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| | steve byrne
one of Scotland's leading young singers
From Arbroath in Scotland’s eastern lowlands, Steve has been immersed in traditional music since early childhood, and continues to write and arrange songs in his native Scots tongue. He is one of Scotland’s most sought after accompanists, especially for traditional song.
Best known as a founder member of innovative Scots folksong group Malinky, he's worked with Scots songstress Emily Smith (2002 Young Traditional Musician of the Year), rising Gaelic singing star Julie Fowlis, and is an occasional accompanist for stellar piper Fred Morrison.
A trained ethnologist - as a graduate of Edinburgh University's School of Scottish Studies - Steve applies his deep knowledge and love of Scottish traditions to all aspects of his musical career, whether as a performer, teacher or workshop leader.
Steve was a finalist in 2001's inaugural Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition. In recent years he has also guested on bouzouki with top Scottish folk outfit Deaf Shepherd. His recording credits include four volumes of the acclaimed Complete Songs of Robert Burns series as both featured singer and accompanist, as well as solo albums by Scots singers Jim Malcolm and John Morran. And of course, three Malinky albums, two of which featuring fellow founder member Karine Polwart, now pursuing a successful solo career.
He has appeared in Dr Fred Freeman's live shows of the Burns series and the Hamish Henderson tribute 'A the Bairns o Adam'. An experienced folk music tutor, he has taught in the UK and Canada.
Steve's solo project of songs and poetry set to music from the Angus region, 'Songs from Home', was released on 1st Feb 2006 on Greentrax Recordings. Click here to read more. Following the release of the album and its subsequent critical acclaim, Steve was nominated as 'Best Scots Singer' in the 2006 Scots Trad Music Awards.
For five years from 2002-2007, he was traditional arts officer for the City of Edinburgh Council, overseeing the city's Cèilidh Culture festival each spring. During this time, he also worked closely with Edinburgh's Gaelic community to bring about greater respect and visibility for the language in the city in recent years, culminating in the Edinburgh Gaelic Partnership which is now taking forward the capital's Gaelic Language Plan.
A strong believer in the 'Lomaxian' tenet of cultural equity, [www.culturalequity.org], and a keen student of languages, Steve sees his Lowland Scots background as but one part of the rich Scottish - and world - tradition. Like many Scots, he is something of a hybrid himself in any case, with a paternal Irish heritage that also inspires his music.
It is his commitment to minority cultures - his own and that of others, as part of the common human experience - that permeates Steve's work with an authenticity and honesty that is rare amongst young performers today.
Steve writes about himself in his native language [click here]
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