About Joy

Gaelic Singer | TV & Radio Presenter | Scottish Stepdancer | Educator

Joy Dunlop’s singing career is the result of a life–long fascination with Scotland’s traditional music and has led her all over the world; from major Celtic festivals, to touring the UK, Europe, Canada, USA, Japan and New Zealand.

Through her singing, she showcases Gaelic music and song in a contemporary way that always remains true to its roots. Nominated as Gaelic Singer of the Year 2020, 2016, 2011 & 2010, she has also won both the coveted Royal National Mòd Gold Medal and the Oban Times Gold Medal and is the only person to be crowned both Traditional Singer of the Year & Traditional Dance Champion at the Pan Celtic Festival. She’s released three highly acclaimed solo albums, Caoir, Dùsgadh and Faileasan and also, Dithis; a duo album with her brother Andrew. Joy is also the driving force between ‘Gaelic/Gaeilge supergroup’, LAS and has featured on a range of collaborative albums.

A popular television & radio broadcaster, Joy is involved with a wide range of music, current affairs and light entertainment programmes. With her trademark poise and depth of knowledge, Joy’s warmth and enthusiasm have made her increasing in-demand in television and radio broadcasts alike; from presenting the weather on both BBC Scotland & BBC Alba, to fronting SpeakGaelic; a wide-ranging, multi-faceted learning brand, offering the most comprehensive approach to learning Scottish Gaelic in a generation. She also presents the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition and often hosts well known music programme Travelling Folk. Joy is also the creator and co-host of the popular Scottish Gaelic and irish podcast ‘A-nunn ’s Anall’.

A fluent Gaelic speaker, with an honours degree in Gaelic Language and Culture, Joy has taught Gaelic language and song courses across the globe and in her spare time, she also conducts the Alba Choir; Scotland’s first and only Eurovision entry, who participated in the 2019 Eurovision Choir of the Year finals in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Caoir

“Joy’s pure, enthralling vocals burn brightest at the heart of it all, acting as the ember which breathes life to the skilled, heartfelt flames of musicianship that surround her on the recording.”

“A bigger and bolder sound than ever before.”

“It’s easy to imagine the album’s sparkling tracks lighting a fire in listeners as Joy’s musical embers dance around venues and festivals across Scotland and beyond.”

Esteemed Scottish singer, broadcaster and Gaelic language advocate Joy Dunlop releases her third solo album Caoir, featuring contemporary recordings of traditional Gaelic songs.

Caoir (pronounced koor) means a blaze of fire, fiercely burning, flames or flashes – imagery which comes across in the album’s undeniably vibrant and warming sound. Her pure, enthralling vocals burn brightest at the heart of it all, acting as the ember which breathes life to the skilled, heartfelt flames of musicianship that surround her on the recording.

With its upbeat rhythms and captivating melodies and riffs, it’s easy to imagine the album’s sparkling tracks lighting a fire in listeners as Joy’s musical embers dance around venues and festivals across Scotland and beyond.

Latest News

Forthcoming Events

Upcoming | Archive: 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019
  • Fri
    20
    Oct
    2023

    Club Fèis a’ Mhòid / Mòd Phàislig 2023 Festival Club

    9pm

    The Sneddon, 30 Old Sneddon Street, Paisley PA3 2AL

    ‘S e Club Fèis a’ Mhòid an t-àite airson fois a ghabhail, coinneachadh ri caraidean agus tlachd fhaighinn às a h-uile càil a tha a’ dol aig Mòd Phàislig. Bithidh measgachadh de sheiseanan ciùil pop-up beò agus tachartasan gach latha den fhèis.

    Our lively, welcoming Mòd Festival Club is your go-to place to relax, catch up with friends and enjoy everything the Mòd and Paisley has to offer. Featuring a variety of pop-up live music sessions and entertainment each day of the festival.  

  • Sat
    02
    Dec
    2023

    MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards

    7pm

    Caird Hall

    Dundee

    The 21st MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards returns to Dundee as part of the Caird Hall’s Centenary celebrations. Hands Up for Trad presents the 21st annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards at The Caird Hall, this December, showcasing and celebrating Scottish traditional music at its very best to folk fans from across the country. Known as the Folk Oscars, the 2023 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards will feature performances from some of Scotland’s leading Scottish traditional music artists, including: Mànran, The Peatbog Faeries, Karine Polwart & Dave Milligan, Duncan Chisholm, The Joy Dunlop Band, the Winner of 2023 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year – Amy Laurenson and many more. So celebrate with us this December whilst we recognise the 2023 Scottish traditional music luminaries and come of age in Dundee. Please visit: www.scotstradmusicawards.com for more information and to vote on your favourites from October 2022. Tickets: (on sale from 19th July, 10am) Full Price – £33.00 ( £30.00 %2B £3.00 Booking Fee) Concession – £18.00 ( £15.00 + £3.00 Booking Fee) Information published by Leisure and Culture Dundee.

     

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