The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards remain one of the most high profile and prestigious events in the Folk and Trad calendar. The release of the 2025 nominations offers a good opportunity to take a closer look at gender balance in the highest levels of the industry.

by Joanie Bones

In the North London house I grew up in during the ‘80s and ‘90s, aubergines, pomegranates & saffron were common kitchen ingredients. My mum was Persian, my dad of Ashkenazi Jewish background, the son of a doctor from Vienna who walked across Europe to escape the Nazis and the grandson of Jews who had fled their native village when the Russians started to burn the them out of their houses in what is now Ukraine. In this urban multicultured world, I was surrounded by people 'like me'.

I play the clàrsach, that’s my thing, I also have cerebral palsy, that’s also a thing (but a side hustle really).  CP is a disability caused by a brain injury, usually at birth.  When I was born my parents were told that I may not ever walk or talk – Ohhh how those doctors were wrong! I walked with a frame and used Makaton (a simple form of sign language) until I was about 6 and attended physio and speech therapy into my teens.  Despite this, I didn’t even think of myself as ‘disabled’ until I was 12.

Amongst all of the up-and-coming traditional music producers, where are all of the women?

History repeats and despite this being the 21st century it is hardly surprising that whenever there is an emergence of a new instrument or culture in the traditional music scene it always takes time for women to become established.

Whether you're performing to a packed Glasgow Royal Concert Hall or ten people in a church hall where the heating has failed, respect your audience enough to do your best. And on those days when you realise you are not on top form just remember that only mediocrity never has an off-day!

’m an Edinburgh girl, born in the 60’s with my 2 brothers.  I am in the middle child, so tended to be the bossy one growing up!  My school life was challenging. I attended 4 different High Schools due to house moves because my late father was a builder and loved to renovate old buildings and like me, needed a new project as soon as one was finished. I taught myself fiddle just before I left Primary School, playing along to records of all genres. I still remember the feeling of making sounds and tunes on my own.

Chloe Steele, a piper and Gaelic Singer from the Isle of South Uist. I dedicate much of my time to my community, teaching traditional music to youngsters and running various cultural events and projects. I am a recent graduate from the BA Applied Music course at the University of the Highlands and Islands and have recently been appointed as a Gaelic Training Officer for Multimedia at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council). 

Hiya, I’m Evie Waddell. I’m on the BMus Traditional Music Course at the RCS, and I’ve just finished my third year (yay?). What some of you may not know, or remember about me, is I am deaf in one ear and I identify as both hearing and deaf. Life has been quite challenging to hear since I lost 92% of my hearing in my right ear (age eleven). Right before High School, which was “brilliant” timing I know.

There is something about parenthood that no-one will ever prepare you for. It’s compelling and enigmatic in its entirety. You think you’ve felt love before...and then you become a parent. Whoa. It’s a bit like sticking your head out of a speeding car window when you’re wee, and trying to take a big breath - it’s such an exhilarating feeling, laced with joy and uncertainty and everything in between.

It’s hard to choose a starting point for this blog as during my seven years of parenthood so far there have been many different approaches to the way my musician husband Jamie McClennan and I juggle our work and family life balance. Hopefully the following will offer some glimmers of insight and helpful pointers for fellow artists and musicians embarking on a similar path.