Grayshott Folk Club
Grayshott Village Hall, Headley Road, Grayshott,
Nr. HINDHEAD, Surrey GU26 6TZ
Friday 20th February 2026 @ 7.30pm
Grayshott Folk Club introduces:
THE AINSLEY HAMILL TRIO with SAM KELLY and TOBY SHAER
The Guardian Album of the Month – "Not Just Ship Land"
“Her voice thick with velvet and mirk…hovering between the comforting warmth of The Breath and the whip smart forlornness of early Adele…Hamill has a big intriguing voice, its Scottishness ever present.”
“One of the best of her generation.” RnR Magazine
Ainsley Hamill Shortlisted: Album of the Year-"FABLE" at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2025
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Mix Heather Small and Julie Fowlis and you have singer songwriter Ainsley Hamill. Ainsley is one of the UK’s most distinctive and versatile singers, known for her remarkable voice, storytelling, and emotive style.
Hailing from the West Coast of Scotland, she has built a career celebrated for its authenticity, merging traditional Scottish Folk with a modern touch.
In early 2025, Ainsley released her much anticipated third studio album, "Fable", produced by Sam Kelly. Drawing inspiration from Scottish folklore and myth, the album weaves Gaelic, Scots, and original compositions with rich instrumentation from Alistair Iain Paterson, Toby Shaer, Signy Jakobsdottir and Euan Burton. Recorded in Glasgow, "Fable" explores Scotland’s legends and landscapes, with each track carrying ancient stories into a contemporary setting.
Her previous album, "Not Just Ship Land" (2021), named The Guardian’s Album of the Month, marked a move into more introspective and thematic song writing, celebrating the unsung heroes of Govan and Glasgow with a strong focus on feminism and equality.
Ainsley’s accolades include being a BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Finalist, a Gaelic Singer of the Year nominee at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, and representing Scotland on major international stages including World Expo Dubai, World Expo Osaka, and Eurovision in Gothenburg. "Fable" was nominated for Album of the Year 2025 at the Scots Trad Music Awards and has continued to receive national praise and exceptional audience response.
Festival highlights include a decade of performances at Celtic Connections, as well as Glastonbury, Tønder Festival, and The Festival InterCeltique de Lorient.
With roots shaped at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Ainsley carries a deep connection to Gaelic song and Scottish storytelling. She first came to prominence with the Folk band Barluath and, alongside her solo career, she also performs with Fourth Moon, bringing Gaelic and English song together with her signature step dancing.
Tonight, Ainsley Hamill will be joined by acclaimed Folk musicians Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer.
Sam is a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning singer, songwriter and multi- instrumentalist.
He also produced Ainsley's album "Fable" and has played and sung for us before at Grayshott, alongside his long-term duo partner Jamie Francis.
Toby Shaer is a highly sought after multi-instrumentalist who has performed with artists including Cara Dillon and Sam Kelly and The Lost Boys. He has played at Grayshott Folk Club several times, most often with Honey & The Bear but also with Heidi Talbot. You may have heard him just before Christmas, when he accompanied Heidi Talbot who was the studio guest on the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show on Wednesday 18th December 2025.
Together, this trio creates a powerful and captivating sound, blending traditional and contemporary Folk with stunning harmonies and masterful musicianship.
Tickets £20
Available in person only, from Grayshott Post Office
For phone reservations, call Des O'Byrne on: 01428 607096
Online from Ents 24:
https://www.ents24.com/hindhead-events/grayshott-village-hall/ainsley-hamill/7415907
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