“Butterworth’s style is what makes her one of the most in-demand musicians in Scotland. There are few guitarists in this country able to so intricately guide a set with melody and rhythm.” — The National Newspaper
For an overview of Jenn’s current guitar / live sound equipment, click here.
‘Musician of the Year’ (Jenn Butterworth): Scots Trad Music Awards
‘Musician of the Year’ (Nominated: Jenn Butterworth): BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
Belhaven Bursary Award for Innovation in Traditional Music Kinnaris Quintet: Scots Trad Music Awards
‘Horizon Award’ (Nominated: Kinnaris Quintet): BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
‘Folk Band of the Year’ (Nominated: Ryan Young & Jenn Butterworth): Scots Trad Music Awards
‘Folk Band of the Year’ (Nominated: Kinnaris Quintet): Scots Trad Music Awards
‘Album of the Year’ (Songs of Separation): BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
‘Tutor of the Year’ award winner: Scots Trad Music Awards
Longlisted Album (Kinnaris Quintet): Scottish Album of the Year Awards
Jenn Butterworth is one of the most notable folk guitarists in the UK acoustic music scene. She currently holds the title ‘Musician of the Year’ from the Scots Trad Music Awards, and was nominated for the same title in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. An excellent collaborator, she has been a key member of a range of high profile folk music projects, including Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton’s SYMBIOSIS Big Band, award winning folk powerhouse Kinnaris Quintet, three Celtic Connections New Voices, four years on the BBC Hogmanay Live show as a member of the All Star House Band and recently a member of folk supergroup ‘Songs of Separation’ involving an array of prominent folk artists including Eliza Carthy, Lady Maisery and Karine Polwart. The Songs of Separation album, conceived, arranged and recorded in just 7 days, won the title of ‘Best Album’ at the Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2017.
Based in Glasgow, Scotland, she is a lynchpin of the vibrant and thriving Scottish folk scene, performing regularly with a wide range of artists including her own projects ‘Jenn Butterworth & Laura-Beth Salter’, ‘Kinnaris Quintet’ and experimental folk-jam group ‘The Blas Collective’.
In recent years she has performed on a host of award winning and nominated studio albums, including Kinnaris Quintet’s ‘Free One’, which was longlisted for Scottish Album of the Year in 2019. Kinnaris Quintet was also nominated for Folk Band of the Year at the 2018 Scots Trad Music Awards, and the Horizon Award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Jenn works as regular accompanist for acclaimed fiddle player Ryan Young; they were nominated for Folk Band of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards in 2018, and are the only UK act to have been selected to perform at Womex 2019 in Tampere, Finland.
Jenn is also a highly recognised teacher with a wide range of teaching experience, and was recently awarded ‘Tutor of the Year’ at the 2015 Scots Trad Music Awards. She is Lecturer in Practical Studies in the Traditional Music Department of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, is a regular member of the teaching staff for Glasgow Fiddle Workshop and has recently taught for Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the National Youth Folk Ensemble (EFDSS), Halsway Manor & Burg Fürsteneck (Germany).
“Butterworth powers the show with driving guitar.” The Metro
Regular projects:
Jenn Butterworth & Laura-Beth Salter
Kinnaris Quintet
Ryan Young & Jenn Butterworth
Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton’s SYMBIOSIS
Claire Hastings (Duo & Band)
Jack Smedley & David Foley (RURA)
Recent collaborations:
Treacherous Orchestra
Liz Carroll
Songs of Separation
Gillian Frame
Innes Watson’s Guitar Colloquium
Will Pound
Fiddlers’ Bid
Gavin Marwick’s Journeyman Project
Adam Sutherland
Ross Couper
The Shee Big Band
Cask Strength Ceilidh Band
Brighde Chaimbeul & Aidan O’Rourke