Her sublime voice is a thing of beauty that stops people in their tracks. Fragile and ethereal one minute and strong and vibrant the next, Dublin Folk singer-songwriter Aoife Scott has become a force to be reckoned with on the Irish folk and traditional scene. With an impeccable pedigree as a member of the legendary Black Family, which includes her mother, Frances, and her aunt, Mary, Aoife is steadily rising to the top of the traditional and folk music scene, while garnering acclaim and recognition both here and abroad as she hones her craft. Fans of IFTA award-winning TV series, 1916 Seachtar na Cásca, will have been seduced by Aoife’s evocative singing, which packed a powerful emotional punch throughout all seven episodes of the landmark TV series. Other acclaimed TV appearances include BBC's Imeall Geal, TG4's An Nollaig Linn and Ceol na nOileáin, and Fleadh TV Live, and Aoife also featured as a presenter on "The Windmill Lane Sessions" , the contemporary Irish music programme for TG4. Aoife gained invaluable international experience when she spent a year touring worldwide as lead singer with The Outside Track, whose marriage of Canadian, Scottish and Irish music and song has been rapturously received around the world. She has also performed with some of the finest acts on the folk and traditional scene both here and abroad, including Sharon Shannon, Séamus Begley, Brian Kennedy, Altan, Cherish the Ladies, Eddi Reader, John Prine, and of course, the Black Family. Even ahead of the launch of her debut album, Aoife has become an accomplished performer and headline artist. She embarked on her first sell-out US tour alongside Frances Black earlier this year, where she was highly praised for her engaging performances. She was invited as an official showcase performer at the National Folk Alliance in Kansas City, and she also performed with the RTE Concert Orchestra as part of Culture Night. Other international appearances include performances at the National Celtic Festival in Australia, Mood Indigo Festival in Mumbai, and Germany’s acclaimed ‘Irish Folk Festival’ Tour. Aoife has also toured with her band to worldwide destinations, including the UK, Ireland, Germany, Australia, India and the US. She performs as a four piece with Ex-Arcady fiddle player Michelle O Brien, World Champion Bodhran player Conor Lyons and her brother Eoghan Scott on Guitar. She represented Ireland in Udine, Italy, in the Minority Language competition, Liet International,a multilingual alternative to the Eurovision Song Contest. She was featured in an NPR documentary on the event, which was broadcast to an audience of 26 million people in the USA. Her solo career was assuredly launched when she won the coveted Fastrack to Feis competition, which over 1,000 artists entered, and played support at the London Feis to Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, amongst other acts. Aoife, who speaks both English and Irish fluently, has been immersed in the music scene from an early age, from listening to her grandparents, mother, aunt and uncles making music around the fire, to observing the backstage workings of festivals both here and abroad. She moved to the west coast of Ireland several years ago, and her passion for the native Irish language spoken there is reflected in her choice of songs, including the first single from her forthcoming debut album, All Along the Wild Atlantic Way. This eagerly-anticipated debut is a folk album that is heavily influenced by Aoife’s passion for traditional music, and it contains a selection of stories the socially-aware singer wanted to tell, some personal, and others historical and socially-themed. Covering modern day female warriors to real-life heroines from the 1800s, two stand-out tracks include “Fásaim” which outlines Aoife’s thoughts on her brother’s marriage, to “We know where we stand,” a timely song for the 100th anniversary of 1916, which questions whether the men of that time even knew what their sacrifice would mean for Ireland? Aoife’s plans for 2016 include the launch of her debut album at the Temple Bar Tradfest in Dublin in January, followed by a nationwide national tour. The singer and her band will also embark on a six-week German tour, and will travel to the US for a summer tour. 1. All Along the Wild Atlantic Way (3.50) Written by Aoife Scott, Enda Reilly (Scott, Reilly) This is my favourite song to perform live, and I can’t help but smile when I sing it. It’s like my love letter to the West, and the west is really where my heart lies. (apart from Dublin!) An Irish woman has spent 60 years in Canada, away from Ireland, away from her home. She sings this song to herself as she waits for the love of her life who has passed away, to return to her and bring her back to all the places they visited on their honeymoon… All along the Wild Atlantic Way. 2. We Know Where We Stand (3:16) Written by Aoife Scott, Enda Reilly (Scott, Reilly) A song written about who we are as as a nation as Irish People. Our country that has had so many ups and downs and that even in the face of everything, we as a nation know our own individuality, our identity and our own culture. This song could have different meanings to different people but that’s what music is about. 