensuring there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to get involved. I believe our community is thriving, not just surviving.
Read the Hands Up for Trad’s Women in Music and Culture 2026 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.