With Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer.
Mix Heather Small and Julie Fowlis and you've got singer songwriter Ainsley Hamill.
One of the UK’s leading and most diverse singers, Ainsley has a long list of nods including the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist and Gaelic Singer of the Year Finalist at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.
She represented Scotland at Eurovision in Gothenburg and has appeared at folk festivals the world over, including The Festival Interceltique de Lorient, Celtic Connections and du Bout du Monde for the last 10 years. Hamill has recently been included in The List’s 2024 Hot 100, of the most influential Scottish cultural contributors.
Hailing from the West Coast of Scotland, Ainsley specialises in song writing and songs in Scottish Gaelic and English. Her love of Gaelic song was nurtured whilst studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Trad roots are close to her heart. With this new album however, Ainsley is exploring new sounds and ideas as she pushes out from these roots to create personal material that encompasses big topics close to her heart, including feminism and equality, while unearthing forgotten stories and places that deserve a voice.
For many years Ainsley performed and toured with folk bands Barluath and made appearances with The Unusual Suspects. During this time, her accomplished song writing skills were evident in Barluath’s two studio albums; Source and At Dawn of Day as well as various singles including Touch the Gate and At the Fair.
Ainsley is a current member of folk band Fourth Moon, performing Gaelic, English and her own material, as well as step dancing.
‘Her voice thick with velvet and mirk…hovering between the comforting warmth of The Breath and the whip-smart forlorness of early Adele…Hamill has a big intriguing voice, it’s Scottishness ever present’ The Guardian
‘One of the best of her generation’ RnR Magazine
Studio
£16 I £14 (Supporters)
Inspired by the life of Nina Simone and featuring many of her most iconic songs performed live.
Apphia Campbell’s acclaimed play follows a successful singer and civil rights activist as she seeks redemption after the untimely death of her father. She reflects on the journey that took her from a young piano prodigy destined for a life in the service of the church, to a renowned jazz vocalist at the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.
The show has toured the UK to standing ovations and played sell-out seasons in Shanghai, New York, Edinburgh and the West End of London.
Winner of Best Theatre Award, Adelaide Fringe 2024.
‘Moving portrayal of determination and survival’ ★★★★ Times
‘Nothing short of sensational… will make you cheer for her, smile with her and then sting your eyes with tears’ ★★★★★ Broadway Baby
‘A compelling and heart breaking story, punctuated with bursts of song’ ★★★★ Edinburgh Festival Magazine
Age guidance: 12+ years.
Content warning – spoken references racism, sexual and domestic violence.
Courtyard Theatre
£24
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