Winner of ‘Musician of the Year’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017
Winner of ‘Best Group’ for The Furrow Collective at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2017
‘Instrumentalist of the Year’ Scots Trad Awards 2016
Shortlist for Scottish ‘Album of the Year’ SAY Awards 2017

Singer and harpist Rachel Newton specialises in interpreting traditional folk songs in both English and Scottish Gaelic as well as writing and performing her own instrumental pieces. Rachel performs solo, with her trio featuring Lauren MacColl on fiddle and Mattie Foulds on percussion and with a full band when they’re joined by Michael Owers on trombone and Sarah Hayes on keys.

A skilled collaborator, Rachel is a founder member of the successful UK folk bands The Shee and The Furrow Collective. She also plays fiddle and viola and works across a range of performance platforms including theatre and storytelling.

Rachel released her critically acclaimed fourth solo album West on 28th September 2018 which was recorded in her late grandparents’ old croft house in Achnahaird, Wester Ross.