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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 Dunlop - Caoir
Pre-order Caoir on CD

“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, on Friday 24th March 2023.

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
  • Thu
    30
    Mar
    2023

    ‘CAOIR’ ALBUM LAUNCH

    7.30pm

    Cottiers Bar, Theatre and Restaurant 
    93-95 Hyndland St
    Glasgow
    G11 5PU

    Bar & Restaurant
    0141 357 5825

    Box Office
    0141 357 4000

    Scottish Gaelic singer and bilingual broadcaster, Joy Dunlop, celebrates the release of her eagerly anticipated third solo album ‘Caoir’. Crowned Traditional Singer of the Year & Traditional Dance Champion at the 2015 Pan Celtic Festival, 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 released two highly acclaimed solo albums, Dùsgadh and Faileasan. She is also the driving force between ‘Gaelic/Gaeilge supergroup’, LAS and has released collaborative albums with Joy&Andrew, Twelfth Day, Music Makes Me and Melody & Derrick Cameron, amongst others. 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.

    Joy is also a popular television & radio presenter, who 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 is also the presenter of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition and often hosts well known music programme, Travelling Folk.

    “Something of a one-woman Gaelic industry.”The Herald
    “Long established as one of the finest Gaelic singers on the circuit” Songlines

    Book your tickets here: https://cottiers.com/event/joy-dunlop-caoir-album-launch/
  • Sat
    01
    Apr
    2023

    Choral Workshop

    9.45am

    The Quaker Meeting House

    7 Victora Terrace

    Edinburgh

    E1 2JL

    Always wanted to sing Gaelic songs? Fancy trying something new? Want to build on your existing Gaelic skills? Why not come along to our next workshop, hosted by Joy Dunlop, on Saturday 1st April! This workshop is suitable for all choral singing and Gaelic-speaking abilities. To register, please complete this form: https://forms.gle/vT1PdpmzGJMFxPXN8

     

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