Congratulations to Pàdruig Morrison who has / have been nominated in Album of the Year sponsored by BirnamCD in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for Pàdruig Morrison 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 Pàdruig of Pàdruig Morrison the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I am an accordionist and composer from Grimsay in Uist in the Outer Hebrides. I was lucky to have a strong upbringing in a Gaelic community which has undoubtedly underpinned my musical interests through to the present day. I then went on to study classical accordion with Djordje Gajic and that then led me to also pursue contemporary composition as far as a PhD which explored the confluence of Scottish traditional music and contemporary 'classical' composition. My debut album 'Buin' is much more rooted in the Gaelic traditional genre, even though it consists almost entirely of newly composed tunes and four new Gaelic songs. I moved back to Uist in 2021 and live in Grimsay and work the family croft.
Any particular career highlights?
I've had a few highlights performing at Celtic Connections, including my first headline concert this year when I launched my album in the Mackintosh Church in Glasgow. In 2019 I was lucky to be involved in writing some music that was in the Celtic Connections opening concert, and that year I was also a finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year. I have also been lucky to have lots of performance opportunities, from being included in this year's Festival of Small Halls, touring with John McCusker in 2016, as well as many gigs with Beinn Lee, including twice in the Barrowlands and at festivals such as Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Heb Celt, TMF, and closing EDF 2023.
A number of highlights as a composer include Thirteen North's performances of my composition 'These Highland Glens Once Danced', being selected last year to write a new suite of music for the National Trust for Scotland's reopening of Canna House, and in recent years having works performed by Hebrides Ensemble and Hard Rain Soloist Ensemble. I was also delighted to receive a Celtic Connections New Voices commission in 2020, and a number of those tunes and songs were recorded for the album.
What are your plans for the future?
In 2024 I completed a PhD in composition looking at the confluence of Scottish traditional music and contemporary 'classical' composition. As part of my submission I wrote 90 minutes of music that explores that synthesis of genres and so I would like to have some of that music recorded in the near future!
Pàdruig Morrison Social Media
Website: http://www.padruigmorrison.com/
Facebook: @PadruigMorrisonMusic/
Instagram: @padruigceol
YouTube: @padruigmorrison2250
Listen to music: http://padruigmorrison.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.