Congratulations to Lainey Dempsey who has / have been nominated in Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for Lainey Dempsey 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 Lainey of Lainey Dempsey the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I've always loved unaccompanied singing and as a teenager found the field recordings of Hamish Henderson and Alan Lomax to be pretty magical.
When covid hit, I joined the Goilin singers at their Dublin based online singing sessions. When the pandemic finally passed, I was offered some gigs and walked in to a readymade community of singers. It was great to discover so many incredible singers that seemed to feel the same way as myself about what it is to sing a song.
My dad was a singer and would often play a mix of folk and country in the house. As a teen I turned off to a lot of the material and discovered punk. When I started singing folk again as an adult I sought out traditional songs that I was happy to perpetuate. When I am writing, I often aim to highlight the many interesting women from Scotland's history and folktales who could be given more due.
In relation to this, I am interested in folk song as a form of protest and social record and often write about rebels, underdogs and social injustice whether current or historical.
Any particular career highlights?
Going from my lockdown couch to guesting at the Cullerlie Singing Weekend in Aberdeenshire and at The Frank Harte Festival in Dublin. Scary but all other highlights followed because I said ‘yes’ to those gigs.
Self releasing my album Letle Telt which was album of the week on BBC Radio Scotland.
As part of the New York based project Dissident Hymns, one of my songs was broadcast in Gaza and it was moving to be able to express solidarity so directly.
Being asked to guest at Whitby Folk Week
Helping to bring a large group of traditional singers over from Inishowen Donegal to Glasgow for a cultural exchange of unaccompanied singing.
A songwriting commission about the history of Govanhill Baths.
The British Library Sound Archive requesting a copy of Letle Telt for their national collection for 'preservation and access for generations to come’.
Throughout this time it has always been a highlight when a singer I respect and admire wishes to sing one of my songs. Several songs are now with other voices and you really can't get better than great singers recognising your work. Also it means the stories you want to tell travel further.
What are your plans for the future?
I’m one song away from finishing writing and researching my next collection of songs which explores the connection of song to place.
I've gigs coming up at Walthamstow Folk Club and Celtic Connections and am looking forward to guesting at a singing weekend in the Cotswolds in February.
I hope to continue collaborating with organisations on both sides of the water that connect Irish and Scottish singers.
A bit further down the line I plan to research the significance of plant lore in Scottish Traditional Songs in order to record a third collection of songs.
Lainey Dempsey Social Media
Website: http://www.laineyd.org
YouTube: @laineydempsey4219
Listen to music: https://laineydempsey.bandcamp.com/album/letle-telt
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.