Congratulations to Isla Ratcliff who has / have been nominated in Album of the Year sponsored by BirnamCD in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for Isla Ratcliff now! It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 5th December in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Isla of Isla Ratcliff the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I am a fiddle player, singer and composer based in Edinburgh. I recently released my second album, ‘The Scottish Four Seasons’ (2025), a Scottish trad reimagining of Vivaldi’s famous work that highlights the dance-like nature of Vivaldi’s music and reflects on how Scotland’s seasons and climate have changed in the past 300 years. Before that, my debut album ‘The Castalia’ (2021) was inspired by the 4 months that I spent in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 2019. I have toured across Scotland, the UK and Europe with my own solo project and with various other bands, including The Outside Track, Tanita Tikaram and Evie Waddell. I play with Torran Cèilidh Band, and I teach Suzuki violin and fiddle in Edinburgh.
Any particular career highlights?
My most recent career highlight has been gigging my new album ‘The Scottish Four Seasons’, including at Celtic Connections, Shetland Folk Festival, Edinburgh TradFest, Scots Fiddle Festival, and a live performance on BBC Radio 3 In Tune. It’s a joy to work with my wonderful band – Natalie Haas, Kristan Harvey, Megan Henderson, Lauren MacColl, Emma Tomlinson, Graham Mackenzie, Charlie Stewart, May Halyburton, Iona Reid, Juliette Lemoine and Amy Laurenson. This year, I have also loved touring with pop star Tanita Tikaram in the UK and Germany. In recent years, career highlights include a 2-week residency in Mexico with Live Music Now Scotland in 2025, being a Semi-Finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022, and being nominated at the Trad Awards on three previous occasions – Music Tutor of the Year in 2021, Up and Coming Artist of the Year in 2022, and Musician of the Year in 2025. Aged 13 (now a wee while ago!), I played a trad duet with Nicola Benedetti in Edinburgh's Usher Hall.
What are your plans for the future?
I will continue to tour my new album ‘The Scottish Four Seasons’ throughout 2027, so please check my website and social media for gig dates. I am also working on an album of songs, and a composition project where I am writing a tune for every Munro that I climb. (It’s a big project…!) I would love to make time to do more songwriting, I would like to do more work in theatre, and I'm always keen to collaborate with new musicians.
Isla Ratcliff Social Media
Website: http://www.islaratcliff.com
Facebook: @islaratcliffmusic
Instagram: @islaratcliffmusic
YouTube: @islaratcliff
Listen to music: http://islaratcliff.bandcamp.com
The 2026 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 5th December 2026 in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here).
Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night will welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including Valtos, Gnoss, Sian, Fèis Phàislig, Spodo Komodo and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Rachel Groves 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.