Gàidhlig singer Iona Mairead is from the village of Barvas on the west coast of Lewis. Surrounded by Gàidhlig song as she grew up, she quickly became captivated by the unique sounds, poetry and rhythms handed down by her ancestors.
Iona joined the line-up of An Lanntair’s Hebridean Women 2023 concert when she was just eighteen. Although she usually tends to favour performing at more informal local cèilidhs, she recently competed at Mòd an Òbain 2024, reaching the finals for the Traditional Gold Medal.
Her highly anticipated and mesmerising debut EP, “Tog do Ghuth” (Raise your Voice) was released last December. Iona Mairead’s music pairs traditional elements of Gàidhlig song with dreamy, electronic arrangements, creating a fresh and easy listen. She is driven by her passion to keep the Gàidhlig language and its poetry alive, but also the potential to explore new possibilities and boundaries for contemporary Gàidhlig music.