Congratulations to Alistair Iain Paterson who has been nominated in Musician of the Year sponsored by University of the Highlands and Islands in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024. Vote for Alistair Iain Paterson now!. It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 30th November in Inverness Leisure. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Alistair Iain of Alistair Iain Paterson the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I am a traditional musician, originally from the village of Bishopton in Renfrewshire, but now based in Glasgow. Growing up I learnt to play the pipes and piano, which ignited my lifelong passion for Scottish traditional music. My work as a musician spans the worlds of performance, recording, arranging, composing and teaching and I love the continual diversity of this – no week is ever the same!
I studied Scottish music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland from 2009 – 2013 and was awarded the Martyn Bennett Memorial Scholarship in 2012. Since 2016 I have worked as a piano lecturer at RCS, teaching students on the BMus/MMus course in traditional music.
I have been fortunate to work with so many outstanding traditional musicians over the years. I was a founding member of the band Barluath, and have been the keyboard player with Skipinnish since 2016. I have also been lucky to perform with fantastic artists such as Megan Henderson, Mischa MacPherson, Patsy Reid, Julie Fowlis, Ainsley Hamill and Robyn Stapleton among many others. Other collaborations have included work with Scottish Ensemble, the BBC Scotland Symphony Orchestra and the National Theatre of Scotland.
I was a finalist in the 2014 BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Competition and won the 2016 Saltire Society International Bursary for Music. I have always enjoyed working with other artists’ creative ideas, be that recording on albums or in creating content for TV/radio broadcasts. Composing and arranging is also a big part of my musical life – some of my compositions were recently included in the ‘St Andrews Scottish Songbook’ and ‘Renfrewshire Collection' (Fèis Phàislig).
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
My biggest musical influence was my gran – I grew up listening to her playing Scottish tunes and Gaelic songs on the piano. Some of my most special memories are sitting playing tunes together with her at the piano. She played well into her nineties – a complete inspiration.
A lot of my family are from the Outer Hebrides and the Highlands, so I was surrounded by traditional (particularly Gaelic) music from an early age. Growing up I began to appreciate the importance of tradition and understanding your heritage. When I later studied at RCS I became very interested in folklore, due in no small part to the inspirational teaching of Professor Margaret Bennett. Last year we collaborated on the collation, research and release of a collection of archive recordings of the renowned singer and pianist, Elizabeth Stewart of Fetterangus. I think it is vital that tradition is continually explored and documented, so that it can evolve and be passed on to others.
I am passionate about music education and enjoy working with people of all ages and stages. It is a privilege to work with the wonderful students at RCS, and to see them flourish into such unique and talented performers. In the past couple of years I have also collaborated regularly with fiddler Mairi Gilfedder on Cèilidh Tots – interactive concerts for babies and toddlers that introduce them to live Scottish music.
I suppose the ultimate aim of the creative arts is to make a positive impact on the world. Through my involvement with Scottish music, I love seeing the joy it brings to so many people (including myself!).
Any particular career highlights?
I am fortunate that music has given me the opportunity to travel around the world and perform in many amazing places.
Some highlights this year have included performances with Skipinnish at Edinburgh Castle, Hammersmith Apollo Theatre and O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, as well as the fantastic Tønder Festival in Denmark. Skipinnish gigs at the Glasgow Barrowlands in recent years have always been great fun too!
I recently performed harmonium on a tour of ‘Hebridean Treasure’, a beautiful theatre production that travelled to lots of stunning places around Scotland.
My trip to Cape Breton Island in 2016 as part of the Saltire Society Award was particularly memorable – the music, culture and traditions fascinated me.
What are your plans for the future?
Being a musician always throws up surprises, and sometimes new opportunities emerge unplanned! A few exciting things for 2025 include the launch of a new album with Ainsley Hamill, playing a headline gig with Skipinnish at the Glasgow OVO Hydro in September, and new collaborative projects with cross-cultural band Naad-hara. I also hope to do more composing/arranging and perhaps do some solo-based recording work.
Alistair Iain Paterson Social Media
Website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alistair_Iain_Paterson
Facebook: @alistairiainpaterson
Twitter: @
Instagram: @alistairiainpaterson
YouTube: @alistairiainpaterson
TikTok: @
The 2024 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 30th November 2024 in Inverness Leisure Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here). Watch it live in the UK at 9pm (GMT) on BBC ALBA and and around the world here. Bands performing on Saturday 30th November include Julie Fowlis, Skipinnish, Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr, Highland Young Musicians and Arc Fiddlers, An Dannsa Dub, BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award winner 2024 Calum McIlroy and more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.
