Congratulations to The Paul McKenna Band who has been nominated in Scottish Folk Band of the Year sponsored by Threads of Sound in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024. Vote for The Paul McKenna Band 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 Paul of The Paul McKenna Band the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Formed in Glasgow in 2006, The Paul McKenna Band sees Paul McKenna (vocals, guitar) come together with Ewan Baird (percussion), Conor Markey (banjo, bouzouki, guitars), Conal McDonagh (pipes, whistles) and Robbie Greig (fiddle). The members are bound by a shared love of Scottish and Irish traditional music and contemporary, dynamic compositions, all underpinned by expert playing and Paul’s stunning vocals, which are expertly applied in their newest release.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
A combined love of Scottish Music brought the band together in 2006. Since then they have strived to take the music forward while not straying too far from their Scottish/Irish roots. The band have felt extremely privileged to be ambassadors for Scottish Music while touring extensively over the past 18 years. These reasons, among many others, are why we have continued to be involved in Scottish music throughout the years.
Any particular career highlights?
Paul McKenna was a guest on the acclaimed Transatlantic Sessions in 2019. Two sold out shows followed by a tour around the UK was a particular highlight in his career so far.
Band highlights over the years include performances across Canada, USA and Australia taking in some high profile festivals including Edmonton Folk Festival, Milwaukee Irish Fest and Woodford Folk Festival to name a few.
During Woodford Folk Festival 2016 the band played a special Hogmanay show alongside Dougie Maclean, The Poozies and The East Pointers to around 20,000 people which has always been a very special memory for the band.
What are your plans for the future?
The Paul McKenna Band released a new EP in 2024 and toured in Germany, Norway and the UK to help promote the release. We will continue to support this release in 2025 with tours in Germany, Denmark and Belgium where we also hope to capture as many live recordings as possible with the long term goal of releasing a live album in 2026 to celebrate our 20th Anniversary Year.
The Paul McKenna Band Social Media
Website: https://paulmckennaband.com
Facebook: @thepaulmckennaband
Twitter: @paulmckennaband
Instagram: @paulmckennaband
YouTube: @thepaulmckennaband
TikTok: @paulmckennaband
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.
