Congratulations to Rachel and Holli who has / have been nominated in Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for Rachel and Holli 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 Rachel of Rachel and Holli the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
Rachel and Holli are an award-winning Scottish traditional music duo originally from Argyll, and now based in Glasgow. We first met in 2016 through the Argyll Ceilidh Trail, and after pursuing separate career paths for several years, we reconnected in 2024 and started developing this shared musical project.
Playing a combination of accordion, piano, fiddle and vocals, we draw on the traditional music education we've grown up with while exploring new arrangements, original tunes and contemporary influences. We're passionate about traditional music, but equally excited by the possibilities of making it our own and finding a sound that reflects us as musicians.
Since forming the duo, we've released a single, In the Stream, followed by our debut EP, Testing the Waters. In 2026, we were delighted to win a Danny Award at the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections.
We've been building our performing career independently, funding our musical releases through organising our own tours performing in small venues and village halls across Scotland. Having grown up in Argyll it is particularly meaningful for us to share our music with more rural communities. We're also musicians with Live Music Now Scotland, which has given us the opportunity to build our skills in using music as a tool for engaging with a range of people and exploring how live music can bring individuals together.
We're at an exciting point in our journey, developing our own material, finding new audiences and working towards a future in which we can continue to create and share Scottish traditional music.
Any particular career highlights?
Winning a Danny at the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Celtic Connections 2026 was a significant milestone for us and a real encouragement as we are establishing ourselves as a duo in the Scottish traditional music scene.
Other highlights from earlier this year include releasing our debut EP, Testing the Waters, and becoming musicians with the organisation Live Music Now Scotland, who have been very supportive of our work.
We've also been really encouraged by the response to our performances. The Festival Directors at NAFCo described us as “an outstanding duo whose performance showcases both exceptional musicianship and natural chemistry”. The Cromarty Arts Trust also praised our performance, highlighting the “warmth, energy and beautiful musicianship” we brought to the event.
Alongside these milestones, we're proud of what we've achieved independently. We've organised our own concerts, performing in village halls across Scotland including Skye, Cromarty, Kilchrenan and Seil. These experiences have helped us grow as musicians and given us the confidence to take initiative and create opportunities for ourselves.
Although we're in the early stages of our career together, we've already taken important steps towards establishing ourselves as performers and composers. We're excited to continue developing our practice and to deepen our connection to others through music.
What are your plans for the future?
We're currently working towards our debut album, which feels like a natural next step for us. We're excited to develop our original compositions further, experiment with new ideas and create a collection of music that captures where we are as a duo at this stage in our career.
We hope to build on the momentum we've gained by playing at more folk festivals, expanding our touring and reaching audiences beyond Scotland. Nonetheless, it is important for us to continue bringing live music to rural and remote communities, who may have limited access to live performance.
As composers as well as performers, one of our biggest ambitions is to keep developing a distinctive musical voice. We're keen to collaborate with other musicians, learn from different traditions and explore new opportunities, while staying connected to the music and communities that brought us together.
While we’ve achieved a lot through using our own initiative, we're keen to build networks and connections that can support us to build a sustainable career in music. We hope to create space to continue growing creatively, reaching new audiences and continuing to bring joy to people through music.
Rachel and Holli Social Media
Website: http://rachelandholli.co.uk
Facebook: @rachelandholli
Instagram: @rachelandholli
YouTube: @RachelandHolli
Listen to music: http://rachelandholli.bandcamp.com/album/testing-the-waters https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YIgkJh4b4o0WRIT0SsL0P?si=7OpmX3GgS-irkD5Va_HKuA
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.