DKOS Danny’s  2026  –  Auskerry  –  Laura Silverstone – Meallan  –  Rachel and Holli  –  The Sweet Swing Serenaders – William Jack

Aukserry  and William Jack will not be appearing today due to distance and time constraints.

The six Danny’s chosen in the 2026 DKOS hosted at Celtic Connections

AUSKERRY

Are a young folk band from Orkney that likes to fuse our Orcadian style with others. The band consists of Magnus Montgomery on guitar and vocals, Tom Montgomery on bass, Jamie Sutherland on percussion, Ingrid Tait on fiddle and Lily Montgomery on cello, fiddle and vocals. Forming back in the summer of 2023, we started off by busking; although they  have grown up playing with each other in a school band called Hadhirgaan. S ince forming they have had many opportunities for gigs and concerts such as playing at local festivals, supporting Blazin Fiddles, The Chair, Saltfishforty, Louise Bichan, Jennifer Austin and Erik Linklater as well as others. They love making music together and hope to grow as a band. 

HOLLI & RACHEL

Rachel and Holli are an emerging duo on the Scottish traditional music scene. They first met in 2016 while participating in the Argyll Ceilidh Trail and have since honed their individual craft as musicians, performers and teachers. Rachel graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2022 with a BMus in Traditional Music. She has brought her talent to international audiences, performing in venues from Cape Breton to Germany. Meanwhile Holli has gained extensive experience playing fiddle with various bands on the Scottish ceilidh and session scene, including playing at notable folk festivals across the UK. Now based in Glasgow, they are excited to collaborate again on this shared musical project. Drawing on their roots in Argyll, where they both grew up, they bring a fresh sound that blends accordion, piano, fiddle, and vocals. Their music is influenced by traditional and contemporary styles, weaving together repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, and North America, along with original compositions. The result is a dynamic sound that embraces both tradition and innovation. In 2025, Rachel and Holli released their debut single ‘In the Stream’, followed by a tour in community venues around Argyll. They are currently in the process of recording their debut EP which will be released in 2026.

LAURA SILVERSTONE

From opening for Steph Strings (AUS), collaborating live with Skinny Living (UK) and Kim Churchill (AUS) in 2024, or her early performance with Glen Hansard in Berlin in 2019, Laura has forged a reputation as one of the most exciting, energetic and talented performers on the circuit. Her ‘Heartwood’ album tour sold hundreds of tickets across the UK, Europe,
Australia and saw her debut in the US after securing 20,000 streams in its first week of release.
Her most recent live appearances have included Celtic Connections, HebCelt Festival, Kelburn Garden Party, Fringe by the Sea, Dunbar Music Festival, tours across Scotland and Europe, and a stand-out performance at Frank Turner’s Lost Evenings VIII, with participation in expert panels and fan events

MEALLAN

Meallan are a fresh, dynamic folk group fusing fiddle, clàrsach, accordion, guitar, keyboard, and Gaelic song into a rich, modern-traditional sound. Formed on the road during the Fèis Rois’ 2024 Ceilidh Trail, the six-piece is comprised of BBC Young Trad 2024 semi-finalist, Eòin Cumming (Laide), alongside Fiddlers Kirsty Harrison (Orkney) and Ruby Smith (Newcastle), Clàrsach player Catriona Kane (Dunblane), Guitarist Anja Maclennan (Dingwall), and Keyboardist Matthew Duncan (Glasgow).
With a passion for both composition and collaboration, the band blends contemporary edge with deep traditional roots, shaped by their diverse backgrounds and a shared love for the landscapes they’ve travelled. Off the back of an exciting debut summer of gigs, at festivals such as Orkney Folk Festival, Moniaive Folk Festival, Piping Live, and Eden Court Under Canvas, Meallan are now currently developing their debut EP. Fresh on the scene and already making waves, Meallan brings a confident new voice to contemporary folk.

RACHEL AND HOLLI

Rachel and Holli are an emerging duo on the Scottish traditional music scene. They first met in 2016 while participating in the Argyll Ceilidh Trail and have since honed their individual craft as musicians, performers and teachers. Rachel graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2022 with a BMus in Traditional Music. She has brought her talent to international audiences, performing in venues from Cape Breton to Germany. Meanwhile Holli has gained extensive experience playing fiddle with various bands on the Scottish ceilidh and session scene, including playing at notable folk festivals across the UK. Now based in Glasgow, they are excited to collaborate again on this shared musical project. Drawing on their roots in Argyll, where they both grew up, they bring a fresh sound that blends accordion, piano, fiddle, and vocals. Their music is influenced by traditional and contemporary styles, weaving together repertoire from Scotland, Ireland, and North America, along with original compositions. The result is a dynamic sound that embraces both tradition and innovation. In 2025, Rachel and Holli released their debut single ‘In the Stream’, followed by a tour in community venues around Argyll. They are currently in the process of recording their debut EP which will be released in 2026.

THE SWEET SWING SERENADERS

The Sweet Swing Serenaders is the latest innovation of Julen Santamaria, former frontman of Awkward Family Portraits and Baby Face and the Beltin’ Boys. This new vehicle for country-swing, blues and rock & roll draws on his previous bands while giving him a fresh new space to expand the sound and songwriting. The bands latest recordings featuring some of Glasgow’s finest musicians including Richard Anderson (Bass), Conor Smith (Pedal Steel & Guitar) and Chris Dickie (Drums), this exciting new endeavour offers a fresh yet familiar twist on the nostalgic music of the Golden Age. The band have been touring around the country with rhythm and blues sensation The Vintage Explosion throughout 2025.

WILLIAM JACK

William Jack is an Australian multi-style cellist and songwriter, based in London. He is best known for incorporating his jazz guitar background into an unconventional style of cello playing, with a passion for breaking boundaries between genres and cultures. His music transitions seamlessly from virtuosic folk & bluegrass compositions, to non-Western sound worlds.
Since his classical studies in Vienna, William has forged his own cello pathway, touring Europe, Australia and the UK extensively. He has recently performed his solo compositions from his album collection ‘This Old Cello Box’ live on BBC Radio 3 at the Edinburgh Fringe and was selected to perform as a ‘New Folk’ songwriter at the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas. William received the best music award at the 2025 Adelaide Fringe. He has been fortunate to work with numerous world-renowned artists, both as a session musician and collaborator. William is passionate about redefining the cello possibilities, bringing the instrument into exciting new territories.

Please remember the DKOS hosted at Celtic Connections is held in the Exhibition Hall at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall is still free but is now ticketed>
You can obtain tickets online from 12pm on the day of performance LINK