The Celtic Music Radio Album of the Week commencing Saturday 22 February is the new CD from one of Scotland’s foremost traditional singers and is fast garnering a reputation as a highly gifted song interpreter.  Her name is Fiona Hunter.

Ross Macfadyen talks to Fiona about her music and debut album ‘Fiona Hunter’.

Fiona has been singing as part of renonwed folk song group Malinky for the best part of a decade. Her time with the group has seen them win many accolades including the prestigious Folk Band of the Year award at the 2010 MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. Fiona has also been twice nominated in the Scots Singer of the Year category at the awards.

On 24 March 2014 will see the release of Fiona’s highly anticipated debut solo album, featuring songs from her native Glasgow and beyond. The recording will also feature a cast of some of the finest instrumentalists currently gracing the traditional music scene including Mike Vass, Matheu Watson, Euan Burton and Gillian Frame.

Fiona Hunter is stepping out on her own and gaining a deserved reputation as one of the finest young singers on the Scottish folk music scene today, with her fresh interpretations of songs of her native Glasgow and of the Scottish Travellers.

Her academic qualifications in the field are of the first order with a BA in Scottish Music from the Royal Scottish Academy and studies at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington DC, USA, but it’s her passion and natural ability to inhabit her material that sets her apart.

Rob Adams, The [Glasgow] Herald music critic is quoted: “Hunter’s strengths lie in a vocal tone that she varies to suit the mood of the song while always sounding like the real deal and her ability to project a genuine empathy with the characters she’s singing about.”

Celtic Music Radio Album of the Week, Saturday 12 midnight and Monday 24 February 6.00pm.