Congratulations to Natalie Chalmers 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 Natalie the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I’m a singer of the traditional ballads and bothy ballads, entering my first competition when I was 7 years old, at the Buchan Heritage Society in Strichen, near the Broch (Fraserburgh) in the North-East of Scotland – the heart of bothy ballad country! As I ventured further afield to concerts and TMSA competitions, I soon found myself surrounded by some of the great tradition bearers like Geordie Murison, Joe Aitken, Eric Simpson, Gordon Easton and Tam Reid (to name just a few). With their help and encouragement, I had a grand time singing, and soon added doric verse to the repertoire, and then storytelling as well, when I got in tow with some of the greats like Stanley Robertson, Sheila Stewart and Jess Smith.
I was very lucky to have grand singing tuition from Elizabeth Stewart for several years followed by Christine Kydd and Mick West when I went to the National Centre of Excellence on Traditional Music at Plockton.
Now I live in Glasgow where I work as a Chartered Quantity Surveyor but, in my spare time, I love nothing more than taking part at all the festivals and concerts I grew up attending, and where I’ve made so many lifelong friends, as well as going further afield to the likes of Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festivals, where I have the best time sharing our songs and stories.
Most recently I’ve been involved in a project led by Ewan McVicar “Fae Fishie Tae Aikey” alongside Christine Kydd, Tripple, Pauline Cordiner, Andy Shanks and Scott Gardiner promoting and celebrating the recently digitised recordings of Ken Goldstein through the University of Mississippi.
I’m passionate about sharing and keeping the traditions of the North-East going and try to do my bit by being an active member of the TMSA (Aberdeen branch) where we do all we can with a lot of great initiatives like working with youngsters at the fantastic’ SC&T Youth and I co-host “Trad Time with the TMSA” on Keith Community Radio.
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
I started singing by chance! My sister, Gillian, is a piper, and being a bit older than me, I was trailed around the Highland Games and competitions with her. My mam soon got fed up of me whinging, and spending a fortune trying to keep me quiet at bottle stalls, so she entered me in the kids races at the Games, and had me learn a bothy ballad for that first competition at Strichen…turns out I liked singing more than running..and the rest is history!
Any particular career highlights?
Right now, I’m over the moon to be nominated for the Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year – to even be considered alongside some of the finest singers from current and former years is an honour.
I was really chuffed and grateful to win Scots Performer of the Year at the Scots Language awards in 2023
Then there are the moments you always remember, like taking the Alford Cattle Show to Celtic Connections with Plockton music school and being a finalist at the Bothy Ballad Champion of Championships in Elgin. It’s also an privilage to co-host the Celtic Connections’ House of Song, with Scott Gardiner and Amy Lord, following Doris Rougvie’s retirement.
But sometimes it’s the wee things that really stick with you, like the wee girl who heard us, singing Billy Connelly’s Welly Boot sang at Glastonbury. She sung it non-stop all year, and couldn’t wait to hear it again the following year!
What are your plans for the future?
I’ll keep enjoying, learning and sharing my songs and stories, doing whatever I can to pass our traditions and culture on to more folk and, especially, the next generation o’ youngsters. There’s not much can beat the feeling, of helping engage the next generation of youngsters, whether that’s at Glastonbury each year or at our local competitions and concerts.
In short, I’ll just do what I was told all those years ago, and “haud er gyan!”
Natalie Chalmers Social Media
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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.