"Christine Kydd is a musician who brings warmth and style to her work, and a unique ability to communicate instantly with an audience or workshop group"
(Aberdeen Alternative Festival - Traditional Musician in Residence there for several years)

Traditional singer
Contemporary songwriter

A renowned interpreter and champion of the Scots song tradition, Christine has performed and recorded, over a number of years, with other singers and musicians to produce some of Scotland’s finest and often award - winning harmony vocal sounds, including successful and groundbreaking projects with Janet Russell, and in supertrio, Chantan.

Originally from Glasgow, Christine grew up musically in the vibrant Edinburgh of the 1980’s where groups like The Easy Club, Jock Tamson’s Bairns, Sileas, The Poozies, Shooglenifty, among others, were forming. She was involved in many combinations of groups and bands at this time, but notably toured extensively with Janet Russell in the UK, Europe and the USA and Canada.
Christine later was invited to join the group which became Chantan- a successful blending of traditions- arrangements of songs using influences from a variety of sources including jazz and blues, treatments which received great acclaim.

Christine loves working with other singers and musicians, and has been invited to sing and play with a number of combinations, including current projects: the fantastic Calluna (Anna Wendy Stevenson, Rebecca Knorr, Charlotte Peterson); on a programme of “Songs and Tunes of the Sea” with the wonderful multi- instrumentalist Norman Chalmers; with the brilliant, original singer from Ceolbeg, Barbara Dymock, in an exciting new harmony duo, Sinsheen.

Christine performs and teaches in many contexts home and abroad, including at the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music, Plockton, Scotland. Also has been involved as founder of many community choirs in Scotland, including Sangstream, Sangschule, Angus Folk, Breakish Singers and JustSinginBirnam.

She has appeared on TV in the UK, Europe, Russia and Japan, on radio at home and internationally. Concerts include numerous festivals (including Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Towersey, Whitby, Sidmouth, Orkney) in the UK, Europe (many including Northlands, Lorient), and festivals and tours include those in the USA, Canada, Russia, Europe.

Her latest solo album, ‘Dark Pearls’, received excellent reviews. Launched on the Culburnie label, the album features Lorraine Jordan as guest musician. Never one to stand still creatively, Christine is currently working on a project involving the songs she’s written over a number of years.

Quotes
“Solo or accompanied, Christine's clear voice and feisty delivery imbue ballad and song with the emotional intensity many singers miss”. Highlander Records

“I was listening to one of your CDs on the way over. Lovely scenery, and your beautiful singing - the perfect stress-relieving combination!

See other recordings.

Read Christine's interview with Fiona Ritchie on the Thistle & Shamrock website (USA - thistle@npr.org).

Download the Dark Pearls album song lyrics (pdf)