Folk Bands and Artists
Jenn Butterworth
http://www.jennbutterworth.co.uk
Jenn Butterworth is one of the foremost folk guitarists in the UK acoustic music scene. An excellent collaborator, she has been a key member of a range of high profile folk music projects, including Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton’s SYMBIOSIS Big Band, three Celtic Connections New Voices, four years on the BBC Hogmanay Live show as a member of the All Star House Band and recently a member of folk supergroup ‘Songs of Separation’ involving an array of prominent folk artists including Eliza Carthy, Lady Maisery and Karine Polwart. The Songs of Separation album, conceived, arranged and recorded in just 7 days, won the title of ‘Best Album’ at the Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017.
Based in Glasgow, Scotland, she has become a lynchpin of the vibrant folk acoustic scene. It was in Glasgow that she met and formed a duo with Laura-Beth Salter. After jamming with folk percussionist Steve Forman and Nae Plans duo Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland they formed the The Blas Collective, and currently have a residency in one of Glasgow’s famous live music venues Bar Bloc. The Blas Collective and the local session scene provided Jenn and Laura-Beth with a vibrant and creative space to experiment with and develop their sound, which is a reflection on their individual musical backgrounds and the thriving and progressive Glasgow folk music scene.
In recent years she has performed on over ten studio albums, three of which have appeared on the nominations list for Best Album at the Scots Trad Music Awards. She regularly performs with The Kinnaris Quintet, who were nominated for Best Folk Band in the 2018 Scots Trad Music Awards, the duo Jenn and Laura-Beth, award winning duo Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton and with artists such as the 2015 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Claire Hastings, acclaimed fiddler Ryan Young and Shetland folk superstars Fiddlers’ Bid.
Jenn is also a highly recognised teacher with a wide range of teaching experience, and was recently awarded ‘Tutor of the Year’ at the 2015 Scots Trad Music Awards. She is Lecturer in Practical Studies in the Traditional Music Department of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, is a regular member of the teaching staff for Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and has recently taught for Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the National Youth Folk Ensemble (EFDSS), Halsway Manor & Burg Fürsteneck (Germany).
