Congratulations to KINNARIS Q 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 Aileen of KINNARIS Q the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
We’re KINNARIS Q, a band proudly based in Glasgow.
Our band consists of:
Aileen Reid (5 string fiddle)
Fiona MacAskill (fiddle)
Jenn Butterworth (guitar)
Laura Beth Salter (mandolin)
Formed in 2017, we still pinch ourselves at the whirlwind of success since the band’s inception, and take great pride in delivering entirely live performances which are often described by audiences world-wide as powerful, memorable, embracing, joyful and uplifting.
We released our debut album Free One in 2018, and second album This Too in 2022.
Both studio albums intentionally reflect our focus on authenticity, capturing the energy and essence of our exhilarating live performance by recording both albums live.
Whether in a live setting or recorded, music from KINNARIS Q promises to stir the soul, evoke emotions, take you on a journey and (perhaps most importantly) make you smile along the way.
Our music is full of joyful enthusiasm, a celebration of culture, connection, and the sheer delight of making music together. The music we play is a melting pot of original tunes and arrangements, with a good dose of traditional Scottish, Irish, Bluegrass, Classical and Scandinavian influences.
Expect to be taken on a musical journey of emotion, to be utterly uplifted with driving harmonies, intricate arrangements, big bold party vibes, and joy in abundance!
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
We each hail from different musical backgrounds of the Trad/folk/roots family tree, and love it just as much as we did growing up. After many years colouring other projects with our individual styles, we pulled together our favourite things about music and produced what became the unique and signature sound of KINNARIS Q.
We met and live in Glasgow, a city we are immensely proud to represent in our music-making and performances. Much like Glasgow itself, our music remains faithful to our traditional roots, tradition and culture, and ensures there’s a surprisingly uplifting amount of joy along the way.
All KQ band members have been steeped in traditional music from an early age, and have spent our entire lives devoted to protecting, nurturing, teaching and promoting our music and culture. We believe we have a duty to protect and promote our traditions and culture whilst gently bringing it to the forefront of modern music, and hope to inspire others to do the same. We also fiercely believe in the importance of protecting and keeping the arts alive and thriving, as it impacts so many more people and sectors than just the artists themselves.
KINNARIS Q members are all passionate educators and purveyors of traditional music and culture. The band comprises of highly sought-after professional educators in both music and Gaelic language.
Any particular career highlights?
Ooooft!!…what a question! Where to start?!?!
The biggest perks are playing music together, and knowing we’ve lifted someone’s mood, or made someone in the audience smile, dance or have a special, emotional moment. Often people take the time to write to us about it and it’s a true honour to be capable of making those things happen through music. We know how powerful and inspiring music is, so to be able to do that – whether live on stage or via our recordings – will always be a privilege we’re proud as punch of. Extra bonus when it’s a fellow musician!!
Recent collaborations have included writing and performing with musical heroes Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Dreamers’ Circus, Frigg, and a guest appearance in pop superstar George Ezra’s End to End documentary.
Performing at Celtic Connections for 9 consecutive years in some of Scotland’s most iconic venues has also been unreal, most of which have sold out. It never ceases to surprise us how many people come to our gigs, how many musicians are there too!
Winning and receiving the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation in Music in 2019 was a real highlight too – it’s hugely rewarding and uplifting to know people and organisations believe in what you’re creating to be important and special enough to invest in.
And lastly, reading the following quote about us by a multi-platinum selling artist remains a real highlight too, considering how many musicians he’s encountered!!…
“I first met KINNARIS Q while filming a documentary for Amazon Prime, and from the very start, their energy was infectious . . . combined with the sheer brilliance of their music, made it one of my all-time favourite musical encounters . . . such a joy . . . some of the musicians I admire most.” (George Ezra)
What are your plans for the future?
We’re excited to create and release new music, and continue to make sure live gigs remain one of the most special experiences in the world.
We’re also particularly looking forward to creating more and releasing some new music recorded in George Ezra’s studio—home to the multi-platinum artist’s own creative work—with a 2026 release on the horizon.
Celtic Connections 2026 will see us headline in the glorious Pavilion Theatre on Friday 16 January 2026! We like to adapt our live sets to suit the venue format and audience, and this venue allows for a more varied set list which we’re excited about – plus we’ll be performing some brand new music for the very first time!
KINNARIS Q Social Media
Website: http://www.kinnarisq.com
Facebook: @kinnarisq
Instagram: kinnarisq
YouTube: kinnarisq
TikTok: N/A
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.