Aberdeenshire folksinger, Iona Fyfe, has become one of Scotland’s finest young ballad singers, rooted deeply in the singing traditions of the North East of Scotland. A finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2017, Iona embraces the repertoire of her native North East throughout the UK and Europe. Described as “one of the most sunning voices on the circuit today” (Artree), “East”, her debut 6-track EP encapsulating North East folksong was received with great acclaim.

Hailing from Huntly, Iona draws inspiration from source and revivalist singers and is a fine interpreter of traditional folksong in a contemporary yet sympathetic manner. A BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award competitor, she has performed at venues such as The Music Hall Aberdeen, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, the Mitchell Theatre and most recently The Royal Albert Hall in London. With her band, Iona has performed at high profile festivals such as Celtic Connections, Orkney Folk Festival and Folkest International Folk Festival in Italy. In 2017, she looks forward to appearances at folk clubs and festivals such as Stonehaven Folk Festival, Orkney Folk Festival, Sark Festival. Iona is currently working on her debut album, which is set for release in January 2018.

Currently studying for a BMus in Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Iona was featured singing for Prunella Scales and Timothy West in the new Channel 4 series of Great Canal Journeys. Since performing at the Glasgow Barrowlands in 2014 alongside tradition bearers such as Sheila Stewart, Joe Aitken and Danny Couper for Aidan Moffat’s collaborative project, “Where You’re Meant to Be”, Iona has been featured in BBC Scotland programme Landward.

Growing up within the Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland movement, Iona is a fine exponent of Doric poetry as well as Traditional Ballads and Bothy Ballads. Singing at numerous national competitions, she has won a number of prestigious titles such as Best Female Singer both at Aberdeen TMSA 2016 and Buchan Heritage Society. Iona’s sensitivity for ballads is what led her to be awarded 100/100 marks for Bonny Udny at The Buchan Heritage Society 2016 – an unprecedented mark in solo ballad competitions.

“Ladies Traditional Singing Winner” – Aberdeen TMSA 2016 “Best Female Singer” – Buchan Heritage Society 2016 “Best Local Singer” – Keith TMSA Festival 2014 2015 2016 2017 “Female Traditional Singer” – TMSA Falkland 2014

“Iona’s voice displays incredible confidence and maturity… Even without accompaniment, Iona’s voice is as finely tuned, precise and eminently enjoyable an instrument as you’ll find… Utterly haunting.” (Folk Radio UK)