Kaela Rowan Band

Kaela Rowan has a powerful song writing style. Her songs are emotive, honest, both strong and gentle, and often quirky. The music is eclectic, with strong influences from both the Scottish and world music scenes; her vocal harmony is at times sumptuous and at others, delicate.

Known for her interpretations of exquisitely crafted folk songs and dynamic musical arrangements, Kaela is joined by her band – James Mackintosh (Shooglenifty, String Sisters, Grit Orchestra) and Ewan MacPherson (Shooglenifty, Salt House, Fetch).

The instrumentation is in the main acoustic, with guitar, classical guitar, imbiera , kalimba , berimbau and numerous percussions , as well as bass and electric guitar and programming by co music writer and arranger James Mackintosh.

Kaela Rowan’s voice has come a long way since her teens when she was singing in folk bands and playing sessions and festivals around her home in Blaich. Citing an eclectic range of early influences – John Martyn, Planxty and Joni Mitchell, amongst others – Kaela has since forged her own unique path in the Scottish music scene.

Moving to Edinburgh in her twenties, her passion for traditional song and dance led her to her becoming a dance and traditional music tutor for organisations such as DanceBase and Feisean Nan Gaidheal. Currently Kaela holds the post of Traditional Song Development Worker in the Scottish Borders.

Kaela Rowan is best known as lead singer with the influential Scottish band Mouth Music. She recorded four albums with the band and toured globally with them in the 1990s.

Much in demand for her beautiful voice, she has recorded and performed with Eliza Carthy Band, Karen Matheson, The Mike McGoldrick Band, Nusa, Anna Murray, The Loveboat Big Band, The Bevvy Sisters and many more. Most recently she joined Shooglenifty for their acclaimed seventh album The Untied Knot, bringing a dynamic new element to the band’s sound. She toured extensively with the Shoogles throughout 2015, and will record with the band again in 2017 in India.

“Listening to Kaela Rowan is cathartic, stimulating and inspirational” – Folkwords
“The kind of pure, clear and soaring voice that would make you drop everything and rush to listen” – Morning Star