Congratulations to Dallahan who has been nominated in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2025. Vote now! It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 6th December in Aberdeen Music Hall. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Jack of Dallahan the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Forged in Scotland and Ireland’s traditional music scene, but drawing on the music of the Balkans and North America, Dallahan take their listeners on a journey. Traversing styles and countries of the world in a dazzling live show, they create their own unique brand of World-folk delivered with stunning virtuosity. The lineup consists of Jack Badcock on guitar and vocals, Ciaran Ryan on banjo, mandolin and fiddle, Andrew Waite on accordion and Benedict Morris on fiddle.
Following the release of their debut album ‘When The Day Is On The Turn’ in 2014, described by fRoots magazine as “the most exciting Irish music I’ve heard in a long time…Lunasa for the new generation” the band toured extensively in Europe and North America, establishing themselves internationally at such prestigious international events as Milwaukee Irish Fest (USA), Celtic Connections (SCO), Tonder Festival (DK), Festival Dranouter (BE), Woodford Folk Festival (AUS) and countless others.
In it’s first year, Dallahan was awarded the Emerging Excellence Award from Help Musicians UK and their debut album was shortlisted for ‘Album of the Year’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards. 2016 saw the release of their second album, ‘Matter Of Time’, which they performed globally 103 times that year, including travelling to Kathmandu, Nepal on behalf of the British Council to perform at the British/Nepalese bicentenary celebrations. The band was again shortlisted for ‘Album of the Year’ and they were awarded ‘Instrumental Cut of The Year’ at the LiveIreland Awards (USA). In 2019, Dallahan released their third album, (and their first with the European record label, Westpark Records) ‘Smallworld’, to critical acclaim and were shortlisted in the German Music Critics Choice Awards in the Folk category.
To date, they have brought their live show to 25 countries, earned four nominations for ‘Folk Band of The Year’ in 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2023 and enjoyed collaborations such as with songwriting legend Dougie MacLean, a commissioned composition and collaboration with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra at a WWI commemorative concert and also a concert in Kathmandu with Nepal’s folk music exponents, Kutumba.
After a decade together as a band, Dallahan have become a veteran touring outfit and with each album they continue to evolve their sound, as is evident on their latest studio album, ‘Speak of the Devil’ released in June 2023.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
Members of Dallahan met at a young age in Edinburgh’s traditional music scene in the pub sessions and found a love of playing traditional music there. Because we loved playing together and wanted to travel the world and make it our careers, we stuck together and assembled a band. Being part of the scottish music scene has been fantastic as though members have changed through the years, we have been part of a thriving scene from which to draw upon for lineup changes. Traditional music in Scotland is immediate and exciting and accessible almost everywhere which is why we were drawn to it.
Any particular career highlights?
Australian tour 2023-2024 with sell out shows in all major cities!
Kathmandu in 2016 to collaborate with Kutumba and celebrate British/Nepalese relations.
China tour in 2023 was some fabulous memories.
What are your plans for the future?
We plan to revisit America after a long hiatus from the country, with an appearance at Folk Alliance in Jan 2026 plus more US tours planned beyond that. We will return to Australia in March 2026 as well as further tours planned in Germany and Sweden in the first half of 2026, followed by summer festivals. We will tour America and the UK in the latter half of 2026 and start recording our 5th album next year with a view to releasing it in 2027.
Dallahan Social Media
Website: https://www.dallahanmusic.com
Facebook: @dallahanmusic
Instagram: @dallahanmusic
YouTube: @dallahan458
TikTok: @dallahanmusic
The 2025 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 6th December 2025 in Aberdeen Music Hall! 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. Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night in the Granite City will also welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including beloved singer Hannah Rarity, UK folk legends The Poozies, trad pop band Mec Lir and BBC Radio scotland Young Traditional Musician and Scots Performer o the Year Ellie Beaton and many 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.