The Kinnaris Quintet, hailing from Glasgow, creates music that is sincere, invigorating, and dynamic, played on three fiddles, mandolin, and guitar.
In 2017, this innovative band emerged onto the music scene with an unparalleled sound, fusing traditional roots with contemporary influences to create an exciting and fresh style.
In 2019, the Kinnaris Quintet won the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation in Music and is set to release their second album, ‘This Too,’ in May 2022. Their performances promise to deliver a blend of traditional Celtic music and modern music, featuring elements of bluegrass, Scandinavian, and western classical genres that stir the soul and evoke emotions.
The band is made up of Aileen Reid (5 string fiddle/vocals), Fiona MacAskill (fiddle), Laura Wilkie (fiddle), Laura-Beth Salter (mandolin/tenor guitar/vocal), and Jenn Butterworth (guitar/stomp/vocals). Each musician brings their unique talent and energy to the group, resulting in an enthralling and captivating performance.
Their debut album, ‘Free One,’ released in 2018, received critical acclaim, earning the band several award nominations, including Album of the Year.
The Kinnaris Quintet’s music has earned them recognition from various organizations, including the German Record Critics’ Award Longlist 2022, BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2019 Horizon Award, SAY Awards 2019 Longlist, and MG Alba Trad Music Awards 2018 Folk Band of the Year and 2019 Album of the Year. Their performances are not to be missed, and they have sold out shows and festivals.
This Too, the remarkable sophomore album from Kinnaris Quintet, highlights their intricate and rhythmic signature sound, with a range of new inspirations fueling their artistry.
The opening track, Wonderful, sets the tone for the rest of the album with three exceptional tunes dedicated to Aileen’s brother Christopher, esteemed folk musician John Somerville, and women in the traditional music scene. The third tune, Wonderwomen, is a tribute to the BIT Collective, an organization that advocates for gender equality in Scottish traditional music.
The title track, This Too, is a hopeful composition, reflecting the band’s optimism that tough times will pass, and brighter days will come.
Despite facing the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote music-making, multiple lockdowns, and the birth of two babies within the group, Kinnaris Quintet spent two years writing and arranging the tracks for This Too. Recorded at GloWorm Studios in the summer of 2021, the album is a testament to the band’s resilience and creative spirit.
Kinnaris Quintet fiddler Aileen Reid said: “With this album, we really wanted to create real and authentic music that we can play live for fans without relying on production tricks. It was important to us to remain true to our raw, organic sound that people know us for.
“Although it was sometimes challenging to recreate the buzz of playing in front of an audience in a studio setting, we love making music together so much, and I think that joy comes across in the recording. Now we’re just excited to get back on the road and finally perform these new arrangements in person.”
(headline image: Kinnaris Quintet by Somhairle MacDonald)
Discography:
Free One (2018)
This Too (Self-released, 2022)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.