Mairi Campbell is a pioneering Scottish musician whose work is rooted in, and draws from, her personal stories and cultural concerns.

As an interpreter of Scots song, Mairi has contributed a significant number of songs to its current canon. She is the recipient of six national music awards including the Inspiration Award in 2018. In 2019 she was inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame.

Her first two solo shows Pulse (2016) and Auld Lang Syne (2018) have gained much critical acclaim and toured widely. A third part in a solo trilogy is planned.

Since 2010 Mairi has been co-writing songs with musician and producer Dave Gray. These are now being realised on stage by her nine-piece ensemble, the Pendulum Band. Their music is also the voice of the giant puppet, Storm, which will travel round the coastline of Scotland throughout 2020.

Notable performances

2023 – Auld Lang Syne tour, Scotland
2022 – She/Her and Mairi Campbell: Live at Edinburgh Fringe
2020-2022 – Campbell’s Ceilidh online
2019 – Mairi Campbell and The Pendulum Band, Queens Hall, Edinburgh
2018 – Mairi Campbell: Auld Lang Syne, Made in Scotland Showcase, Ed Fringe, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
2018 – solo concert tour, Germany
2017 – WGBH Celtic Christmas, featured soloist, Boston, USA
2017 – Guest artist with Himmerland, Denmark, touring
2017 – Mairi Campbell: Pulse, Ed Fringe, Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh
2017 – Wolves, Barrowland Ballet, performer, musician and composer, Capital Theatres, Edinburgh and touring
2017 – Mairi Campbell: Pulse, Rudolstadt Festival, Germany
2016 – Mairi Campbell: Pulse Made in Scotland Showcase, Ed Fringe Summerhall, Edinburgh
2016 – solo concert tour, Germany
2016 – Mairi Campbell: Pulse Celtic Connections Festival, Pulse, Tron Theatre
2015 – solo performance, Celtic Colours Festival, Cape Breton, Canada
2015 – Guest artist with Himmerland, Denmark, touring
2013 – solo concert tour, Germany
2013 – Headline, Mission Folk Festival, British Colombia, Canada
2013 – Celtic Connections Festival, Glasgow
2014 – Revival – with David Francis; directed by Kath Burlinson, Ed Fringe and touring
2012 – Red Earth – with David Francis; directed by Kath Burlinson, Ed Fringe and touring
2010 – Celtic Connections Festival, Glasgow
2009 – Featured vocal soloist with the Liverpool Philharmonic conducted by Carl Davies
2008  – Mairi’s version of Auld Lang syne placed in the pivotal scene of blockbuster movie ‘Sex and the City’
2007 – Otis Thomas’s Fiddle Tree project, Cape Celtic Colours, Cape Breton, Canada
2000 – Celtic Colours Festival, Cape Breton, Canada
1999 – Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Sean Connery, Kennedy Center, Washington DC, USA

Awards

2019 – Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame 2019 – Inductee
2018 – Inspiration award – HandsupforTrad
2016 – Instrumentalist of the year – overall winner at Na Trads
2012 – Tutor of the Year – overall winner Na Trads
2008 – Scots Singer of the Year – overall winner Na Trads
2011 – International Neil Gow composition award
2008 – Female musician of the year – Live Ireland

Discography

2021 – Mairi Campbell and Dave Gray – STORM
2018 – Mairi Campbell: Auld Lang Syne – Mairi Campbell and Dave Grey
2016 – Mairi Campbell: Pulse – Mairi Campbell and Dave Grey
2016 – Mairi Campbell – Seven Songs
2012 – Mairi Campbell & David Francis – Revival! and The Red Earth
2011 – Mairi Campbell – Mairi Campbell
2007 – The Cast – Greengold
1996 – The Cast – Colours of Lichen
1994 – The Cast – The Winnowing

Facilitation, workshops and wraparound

Mairi’s facilitation offers participants playful and profound encounters with their innate creativity and musical desires. Through the tools of InterPlay, choir leading, voice work, fiddle teaching and movement, Mairi is a sought after teacher. She has taught across Scotland including Findhorn (EarthSings), Wellington, New Zealand (2019) and she was director and song arranger for Edinburgh’s folk choir ‘Sangstream’ from 2000 to 2012. She has a creative arts centre on the island of Lismore where she runs camps when she can.

Buy Mairi a Ko-fi

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