Grainne Brady

Inspired by Patrick MacGill’s novel The Rat-Pit, Gráinne Brady’s “Newcomer” is an engaging listen from the outset. While the album as a whole tells the story of Norah Jones, there’s an equal pleasure to be gained listening to each individual strand that makes up that rich tapestry.

The Routes Quartet live up to their liner notes by using all of the possible tones and textures of a string quartet. A deceptively simple album that is carried off with a real feel for the music. It’s a truly cathartic listen.

This year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards shortlist is announced and voting is now open to the public. We’ve put together a preview of many of the nominations which you can listen to here.

Our Tune of the Day is from an exciting new Irish duo based in Glasgow – Gráinne & Ryan. Together they combine fiddle with uilleann pipes and flute to perform Irish traditional tunes, contemporary tunes as well as their own compositions which together with their regional styles, produces some really great Irish sets, as you can hear.

Featuring two of this year’s finalists in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year the Top Floor Taivers are a wonderful four piece who between them hail from Scotland, England and Ireland.