The winners of this year's Open Stage will perform in the finale concert this evening (Sunday 30th January) at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, before being presented with their awards.
The level of talent on show at the fifteen concerts, which were held in the Exhibition Hall of the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, was extremely high. The six winners of the Danny Kyle Open Stage 2011 are:
Based in the West End of Glasgow, singer-songwriter and guitarist Iona Marshall's original arrangements and beautiful Celtic-tinged songs have won the attention of De-Fence records, who release her first EP this year. Having performed at Haarfest and Kelburn Garden Party, she has also been invited to sing as a guest on forthcoming releases from King Creosote and Lee Patterson.
www.myspace.com/ionamarshall
The multi-instrumental Orkney group - comprising fiddle, mandolin, banjo, accordion, piano, guitar and cajon - are all S3 students at Kirkwall Grammar School. Broken Strings have already achieved success in winning the Orkney Folk Festival Open Stage, and their sound is rooted in the traditional music of their homeland.
facebook broken strings
A performer since the age of 6, Tensheds (aka Matt Millership) initially trained as classical pianist. A guitarist and pianist, his sophisticated songwriting and gravelly vocals are attracting much acclaim.
www.tensheds.com
The JPTrio are an inventive and fresh new Irish trio. Heavily influenced by jazz along with traditional Irish music, the group fuses both genres to create a brand new sound. The JPTrio comprises Jos Kelly (button accordion and piano), Paddy Hazleton (percussion) and Ted Kelly (banjo and tenor guitar).
jpttrio myspace
RURA combines the passions and influences of some of Scotland's most exciting young musicians. Featuring two BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year finalists and an All Ireland Bodhran champion, RURA's powerful sound comprises Highland pipes, whistles, fiddle, guitar and bodhran to create a fierce and versatile sound.
rura myspace
You can hear the Danny Kyle Open Stage 2011 performances by listening in to live recordings at Celtic Music Radio