Congratulations to Sian 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 Eilidh of Sian the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
We are Sian – Ceitlin Lilidh, Eilidh Cormack and Ellen MacDonald – three Gaelic singers with direct connections to Lewis, Skye and North Uist and accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Innes White.
Our arrangements match deep feeling for tradition with bold harmony work, which has seen us likened to The Staves and even Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Our self-titled debut album was released in 2020 and made the shortlist so we are delighted that our second album, araon, has been nominated for Album of the Year once again!
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
It’s been a natural progression for us. We have been raised in Gaelic-speaking families and have been brought up singing these songs and learning more about them from some of the most knowledgable women in the tradition, and so we have a huge interest in carrying those songs, and others we find along the way, forward and breathing new life into them. We love to hear a song which could be two or three hundred years old and realise just how relevant and relatable it still is today.
Any particular career highlights?
We have been fortunate enough to perform in some of Scotland’s most iconic venues – the Hydro, Barrowlands Ballroom and the O2 Academy – through our long-running collaboration with Niteworks and were delighted to have Innes Strachan producing our latest album alongside Innes White as a result of that collaboration.
We are also lucky to get the opportunity to take Gaelic song further afield, having performed at Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Farsund Folk Festival in Norway and Celtic Colours in Canada.
What are your plans for the future?
We are looking forward to touring the latest album across the UK in the next couple of years and hope to use ‘araon’ as a springboard to expand our audiences and take on touring in Europe and beyond.
Sian Social Media
Website: https://sianmusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sianceol
Instagram: @sianceol
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sianceol
TikTok: @sianceol
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.