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Duncan: Live on BBC Radio 3 Breakfast

June 18, 2018

In midsummer week, BBC Radio 3 enters one of the most potent sources of the human imagination. Into the Forest (BBC R3 daily between 630-9am, 18 – 22 June) explores the […]

Live Event News….

May 14, 2018

RUNRIG: THE LAST DANCE Duncan is thrilled to be performing with Julie Fowlis at Runrig’s The Last Dance concerts in Stirling on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th August. Duncan has been […]

Sandwood

April 27, 2018

Sandwood is now on general release, available to buy / stream / download, worldwide. Please do visit our ‘Shop‘ where you can purchase the album in CD or download format. Enjoy […]

23 March 2018

March 23, 2018

We are delighted to let you know that Sandwood will be on general release, available to buy / stream / download, worldwide from Friday 27 April 2018. For those of […]

Live dates announced and Sandwood reviews….

March 5, 2018

We are delighted to announce additional tour dates as Duncan presents music from the new album in venues and festivals throughout the U.K. and beyond. Duncan and the band look […]

New Music Commission: An Treas Suaile (The Third Wave)

January 29, 2018

14-18 NOW have unveiled their 2018 season of extraordinary arts events focusing on WW1 Centenary Art Commissions. This programme of events features brand new artworks by some of the world’s leading […]

Duncan Chisholm to perform with The GRIT Orchestra at The Hydro, Glasgow – with a special guest appearance by Danny MacAskill.

January 13, 2018

The world premiere of Bothy Culture & Beyond; a music-vision-dance-bike spectacular featuring The GRIT Orchestra and Danny MacAskill will be performed at The Hydro, Glasgow on Saturday, January 27th as […]

Celtic Connections 2018

January 12, 2018

To all those who have purchased tickets to join us at the Royal Concert Hall’s New Auditorium on February 4th for the sold-out premiere performance of music from Duncan’s brand […]

Duncan Chisholm on BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk

December 21, 2017

Hear about the inspiration for Sandwood and a selection of music from Duncan’s new album on BBC Radio Scotland’s Travelling Folk. Duncan joined Bruce MacGregor, Anna Massie and Hamish Napier […]

Duncan Chisholm: The first artist announced to play at the Orkney Folk Festival 2018

December 12, 2017

Duncan has made several appearances at the Orkney Folk Festival over recent years with other musicians and bands but the 2018 festival programme includes the first presentation of music from […]

About Duncan

Duncan Chisholm is one of Scotland’s most recognised and accomplished fiddle players, known for his powerfully cinematic and deeply expressive music.

Over a career spanning several decades, Chisholm has established himself not only as a virtuoso instrumentalist but also as a visionary composer and producer who has brought new life and international acclaim to Scottish traditional music.

Born and raised in the Highlands of Scotland, Duncan Chisholm’s music is deeply rooted in the landscape that surrounds him. He began playing the fiddle at a young age, heavily influenced by the Highland piping tradition and the music of his Highland Gaelic-speaking heritage.

His playing style reflects the soul of the Highlands— its grandeur, its melancholy, and its rugged beauty.

These formative influences would become the hallmark of his sound, even as his career evolved to embrace more experimental and atmospheric directions.

Chisholm gained early recognition as a founding member of the folk-rock band Wolfstone, one of the pioneering groups that helped modernise Scottish traditional music in the 1990s.

Wolfstone’s electrified approach combined traditional melodies with drums and electric guitars, helping bring Highland music to a broader, younger audience. As the band’s fiddler, Chisholm’s soaring, passionate style became a central element of their sound, showcasing his ability to blend tradition with innovation.

While Chisholm made a name for himself with Wolfstone, it is his solo work that has cemented his place as one of the most important contemporary voices in traditional music. His acclaimed Strathglass Trilogy-consisting of the albums Farrar (2008), Canaich (2010), and Affric (2012)—is widely regarded as a masterpiece. Named after the Strathglass region where the paternal line of his family has lived for centuries, the trilogy explores themes of place, memory, and emotional resonance through music.

Each album in the trilogy captures the essence of the Highland landscape, using layered string arrangements, ambient textures, and field recordings to create an immersive listening experience. The music, though instrumental, tells stories that speak deeply to listeners, whether they are familiar with the Highlands or not. Chisholm’s ability to evoke emotion without words is a testament to his artistry.

Duncan Chisholm has received numerous awards for his contributions to Scottish music.

He has won Album of the Year at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards multiple times, and his work is regularly praised for its beauty, craftsmanship, and depth. He has also been nominated for BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, further solidifying his international reputation.

In 2023 Duncan was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of the Highlands and Islands for his work in the creative arts.

Beyond his solo work, Chisholm is a frequent collaborator with other top-tier musicians in the Scottish folk scene. He has worked extensively with Gaelic singing sensation Julie Fowlis and with composer Donald Shaw. He co-writes with the piper Ross Ainslie and with multi-instrumentalist Hamish Napier.

His versatility as both a performer and composer has made him a sought-after contributor to many studio recordings and live performances.

He has also composed music for film and television. His work often straddles the line between folk and cinematic soundscapes, making it particularly effective in storytelling mediums.

What sets Duncan Chisholm apart is his ability to use the fiddle not just as a melodic instrument, but as a tool for painting vivid emotional landscapes. His music is often described as “haunting” and “transcendent,” capable of stirring profound feelings of nostalgia, longing, and awe.

He is deeply committed to honouring the past, however this is never at the expense of innovation.

In doing so, he ensures that Highland music remains alive and relevant, not just preserved.

Duncan Chisholm stands as a bridge between the ancient and the modern, between tradition and creativity. His music invites listeners to experience the Highland soul in a personal and profound way. Whether through his evocative solo recordings, his high-energy collaborations, or his stirring live performances, Chisholm continues to be a beacon of artistic excellence in the world of traditional music.