Sgrìobh/Scrieve Nurtures the Next Generation of Scots & Gaelic Songwriters

For the third year running, the Sgrìobh/Scrieve project will give two young emerging artists the opportunity to create their own songs in Scots and Gaelic. The artists will then perform their new work at Eden Court’s summer music festival, Under Canvas, in August.

Established in 2024 in partnership with Eden Court and Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches (TAD/KOR), the project provides dedicated time for the artists to explore the TAD/KOR website in depth, using the archive as inspiration for creating and performing new material.

A new development this year is the opportunity for participating artists to be mentored by a well-established singer who performs in both Scots and Gaelic. This year’s mentor is Ainsley Hamill, one of the UK’s most distinctive and versatile vocalists, celebrated for her remarkable voice, rich storytelling, and deeply emotive style.

The Scots leid artist for 2026 is Pippa Wallace, a folk singer from Angus who is now based in the Highlands. Pippa specialises in Scots song, and after spending several years living in Azerbaijan, a growing sense of homesickness sparked a deep connection with Scots song, shaping her artistic identity and strengthening her ties to Scotland’s musical heritage.

Her debut EP Ashes and Echoes, recorded at Wee Studio Records on the Isle of Lewis, highlights her expressive voice and sensitive approach to traditional material, marking her out as a compelling new presence within the contemporary Scottish folk scene.

Pippa stated: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been offered a place on this project. It’s an incredibly exciting opportunity and one that has left me feeling both inspired and deeply motivated. Being trusted with this at this stage in my journey means a great deal, and it’s given me a real sense of purpose moving forward.

I hope to gain a deeper understanding of Scots language and composition, something I feel profoundly connected to. More than that, I’m eager to immerse myself in the tradition and gain a deeper understanding of the craft through writing my own original piece.”

Cailean Jennett, from Duror near Oban, has been selected as this year’s Gaelic artist. A fluent Gaelic speaker who grew up attending fèisean and Mod competitions, Cailean has developed a distinctive singing and songwriting style in both Gaelic and English.

With mentorship and tuition from respected artists including Mary Ann Kennedy, Mischa MacPherson, Mary Catherine MacLean and Sileas Sinclair, he has already recorded and released three singles. Now with more than ten thousand streams and multiple radio plays to his name, Cailean has been delighted to see his tracks featured on playlists alongside well‑known artists such as Mànran, Sian and Julie Fowlis.

Cailean said: “It’s such a privilege to have been selected to work on a project in partnership with Tobar an Dualchais and Eden Court. Tobar an Dualchais is a resource I have returned to as I’ve developed my repertoire of Gaelic songs, and I’ve heard it talked about by fellow musicians as a lasting source of inspiration for songwriting.

I’m thrilled that I now get a chance to work closely with the collections, supported by mentorship from Ainsley, and to see this songwriting project through to the performance at Under Canvas. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”

In addition to mentoring Pippa and Cailean, Ainsley will also perform a set at the Under Canvas event. Commenting on her role, Ainsley said:

“It’s a real honour to be selected as mentor for this year’s project, supporting two artists and helping them connect with the voices held within Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches. There is something truly special about engaging with these recordings and allowing them to inspire new creative work, while treating them with the care and respect they deserve.

I’m really looking forward to guiding Pippa and Cailean as they find their own voice within that tradition and bring something meaningful to life. I’m also excited to be performing at the Under Canvas event.”

There will be two performances by Ainsley, Cailean and Pippa at Under Canvas on Wednesday 19 August, at 4.15pm and 7.15pm. Tickets are available at https://eden-court.co.uk/event/sgriobh-scrieve-ainsley-hamill

Flòraidh Forrest, Director of TAD/KOR, said: “Pippa and Cailean have the talent and imagination to create something exceptional from the precious array of recordings available on the TAD/KOR website, whilst being supported throughout by Ainsley. As emerging artists, we hope that their performance at Eden Court will give them the chance to bring their work to new audiences and lead to other opportunities for them.”

The project was made possible through funding from Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Creative Scotland, and Wee Grants for Creativity in the Scots Leid. Emily MacDonald, Gaelic Project Manager at Eden Court, commented: “Eden Court is delighted to collaborate with Tobar an Dualchais/Kist o Riches on these exciting new commissions celebrating Scotland’s rich linguistic and cultural heritage. We are very grateful to our funders for enabling us to run the project again this year, and we look forward to building on the success of previous years.”