SCOTS TRADITIONAL SINGER
“Fiona is as fine a traditional singer as you will hear performing today. A concert by Fiona Ross is always a spellbinding, timeless affair that draws deeply on the wellspring of Scottish traditional song. We’ve been lucky enough to host her twice in 2019 and 2024 and we’re already looking forward to the next time!”
— Neil McDermott, Artistic Director, Girvan Traditional Music Festival, Scotland
“Of all styles of folk music performance, an unaccompanied singer of traditional material must have a particular and rare skill to engage and hold an audience. Over many years, and most recently at this year’s National Folk Festival, I have watched and listened with delight as Fiona Ross accomplishes this effortlessly”
— Graham McDonald, Artistic Director, Australian National Folk Festival (2023)
“Fiona’s fine tuneful voice has a wonderful traditional edge to it and while she can make a song her own she sings with absolute respect for the story, the setting and the people who have handed it down to her. It was a sad day for the Scottish folk scene when Fiona decamped to Australia but, thankfully, exile has done nothing to damage her voice! ”
— Sheena Wellington, “Scotland’s leading traditional singer”, Scotland
“One of my favourite Scots singers, now very far away but sounding as true and beautiful as she did back in the day in The Oxford Bar”
— Karine Polwart, multi-award winning singer & songwriter, Scotland
“Fiona Ross is a very special Scots singer of great cultural importance”
— Pete Heywood, The Living Tradition, Scotland
A PASSION FOR THE SCOTS SONG TRADITION
CONCERTS — WORKSHOPS — LECTURES
Fiona Ross has secured her reputation as a highly gifted interpreter of Scots song. Her honest, earthy singing style and extensive repertoire showcase the richness of the Scots song tradition. Fiona was a Finalist for Scots Singer of the Year in the prestigious Scots Trad Music Awards 2019. Her most recent album, Sunwise Turn (Fiona Ross & Shane O'Mara), won Best Folk Album in Music Victoria's 2020 Awards and was Finalist for Traditional Album of the Year in the Australian Folk Music Awards 2021.
Whether sharing a “muckle ballad”, a heart-rending love song or a rousing Jacobite chorus, Fiona delights audiences with her deep knowledge and understanding of the old Scots songs and the stories behind them. Fiona has worked extensively with traditional singers in Scotland and overseas researching singing style in the Scots narrative singing tradition.
Her thirst to delve deeper into the tradition led her to work closely with her mentor Andrew Hunter - renowned singer, piper and songwriter. In the 1950s, Andy met the great Traveller balladeer Jeannie Robertson. He was so taken by her singing - and her presence - that he moved to Aberdeen to be able to spend time with her. Andy learned a great deal from Jeannie and her husband Donald (Donty) Robertson, and from getting to know about Traveller values and their way of life. He has generously shared much of what he learned with Fiona.
Fiona’s depth of knowledge and understanding of the tradition sees her regularly run workshops and present lectures on topics pertaining to Scots song and traditional singing.