Congratulations to SKERRYVORE 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 Daniella of SKERRYVORE the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Three-time winners of Scotland’s Live Act of the Year award, Skerryvore have grown from their humble beginnings to become one of the nation’s most successful and best-loved musical exports. From the village halls of their West Coast roots to festivals crowds in the USA, UK, Europe and Australia, their live performances have become legendary. Highly-energetic, deeply moving, and wholly captivating, their music is a meeting point of tradition and innovation. Bagpipes, fiddles, accordions, and whistles meeting driving guitar, bass, keys, and drums – their unique fusion and expansive sound is deeply rooted in Scottish culture, yet unmistakably ‘Skerryvore’
Why are you involved in Scottish music?
Skerryvore’s journey began in 2005 in the Isle Of Tiree, when Daniel & Martin Gillespie met Alec Dalglish & Fraser West and realised a shared love of tradition and a hunger to create something new. Over two decades later, and that dream has evolved into a band at the forefront of a movement that has reimagined and re-energised Scotland’s music scene for a modern, diverse, global audience.
Any particular career highlights?
The have been many highlights during our 20 years as a band. From the early days of the west-coast village halls, to playing international music festivals we have been extremely fortunate to be a part of an ever growing and evolving Scottish music scene. Our biggest highlight to-date must be our Anniversary Concert this year at Floors Castle. Having so many people from across the world joining us to celebrate was extremely humbling and the atmosphere was truly incredible.
What are your plans for the future?
As we enter our third decade we plan to keep growing and progressing further with lots of exciting tour dates and festival appearances lined up, both at home and internationally. We have been working away in the studio and look forward to sharing new music very soon. We are always keen to explore new ideas, and be innovative in our music, but the roots of the band will always be present and we hope to find new ways to further share to joy of Scottish traditional music to a wider audience.
SKERRYVORE Social Media
Website: https://www.skerryvore.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skerryvore
Instagram: @skerryvore
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkerryvoreTV
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.