Author: islaratcliff

I'm so grateful to be able to say that 2019 was one of my best years yet. I made great strides in my career, I had a fantastic 4 months in Cape Breton, and I met and spent time with many kind and interesting people. A massive thank you to everyone who made it such a … Continue reading Isla’s 2019 highlights →

I’m spending this summer performing at two festivals: one past and one currently happening.  Tess, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, 2th-17th August 2019 This year is my first time performing a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe! I’m playing fiddle and singing in a play called Tess, which is a feminist adaptation of Thomas Hardy’s Tess of … Continue reading A Summer of Two Festivals: Edinburgh Festival Fringe & Festival Boult-aux-Bois et Cordes →

I'm very pleased to present a free public recital on Wednesday 29th May 12:15pm at the Centre for Contemporary Arts in Glasgow as part of my Masters of Scottish Music degree at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. This recital combines my two main passions: music and hillwalking. I have pursued both these interests simultaneously since I … Continue reading Wednesday 29th May 12:15pm – Music of the Munros recital →

Thank you to Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team for helping me when I fractured my ankle on Stob Coire a' Chairn! A team of 10 caring humans and 1 lovely husky put me on a stretcher, strapped me onto a quad bike and drove me down the hill to an ambulance. I'm very grateful for their … Continue reading Thank you, Glencoe Mountain Rescue! →

I've had enough of this Brexit nonsense. So I wrote a tune. Always best to channel our anger through music... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNOYJlyz1ns

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf2kgJl43Vk&t=3s Happy International Women's Day 2019! Here's a wee feminist folk song written by the brilliant Nancy Nicolson, the first person who heard me singing solo Scots song when I was aged 13 and encouraged me to pursue it further. Thank you to the wind by the Falls of Clyde in New Lanark for providing … Continue reading Happy International Women’s Day 2019! Here’s a wee song… →

I'm excited to be performing in this gig-theatre show this week, based on the myth of Orpheus, about an issue close to my heart - the power of music in young people's lives. Come along to consider how important music is in our lives and to hear some great music written by Kim Moore and watch some great theatre … Continue reading Wed 6th and Thurs 7th March: Lost in Music by Magnetic North →

I have a livestreamed gig that you can watch for FREE on Thursday 14th Feb 1pm UK time! I have researched and arranged a 30-minute performance of fiddle music, Gaelic song and spoken word, inspired by ‘A Collection of Highland Vocal Airs’ (Joseph and Patrick MacDonald, 1784). How does the cultural and political landscape of this … Continue reading Thursday 14th Feb 1pm: A Reawakened Monument of Antiquity →

Happy new year! I hope you had a peaceful, happy and healthy 2018. Here are my highlights from the year. January  My Celtic Connections debut! I had great fun performing with the Fèis Rois Cèilidh Trail. February  I started going to folk sessions with a person with a disability as a volunteer with Gig Buddies … Continue reading Isla’s 2018 Highlights →