Ewan McLennan

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Horizon Winner 2011
Scots Trad Awards nominee for best newcomer 2010
Fatea Awards Male Vocalist of 2010

Ewan is a young, up-and-coming folk artist who has been making headlines over the past year performing at festivals, clubs and concert halls across the UK and beyond. His recent nominations for both the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and Scots Trad Awards confirm this ongoing success. His music combines folksong from around Britain and further afield, but with an inevitable concentration on the tradition of Scotland where he grew up. His own self-penned songs are also receiving critical acclaim in their own right, with noted music journalist Colin Irwin reviewing one of his “moving” offerings as “a modern classic”.

"I was completely and utterly bowled over by Ewan's music. One of the most exciting new voices I've heard in years!" Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

In addition to his voice, his "first class musicianship" (Taplas) is influenced by the rigour and technique from studying and performing classical guitar. It retains a “unique and compelling sound” (Maverick magazine) in which both his immersion in folk music and his on-going work with guitar maestro Martin Simpson is evident.

Ewan's music covers the broad range folk music has to offer, from powerful and moving ballads to lively dance tunes and melancholic airs strikingly arranged for the guitar. It has been described as “a mix of the Tradition, social history and political awareness, with his own songs that carry a profound punch...The impact he has with it all is quite formidable” (EFDSS).

"Only once in a while do you hear a new voice, a new sound that is really worth listening to, Ewan McLennan is one such!” Martin Simpson

Ewan's debut album 'Rags & Robes', hailed as "an unalloyed delight" by R2 (Rock n Reel), was released this summer on Fellside Records. It has so far been receiving rave reviews, chosen as the prestigious MOJO magazine’s ‘Folk Album of the Month’, collecting several ‘Album of the Week’ accolades in radio, and being awarded a number of four-star reviews in the print media. With upcoming sessions on, amongst others, BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio 3 this exposure looks set to continue.

The Roots and Branch Review’s contention that "Ewan McLennan may well be the best singer you’ll hear all year" is echoed by Maverick’s description of him as "quite possibly destined to become the UK’s finest folk singer."

‘With a gorgeous, lilting voice, a quietly assured and commanding presence, and some smart guitar arrangements...it’s the tender sincerity of McLennan’s own performance that [is] so moving.’ MOJO - 'Folk album of the month'

‘Making headlines across the UK, Ewan’s guitar playing is first class and he has a voice that sounds like he’s been singing for many years, earthy and raw in its delivery...giving him a unique and compelling sound. Quite possibly destined to become the UK’s finest folk singer!’ Maverick

‘The entire album is an unalloyed delight!’ R2

‘I was completely and utterly bowled over by Ewan's music...one of the most exciting new voices I've heard in years.' Mike Harding, BBC Radio 2

‘A resoundingly fresh-sounding album...Ewan McLennan may well be the best singer you’ll hear all year.’ Root and Branch Review

‘The album’s DNA is a mix of the Tradition, social history and political awareness, with his own songs that carry a profound punch... the impact he has with it is quite formidable, there’s no denying the depth and dimension of this record.’
EFDSS

‘Only once in a while do you hear a new voice, a new sound that is really worth listening to. Ewan McLennan is definitely one such.' Martin Simpson

‘Rags and Robes’ was number 4 on Mojo magazine’s folk albums of 2010 chart.