Congratulations to Louise Bichan who has been nominated in Original Work of the Year sponsored Musicians’ Union in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024. Vote for Louise Bichan 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 Louise of Louise Bichan the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Growing up in the remote but culturally rich Orkney islands, a place where creativity abounds and playing music has been a part of the social fabric for centuries, gave Louise a solid grounding in music. She started playing fiddle at the age of 7 after witnessing the magic of live music. The sense of community and belonging it gave her was infectious; she pestered her parents to let her learn.
In the years since, she has honed her craft, first amongst the cream of Scottish folk at Glasgow’s renowned session scene and performances with talent like Orkney group Fara and award-winning singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni, before a scholarship to Berklee College of Music, Boston, where she developed her style further.
Masterfully blending traditional and classical arrangements, her music is thoughtful, and complex, curious and playful. She composes in response to her roots and the world around her; weaving through stories of connection, to people, nature, the past and the possibility of the future.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
I grew up in Orkney, surrounded by fiddle music and remember getting that butterflies in my stomach feeling, every year at the Orkney Folk Festival, just knowing that I wanted to be up there playing fiddle on stage some day! I love writing, recording and performing music, playing with other great musicians, travelling and seeing in new places, meeting new people. I am proud to play the music of my homeland around the world.
Any particular career highlights?
Performing on Hogmanay Live with Rachel Sermanni, opening Freshgrass Festival in Massachusetts (USA) with an original piece of music commissioned by the festival with my band Corner House, and a recent four-page piece about my new album The Lost Summer being published in Strings Magazine are some highlights for me.
What are your plans for the future?
More writing, more travelling and performing, recording, more collaborations and a foray into songwriting!
Louise Bichan Social Media
Website: https://www.louisebichan.co.uk/
Facebook: @LBichan
Twitter: @
Instagram: @lbichan
YouTube: @LouiseBichanOrkney
TikTok: @louisebichan
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.
