Lori Watson

Leading light of the new generation of Borders fiddle players, Lori grew up in Birgham, steeped in the music and song of the Scottish Borders. Her work on Borders fiddle playing with Tom Hughes, Bob Hobkirk, Wattie Robson and Jimmy Nagle has been a driving force in the current resurgence of Borders music along with the band Border Fiddles whose release in 2004 was a landmark recording for Borders music. Although Lori’s musical roots lie firmly in the Borders, her understanding and interpretation of Scots and worldwide traditions is undeniably resonant.

The first artistic research doctorate in Scottish music, Lori Watson is a leading Traditional music specialist with a particular interest in innovation and experimental composition.

Lori has toured extensively and broadcast on radio, television and the internet throughout Britain, Europe, Canada and the U.S.A. Performing regularly with award-winning band Lori Watson and Rule Of Three, her self-produced debut was released in 2006 followed by Pleasure’s Coin in 2009, both on ISLE Music Scotland. Interested in international music connections, Lori also performs with Scots-Norsk band Boreas exploring the meeting points and differences between the traditional and contemporary music of Scotland and Norway. Lori’s tunes, songs, extended and experimental compositions are to the forefront of traditional music composition in Scotland. Burnsong Winner in 2007 and Celtic Colours Songhouse Writer in 2008, Lori has composed for theatre and chamber ensembles as well as her own performance groups and a series of creative and composition projects culminating in a Celtic Connections New Voices commission Sanctuary in January 2010.

Lori has a wide range of teaching and workshop experience at all levels and in a variety of contexts including schools, community groups, festivals, residential courses and masterclasses. A Senior Tutor with Glasgow Fiddle Workshop for 10 years, Lori is a tutor in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University as well as is a lecturer and examiner here at RCS.