3. Down by the Shelleybanks (4:32) Written by Aoife Scott, Enda Reilly (Scott, Reilly) Down by the Shelleybanks is my first ever love song written to Dublin. It’s about my favourite place in Dublin City and it makes me very happy to sing live. The minute the guitar starts in this song, I feel like I’m straight back in Ringsend, walking the South Wall, with the head blown off me with the wind. 4. Gypsy Warrior (4:34) Written by Aoife Scott, Enda Reilly (Scott, Reilly) I wrote this song about a friend of mine who inspired me with her strength, resilience and absolute giant heart. She is incredible and she truly makes the world a better place. I was in Germany on tour when the lyrics spilled out. Then I brought it to Enda where it became a song and it really came together in the studio when Conor and Eoghan started the marching groove which it still is today. The long outro symbolises the warrior’s journey which continues on even after the song is finished. 5. Fásaim (3:58) Written by Aoife Scott, Enda Reilly (Scott, Reilly) I went to Enda with an idea for a song after my brother Eoghan got married to the gorgeous Emma. At the time I was a bit all over the shop as it was a bit of a shock to the system that he wasn’t just belonging to me anymore…even though nothing had changed really…he was still my brother! So I wrote this song about Eoghan and Emma getting married on a beautiful Rathlin Island, and how instead of actually losing my brother, I gained a gorgeous lovely sister. Lucky ducks! 6. The Growing Years (5:30) Written by Don Mescall (Hornall Brothers Music Ltd) I learned this song after buying Don’s EP when I was 16, after seeing him perform and I’ve been singing it ever since. I feel very proud and also very privileged that I can sing it. It’s a song that I’ve sung for years and years and I feel like I’ve grown up with it. Don’s Lyrics are powerful and it’s personal story is one that so many can recognise. 7. Eleanor Ambrose (4:05) Written by Adrian Lawlor (Lawlor) This is one of the first songs I chose as part of my set when I decided to become a full time singer. Aido was very kind to send me some of his songs, and this one in particular jumped out at me as it’s got a powerful historical story. Eleanor Ambrose was a lady born in the 1700’s in North Dublin. She was known to be beautiful, witty, intellectual and a fervent patriot. Several years before she was married, she managed to penetrate Dublin society, despite the fact that she was a Catholic. She became a socialite of the Viceregal Court, and during the Viceroyalty of Lord Chesterfield, she and her sister were very popular in the Castle set. She was always vocal about her fight against the poverty of the lower class in Ireland and she never hid her beliefs. Chesterfield was mad about her and he was reported to have told King George II that 'poverty not Popery was to be feared in Ireland', and that he had found 'only one dangerous papist, the brightness of whose eyes and charms, and whose conversation were indeed dangerous', and her name was Eleanor Ambrose. A very formidable lady. 8. Deep Dark Water (2:59) Written by Eoghan Scott (Eoghan Scott) Eoghan wrote this song about our childhood trips to California to visit our uncle Michael in San Francisco. We were very lucky to get to visit him and to have incredible adventures in the California sun. For us, the light, the scenery, the American buildings…they were straight out of a film. Deep Dark Water is a tribute to the two of us being 6/8 years of age, and getting to visit an amazing place called ‘Lake Anza’ in the Berkeley Hills. This song was originally recorded by Eoghan with his band “Yellowstone” from the Ballyfermot Rock School and this is a folk/trad/country version of this original rock song. It’s deadly craic to sing. 9. The Hills of South Armagh (4:48) Written by Briege Murphy (Patricia Brigid McCoy) Briege Murphy is an incredible songwriter and I’ve grown up listening to her songs. This is a song I’ve sung since I was a teenager and I’m proud to have performed it all over the world with my family and also as a solo artist. 10. What You do With What You’ve Got (2:48) Written by Si Kahn (Conexion Music Ltd) I first heard Dick Gaughan sing this song. I love the message and meaning of this song. I love the power of the lyrics and it’s social commentary. 11. Slán Leat (4:05) Written by Aoife Scott, Enda Reilly (Scott, Reilly) Slán Leat is a ‘well wishing’ song for the end of a night of songs and music. It’s not a sad goodbye song as it implies that we’ll all meet again some time soon. I love singing it as when I’m away I can get everyone singing to me in Irish and they might go home after a night of music with the well wishes still in their hearts and in their minds. 12. The Wallflower Waltz (4:17) Written by Sharyn Dimmick (Sharyn Dimmick) I learnt this song from my uncle Michael and uncle Shay and they learnt it from the brilliant Sharyn Dimmick. I think the song speaks for itself with it’s gorgeous lyrics. Make sure to keep an ear out for something special, which is one of my favorite things on my album.