ABOUT
Up & Coming Artist of the Year 2025
MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Award Winners
Dàna are a dynamic and lively, all-female four-piece traditional Scottish band based in Glasgow. Their name, derived from the Gaelic word meaning "bold" or "audacious", perfectly captures their vibrant sound and approach to performance. They have swiftly made a name for themselves in Scotland’s rich musical scene, winning Up and Coming Artist of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards, and a Danny Kyle award at Celtic Connections 2025.
Founded by a group of musicians who met and honed their craft at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Dàna features a traditional blend of fiddle, clarsach, whistle, and piano. Each member contributes their individual style and influences, drawn from their diverse regional backgrounds and dialects, creating a sound that is both rich and exciting.
Dàna has quickly established a strong presence in the Scottish music scene. They have performed at venues and festivals across Scotland, including at Belladrum, Celtic Connections, The Reeling, Under Canvas, and MOKFest. They will be touring ahead of their debut album release in May 2026 at festivals such as Skye Live, Live in Loch Goil, The Gathering, and HebCelt. These appearances have showcased their ability to captivate and energise audiences, solidifying their reputation as one of Scotland’s most exciting new acts.
MEET THE BAND
ANNA ROBERTSON
FIDDLE
Anna grew up on Knoydart surrounded by music from a young age, with her style being influenced from her tutors in the West Coast music scene.
Anna graduated from the RCS in 2024 and was a semi-finalist in the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2025.
ELEANOR TOUT
WHISTLE
Originally from South Wales, Eleanor moved up to Scotland in 2020 to begin her studies at the RCS, where she gained an interest in Scottish music and traditions.
She has immersed herself in the Glasgow session scene, and owes her style and varied repertoire to playing with high-class musicians around the city.
LAURA PENMAN
CLARSACH
Laura is a clarsach player, pianist and composer from Edinburgh, who has enjoyed playing traditional music from a young age. She has a passion for creating contemporary arrangements and compositions, highlighting the clarsach within the wider traditional music scene.
Her recent projects involved performing and recording with singer Beth Malcolm, and is a founding member of Gaelic song band, Duan.
ALEX WOTHERSPOON
PIANO
Alex grew up in Campbeltown and began learning music from her grandfather at the age of 3. Although she started on the fiddle, the piano became a huge part of her life at 9 years old and her natural love of traditional music meant that she was able to incorporate it into her piano playing.
Alex is a 2024 graduate of the RCS, where she was able to grow in her playing and be immersed into the Glasgow folk scene.