Ewan McLennan
The last year or so have been absolutely stella for Ewan McLennan. He won the BBC Radio 2 Horizon Award and is the current Fatea Male Vocalist of the year award. The first time I saw him perform he started off with an unaccompanied piece without tuning note and absolutely nailed the song.
Originally from Scotland and having started his musical path primarily as a pianist, Ewan switched to guitar and became a singer songwriter, mixing his set lists between traditional and self penned numbers. Like a number of Scots singer/songwriters before him, Dick Gaughan, Brian McNeill and others, Ewan has never been afraid to add political and social songs into his repertoire.
I first caught up with Ewan at the Moniaive Festival and even though he was only making a couple of short slots as part of bigger showcases, that he was an artist with loads of talent. He was offered a slot on the Fatea Showcase Session Openings for which he contributed his version of "As She Roved Out"
It's great that he's been able to take that talent and make other recognise it, no mean feat in this day and age for a solo singer/songwriter. That said if you do get the chance to hear his set, listen to how he supports the working man and the common soldier and you'll get a real idea of his grit and determination.
Photocredit: Neil King