Emily Smith and Ger O Donnell

2027 marks 25 years since singer Emily Smith was named BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician of the Year.

She returns to Celtic Connections, where it all began, to celebrate this milestone with a special anniversary show.One of Scotland’s most distinctive and compelling folk voices, Emily is a tradition bearer with a love for portraying heritage and history, combining contemporary influences in her interpretations and original songs.

Shaped by the landscape and stories of her home region of Dumfries and Galloway, her music carries a deep sense of place.Her voice has been described as “simply entrancing” with an emotional range that moves from intimate delicacy to moments of greater power.Since forming her band in 2002 she has toured internationally, accompanied by many of the folk scene’s finest musicians and sharing stages with some of her own musical heroes.

For this anniversary show she’ll be joined by a band of familiar and new faces for an evening reflecting on the people, places and music that have shaped and inspired her throughout her career so far.Supporting her is acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ger O Donnell, renowned for his rich musicianship and dynamic live performances.