Isla Ratcliff and Evie Waddell perform unique arrangements of Scottish traditional music, combining Scots and Gaelic songs, fiddle, piano, stepdance and BSL. Originally from Edinburgh and Stirling, the trilingual duo met during their studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. They bonded over their love for traditional culture and their desire to convey important messages through their music. They have a striking blend of voices and a distinctive approach and attitude to traditional music.
Evie is deaf in one ear and is passionate about raising deaf awareness, especially around being a deaf musician. She achieved an HNC in Contemporary Dance and often performs in theatre. In 2020 she performed in Theatre Gu Leor's production of 'MAIM'. In 2024 she released her visual EP ‘Cluich!’ which offers an immersive audio-visual experience. She is a BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2024 Finalist.
Isla released her debut album The Castalia in 2021. Since then, she has been receiving increasing attention for her fiery fiddle playing and her rich singing voice. She was a Semi-Finalist in the BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2022 competition, and she was nominated for Up and Coming Artist of the Year 2022 at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. She has toured across Scotland, the UK and Europe.
Isla and Evie joined the Live Music Now Scotland Scheme in 2024.
Live Music Now Scotland (LMN Scotland) is registered in Scotland No. SC442910 and Registered Charity No. SC043868.
We are always happy to discuss new projects, opportunities or ways that we can help make music happen in your venue or community.