Ranked among today’s foremost young exponents of Scottish song, Malinky combine an array of vocal talent with a highly distinctive instrumental palette, in fresh yet timeless arrangements of both traditional and contemporary material. Their fast-track progress on the international Celtic scene, since forming in 1998, has been underpinned by outstanding musical prowess, fruitful artistic evolution and a maturity well beyond their years.

Nominated Folk Band of the Year for Scottish Trad Music Awards 2008 and named Boston Globe Top 10 Folk-Pick of 2008.

Malinky first emerged at Glasgow’s prestigious Celtic Connections festival in 1999, as winners of a Danny Kyle Open Stage award. At a time when most new Scottish bands were focusing on instrumental sounds, their song-centred repertoire immediately marked them out from the crowd. A further key asset was the superb original songwriting, by founder members Karine Polwart – now pursuing a stellar solo career - and Steve Byrne, which featured alongside astutely chosen traditional fare.

Following the success of the band’s third album on Greentrax Recordings, 2005’s The Unseen Hours, 2008 sees Malinky with a busy international touring schedule, with dates in the USA, Canada and Germany.

The line-up now comprises Fiona Hunter on vocals and cello, Byrne on vocals, bouzouki, cittern and guitar, Mark Dunlop on whistles, bodhrán, and vocals, fiddler Mike Vass, along with Dave Wood on guitar and bouzouki.

“Magnificent vocal talent” (Scotland on Sunday)

Among the five, they share a diverse wealth of influences and backgrounds, including Byrne’s staunch affiliations with his native Angus region, Hunter’s specialist interest in the songs of Scottish travellers, and the Antrim-born Dunlop’s roots in Ulster tradition. As a former member of young Anglo-Scots/Irish five-piece CrossCurrent, (not to mention a graduate of the Newcastle University Folk Music Degree), Wood brings his extensive knowledge of traditions south of the border to the mix, while Vass, an award-winning fiddler, brings his unique northeast highland style to the band.

“Malinky in most excellent form” (Penguin Eggs, Canada, on ‘The Unseen Hours’)

Malinky’s third album, The Unseen Hours, was released like its predecessors on Greentrax, Scotland’s leading folk label, in November 2005. A tremendous collection of nine songs and three instrumental tracks, it embodied a resounding riposte to anyone who’d questioned the band’s future following Polwart’s departure. With the vocals complemented throughout by arresting yet sensitive backing arrangements, the tune sets - again comprising a mix of traditional and contemporary material - bring Malinky’s superb ensemble playing potently to the fore, aligning vibrant layers of melodic colour and texture with arresting rhythmic flair.

“Not just back on their feet, but dancing...Few other bands are able to deliver so apparently effortlessly...” (Songlines)

Most bands would be more than happy with one lead singer to match the richly contrasting qualities of Hunter, Byrne or Dunlop, let alone all three. Small wonder that Living Tradition magazine described The Unseen Hours as “almost like getting several bands for the price of one.”

It’s precisely this balance of old-fashioned virtues and youthful vitality, fidelity to tradition and willingness to move it on, that has paved the way for Malinky’s burgeoning success to date. With recording on a fourth album scheduled to begin in 2008, a year kicked off by dates in New York and another headline date at Celtic Connections, their progress shows no sign of slowing.