Jenn Butterworth
Jenn has always had a love for traditional music. Brought up in Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway, she began playing fiddle at the age of 10. She soon began borrowing her father’s guitar, and by the age of 14 she was singing and playing in local venues. As she continued to grow as a musician and performer she travelled with her family to many different festivals across the UK delivering workshops, playing as a band and performing solo.
An honours graduate of Strathclyde University’s BA in Applied Music course, Jenn is highly sought after both as an accompanist and a singer.
As a member of the trio with Anna Massie and Mairearad Green, her vocal and rhythmic skills shine.
Last year's Celtic Connections saw her team up with Eddi Reader for a very mature Master and Apprentice concert. Jenn is also a winner of the Danny Kyle Open Stage Award, where she performed with Skye fiddler Sarah Naylor. The duo supported Deaf Shepherd and performed in the Musical Ark.
Mairearad Green
Originally from the Wester Ross village of Achiltibuie, Mairearad is now based as a professional musician in the happening city of Glasgow. She is equally talented on the accordion, the pipes and the piano. At just 16, Mairearad was in the finals of BBC Young Scottish Traditional Musician of the Year 2001. She then went on to attend the Plockton Music School of Excellence for her final year at school, where she received tuition from PM Ian MacFadyen and former Runrig accordionist, Blair Douglas. She has recently attained a BA in French and Marketing from the University of Strathclyde.
A keen composer, Mairearad's tunes are rapidly becoming popular session tunes and have been recorded by other bands, such as Canadian band Clan Terra and fellow accordionist Gary Innes. Among the best-known are "Maggie West's Waltz," "Dad's Landrover" and "Dram Behind the Curtain."
Mairearad can be seen regularly performing with Anna and Jenn, and is also a member of the all female pipe group "Tachem" as well as the new accordion extravaganza known as "Box Club." This winter will see Mairearad touring with the fantastic Karine Polwart Band.