Julie Fowlis

Julie Fowlis was raised in North Uist, in the Western Isles. Steeped in local culture and the Gaelic tradition, Julie was involved in piping, singing and dancing from an early age.

Performing at a professional level for several years now, Julie has worked with top musicians and singers both through solo work and with the dynamic band, Dòchas. An instrumentalist, it is only in the last few years that Julie has focused on her singing and this was recognised in 2003 with her involvement in the prestigious Gluasaichd a' Chuain Siar or Atlantic Movement, at the Hebridean Celtic Festival. This project showcased renowned singers such as Maighread and Triona Ni Dhomhnaill from Ireland, Julie Murphy from Wales, Mary Jane Lamond from Canada and top Gaelic singers Mary Smith and Alyth MacCormack.

Julie's reputation as a singer was confirmed when she was named Winner of the prestigious Pan-Celtic Sean-Nos singing competition in 2004, which took place in Tralee, Ireland . She was nominated for Best Gaelic Singer at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards the same year, where Dòchas were also Winners of Best Newcomer.

2005 will see the release of Julie's debut solo album “mar a tha mo chridhe” or “as my heart is”, featuring Eamon Doorley, John Doyle, John McCusker, Ingrid Henderson, Allan Henderson, Kris Drever, Ross Martin, Martin O'Neill and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh and the brave and talented Iain MacDonald, who co-produced the album with Julie.

As well as appearing on numerous Gaelic Television Programmes such as Tacsi, Fàilte, An t-Urlar Ur, Air an Urlar and Ceòl (all solo) and Ceòlraidh, Air an Urlar and Dè a-nis? (with Dòchas), Julie has also been involved in three musical commissions by Mark Sheridan, The Curve of the Earth (performed at Celtic Connections 2002 and the Festival Interceltique de Lorient 2002), The Evangelists, which has been performed three times since 2002 and When They Lay Bare, an Opera Ballad which was performed over three nights in the Tramway Theatre at Celtic Connections 2003. She was also involved in another commission for Celtic Connections in 2004 by Wendy Wetherby, in a musical setting of Sunset Song. She will also be involved in the second commission of this trilogy, Cloud Howe in Celtic Connections 2005, as well as Maggie's MacInnes' Commission, A Woman's Song.

In 2006, Julie won the BBC Radio 2 Horizon award.