Congratulations to Lussa who has been nominated in Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland 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 Naomi of Lussa the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Emerging from the vibrant traditional music scene of Glasgow, Lussa is an upcoming four-piece folk band consisting of Elisabet McConnell (fiddle), Naomi Priestnall (fiddle), Bailey McCoo (keys) and Eneko Lane (guitar/banjo). The band met during their time studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and quickly established themselves as an exciting new act, creating fresh, spirited arrangements of both original and traditional tunes.
Inspired by the Latin word for “light”, their infectious energy and joyful sound have captivated audiences in both large and intimate venues. Lussa debuted at Celtic Connections 2024 in the “Danny Kyle Open Stage”.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
Coming from a range of musical backgrounds, we aspire to share Scottish trad music with new audiences & communities. We are constantly inspired by the thriving traditional music scene in Glasgow, and would love to see Scottish music being embraced all over the country.
For many of us, our passion for traditional music began in youth and grassroots projects like Tayside Young Fiddlers, The Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra, The Trad Gathering & RCS Juniors.
We are incredibly grateful for the opportunities given to us by the teachers and organisations we learnt from, but we are aware that not every young person will have the chance to experience the joy of traditional music. Because of this, we would love for our music to reach wider communities and inspire the next generation of traditional musicians.
Any particular career highlights?
Competing as finalists in the Battle of the Folk Bands at Celtic Connections 2025, following a performance at the Danny Kyle Open Stage in 2024.
Collaborating with young musicians has been a real highlight for us: running workshops with Ceol Dun Deagh & Tayside Young Fiddlers, hosting a fundraiser concert and ceilidh in Dundee, and working with the Ayrshire Fiddle Orchestra in 2024.
We have loved performing at festivals such as: Celtival in Italy, Semley Music Festival in Dorset, Newton Stewart Trad Fest, Fresh Ayr Folk Fest, Busby Arts Fest, Celtic Connections, and Doonfest in Ayrshire, which included opening for and playing alongside
“The Bluebells”.
We released our debut singles, “Lussa Reels” and “McMillan’s” and the official music video for “Lussa Reels” in 2025
What are your plans for the future?
After the huge success of our debut singles, the creation of our highly anticipated debut album is underway!
We would love to continue travelling and sharing our music with new audiences at festivals and gigs next year. Expanding to more European countries and further afield is another goal of ours.
Lussa Social Media
Website: https://linktr.ee/lussaband
Facebook: @lussaband
Instagram: @lussaband
YouTube: @lussaband
TikTok: @lussaband
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.