AINSLEY HAMILL
Ainsley Hamill graduated from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2013.
Her discography includes: Source (2012) and At Dawn of Day (2015) as part of the folk band Barluath, and she featured as a vocalist on the TMSA Young Trad Tour 2015 album. In 2019, Ainsley released her first EP, Belle Of The Ball and in 2021 she released her debut album Not Just Ship Land, which was named The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Month. In early 2025, her second album Fable was launched as a showcase at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall.
Ainsley has performed at festivals worldwide, including The Festival Interceltique de Lorient and Celtic Connections. In 2019, she represented Scotland at Eurovision in Gothenberg.
Her mòd performances include the Royal National Mòd (2013) where she won the Silver Pendant and finalist at the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal (2014, 2015).
Ainsley was nominated for Gaelic Singer of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in 2015, 2021 and 2024. She was BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist for 2014/2015.
Not Just Ship Land (2021)
“I’m reminded of Nina Simone’s haunting version of When I Was In My Prime… The effect is absolutely breathtaking…This is an exciting, ingenious and highly original debut.”
— Folk London
“Her voice thick with velvet and murk…hovering between the comforting warmth of the breath and the whip smart forlornness of early Adele…Hamill has a big intriguing voice, it’s Scottishness ever present.”
— The Guardian Album of the Month
“If the unassuming Govan folk celebrated here could have heard the record, they would surely have been proud to be honoured in this way – meanwhile, anyone listening to these songs today cannot fail to be moved and impressed.”
— Celtic Music Radio
“…it goes a long way to explaining why she’s considered one of the best of her generation.”
— RNR Magazine
Belle Of The Ball (2019)
“Her voice is rich and warm, soaking it’s conforming balm deep…all the Hamill Hallmarks of a soulful, acute vocal dexterity With real feel for a lyric. Ainsley’s voice is muscular and undeniably flexible. It can be sultry or exuberant , but always percussive. It wraps you in its arms like a coat from the cold. This release is like a shining pool of water; vivid, clear and nothing short of brilliant.”
— Folk North-West
“Ainsley Hamill doesn’t put a foot wrong on Belle of the Ball, her debut solo release… a superb vocal, nuanced and passionate.”
— Fatea Magazine
Awards & Recognitions
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Ainsley was nominated for the Gaelic Singer of the Year in 2015, 2021 and 2024.
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Ainsley was a finalist at the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2014/2015
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Ainsley won the Silver Pendant at the Royal National Mòd (2013)
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Finalist at the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal in 2014 and 2015.
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Ainsley’s debut album Not Just Ship Land (2021) was named The Guardian’s Folk Album of the Month