DKOS Danny’s of 2023 – Binky Blue – Càrnan – Chloe Matharu – Tern- Will Boyd-Wallis

Binky Blue – Kilmaurs

Binky Blue are a brother and sister duo, Jared and Rianna Muir that have been bringing their exciting neo-trad music to audiences across Scotland since 2018. Capturing elements from Traditional, Dance, Electronic and Folk music results in captivating and high energy performances that engage and energise listeners to clap, dance and stomp along.
Traditional instruments such as fiddle and guitar are merged with not so traditional effects allowing Binky Blue to generate their unique and characteristic sound described as “enchanting” and having “a wholesome sound” by Ben Johnston from Biffy Clyro. Influenced by bands such as Elephant Sessions, Valtos and Niteworks, Binky Blue combine their traditional style with modern electronic sounds to enhance and excite their music.
The band draws its repertoire from both traditional tunes and original compositions, both of which are arranged in a modern neo-trad style which brings new life to old tunes and allows for the creative freedom to experiment with their own composi tions.Binky Blue aim to further develop their sound of energetic dance music with traditional tunes and to capture the elements from both to deliver an exciting and lively performance that can be enjoyed by all audiences. They have gigged at local festivals throughout the 2023 and will be recording and releasing an EP in the spring.

Càrnan   – Kintail / Glasgow / Isle of Skye

CÀRNAN -Louden MacKay / Arthur Brook + new member
CÀRNAN is an upcoming and energetic Scottish indie folk trio with a funkier take on trad. The indisputable synergy of lively accordion Louden MacKay, backed by thunderous guitar Arthur Brook + new member to be announced as Breanna Wilson has had to leave the band due to heavy commitments at this time
The fusion of contemporary original tunes and songs, along with a firm connection to the music and culture of their roots (Highlands, Glasgow, and Ireland to name a few) gives them a fresh and unique position within the music scene in Scotland.
The group released their first singles during 2022 – two original instrumental sets,“Calmac Kenny” and “Donnie the Highlander”, a cover of John Martyn’s “Over the Hill” and their own take on a traditional Gaelic song “Fionnlagh”. All received airtime across UK radio stations including BBC Radio Scotland’s “Travelling Folk” presented by Anna Massie and Bruce McGregor.
With the addition of Breanna to the band in January 2023, the group have lots of new and exciting material in the works. Louden hails from Kintail in the Highlands, Breanna from Glasgow, and Arthur from the Isle of Skye.

Chloe Matharu – Wemyss Bay

Chloe Matharu is an Award winning Scottish Indian singer songwriter and harpist on the West Coast of Scotland. Many of her songs draw on her time as a Navigational Officer in the Merchant Navy, inspired by the natural world as experienced at sea. On tour she performs solo with her harp in English, Scots and Welsh.  Her music offers “an intriguing insight into a new tradition of maritime folk music with thoughtful song writing embellished by her voice and superb harp playing” – The Herald. From 2024 she will also bring electronic soundscapes to the stage, as heard in her single The Silkie of Sule Skerry, with a three piece band.

She has performed at venues such as Celtic Connections, Cambridge Folk Festival, Glad Cafe Glasgow, Green Note in London, Fringe by the Sea, Edinburgh Fringe and Hartlepool Folk Festival. She received Celtic Music Radio’s Album of the Year for her debut album, Small Voyages, released in October 2022. She was selected by Showcase Scotland in the WOMEX awarded Global Music Match 2022. In 2023 she was awarded a Danny at Celtic Connections; a Live Music Award at Greenock Telegraph Community Awards; nominated by public vote in the Wales Folk Awards; nominated for Scots Singer of the Year in MG Alba Trad Awards; was one of five finalists in the Canadian Goderich Emerging Artist Showcase. In 2023 she has performed live on BBC Radio Four Woman’s Hour, BBC Scotland News TV program The Seven, interviewed on BBC Radio Scotland’s The Afternoon

Tern – Glasgow

Named after the migrating bird of the Nordic regions, Tern is a 5-piece band composed of Rose Logan (SC – Fiddle), Kristina Leesik (SE – Fiddle), Amy Laurenson (SC – Piano), Lea Søndergaard Larsen (DK – Bodhran), and Miguel Girão (PT – Guitar).

Named after the migrating bird of the Nordic regions, Tern is a 5-piece band composed of Rose Logan
(SC – Fiddle), Kristina Leesik (SE – Fiddle), Lea Søndergaard Larsen (DK – Bodhran), Miguel Girão (PT –
Guitar) and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2023 Amy Laurenson (SC –
Piano)
Tern crafts contemporary arrangements of traditional and original material, which draw on the music
of Shetland, Mainland Scotland, and Scandinavia.
Exploring the connections between the music of their homelands, Tern challenges listeners, inviting
audiences on an exciting, cross-cultural journey, deeply rooted in a Nordic soundscape. 

Will Boyd-Wallis – Inverness

Ecologist, woodsman, singer-songwriter Will Boyd-Wallis presents his own songs, featuring his well-travelled ‘guitalele’ and acoustic guitar. His accompaniments are naturally rhythmic, making careful use of rich open tunings, which perfectly underpin his reflective, soulful vocals.
Equally at home playing on mountain crags, in caves, by the campfire and on stage, his songs are inspired by the ebb and flow of nature and reflect life in the Highlands of Scotland – yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Will lives in the Highlands, right in the heart of the native Caledonian pinewoods of Strathspey. His ‘day job’ with the National Trust for Scotland takes him back and forth to the West coast and the Western Isles, including St. Kilda, Iona and Mingulay, where he gains much of his musical inspiration.
There are hints of Ivan Drever and Nick Drake in his guitar work, but his own unique voice resonates with all the wisdom and experience of a man who has spent considerable time in the wilds.This is Will’s first performance at Celtic Connections. He will introduce some of his most recently self-penned songs.