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Celtic Connections 2025 will welcome Shirley Barr to the Danny Kyle Open Stage on Sunday





A local musician and singer is performing at a festival focused on the roots of traditional Scottish music.

Four years since completing a songwriting workshop, and having released her debut EP ‘Begin Began Begun’ last year, Shirley Barr, from Burdshaugh, Forres will appear on the Danny Kyle Open Stage at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall between 5-7pm as part of the Shirley Barr Duo with Glasgow-based songwriter, Maria Quinn.

Shirlay as portrayed by photographer Elly Lucas.
Shirlay as portrayed by photographer Elly Lucas.

Shirley said: “I'm really looking forward to playing with Maria as a duo for the first time, as well as sharing my music with new ears in Glasgow. I've been along to a few of the Danny Kyle Open Stage evenings this week to watch, and the audience are really lovely and supportive!”

Shirley’s family moved to the Findhorn Foundation when she was 10 - she left to attend drama school in London nine years later. After living in various other places including seven years in Australia, she settled back in Forres in 2007.

Shirley has always loved music and singing.

“I'd fall asleep to the sound of my dad’s harmonica, guitar or piano throughout my childhood,” she said. “Both he and my mum enjoyed singing, and my brother and I were encouraged to join choirs.

“There were often records or tape cassettes playing in our house, too, and I grew up listening to my mum singing along to Boney M or The Beatles as she did the ironing! I also spent a lot of time in my teens singing and acting at Universal Hall, Findhorn.”

Shirley performing at Universal Hall.
Shirley performing at Universal Hall.

Shirley always wanted to write her own songs and came across an advert for an online course run by singer-songwriters Boo Hewerdine and Findlay Napier called ‘Bird on a Wire’ during covid in April 2021.

She said: “They walked us through creating lyrics and melody. Each week, we'd be set a task to write, and often record something to share. This included being paired up to collaborate remotely, and the writing of a seven-song musical based on the seven deadly sins!

“I learned that there are tools and techniques that you can use, and it's not just magic. That melody can come from anywhere, and you don't have to be massively proficient with an instrument to write one.”

She added: “I also made lifelong friends that still meet online once-a-month to write songs together.”

Shirley has taken part in a number of workshops since, online and in-person. These included creative writing centre Moniack Mhor’s ‘Stages’ songwriting mentorship programme, curated by Boo Hewerdine.

Shirley’s Celtic Connections flyer.
Shirley’s Celtic Connections flyer.

Working alongside 11 other songwriters, and with support from industry professionals, a collaborative album was written and recorded at the Chem 19 recording studios in Glasgow. The programme culminated with an album launch at Eden Court in October 2023.

Shirley went on to make Begin Began Begun with instrumentalist Ewan MacPherson of Shooglenifty in the recording studio at Universal Hall.

“It was amazing and fun!,” she said. “I learned a massive amount over a short space of time, and was inspired by Ewan’s outside-of-the-box thinking which helped shape the songs.

“I was also really lucky to work with some incredibly talented musician friends whose inspirations and styles collaborated beautifully. I'm really proud of what we produced together.”

Shirley writes songs about “people, places and things” and is particularly inspired by nature and the outdoors.

“I love a good story,” she said. “A couple of songs that feature on my EP were inspired by poems, one is about a younger version of myself and the other about Beccán mac Luigdech, a 7th-century Irish composer of Christian poetry and monk of Iona … So they're quite varied!

“I sometimes use field recordings, vocal harmonies and percussion to create a layered soundscape over which to sing lyrics.

“Since taking up songwriting I've taught myself to play tenor guitar, shruti box and ukulele which all feature in my recorded music.”

Her song ‘Little Thief’ was awarded the Paul Tonberg songwriting shield at the Ardersier International Folk Club’s Festival.

And, following a live launch show at Universal Hall - where Shirley is marketing manager - she also played a support slot for folk singer Iona Lane during September’s Findhorn Bay Festival with local musicians Amy Henderson and Jamie MacRae at Kinloss Church and Parish Hall.

She is now excited about performing as a duo at the internationally-renowned Celtic Connections festival, featuring 300 events across multiple genres of music.

She said: “I asked my friend Maria Quinn - who I originally met during the first songwriting course in 2021and who plays piano on the EP - if she would like to join me as a duo. We'll perform the songs as they feature on the EP.”

As for the future, Shirley plans to learn to use live looping techniques to create a more layered sound while performing solo. She and mentor Ewan McPherson hope to put together a second EP for later in the year.

She has so far confirmed more gigs at Universal Hall in May and at September’s Ardersier International Folk Festival.

“I've also applied for a performance slot at this year's Under Canvas programme at Eden Court,” finished Shirley, “And emailed Belladrum to apply for a slot at this year's festival.

“I'm hoping to further develop the sets with the trio and duo, and get some other gigs booked … Maybe even a wee tour?”

For more information visit https://shirleybarrmusic.com/ and https://www.celticconnections.com/


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