There are some songs that every Scot knows (“Da Da Da, Dun Diddle Un Diddle Un Diddle Uh Da Da”, need we say more?) However, there are many talented artists scattered around Scotland that are lesser-known to the wider music-loving community.
For tourists visiting our capital, being greeted by the bagpipers’ moving Scottish melodies is one of the Edinburgh attractions that makes the trip so memorable. For local Scots who are well-acquainted with bagpipes, cities famous for their music scenes like Glasgow may be of greater interest as the talent pool is even more diverse meaning there’s something for everyone.
Either way, enjoying music while you’re out and about (and not just on Spotify) is a fun novelty that has the power to uplift us. So, when we asked our Scotsman readers for their favourite ‘little-known musicians’ of Scotland, we were delighted to receive a treasure trove of responses; some more abundant than others, looking at you Andy.
Here are 18 of those responses for the “best buskers” in Scotland. Disclaimer: many artists who busk are not limited to street performance alone, be sure to check out any names you’re interested in and see what else they’ve been up to.
13. Willie Mackay
The man who brings the spoons and the tunes, Willie MacKay is not only a councillor but a well-established spoon player. In a statement, Willie said: “I learnt to play the spoons in 1968 at the age of 20 while attending Bothy Nights in Aberdeenshire.” He continues: “However I did nothing really with them until May 2020 when my wife Glynis and I decided to post up a Tune on the Spoons in appreciation for all the NHS staff, carers and front line workers coping with the Covid pandemic.” Using his spoons for good, Willie also told us that he regularly volunteers at nursing homes around the Caithness area of Scotland. Photo: via William MacKay
14. The Best Bad Influence
According to Ardrossan Music Experience: “The Best Bad Influence are a rockabilly, rock 'n' roll, blues band from Scotland. The members are Alexander Munro, Mark Liddell and Nyall Waldron.” Nyall adds: “We are a Rockabilly, Rock and Roll band from Scotland. We fuse 50's music with a kind of hip and cool sway of the naughties.” Photo: YouTube Screenshot via SAYLLASY
15. Callum Beattie
From busking on the streets around his home in Edinburgh to eventually performing at Hyde Park along with famous artists like Robbie Williams, Callum Beattie is a true success story in the Scottish buskers scene. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via Ewan
16. Natasha Jenkins
Natasha Jenkins is well-known as the local talent who, when busking in Glasgow, was picked up by a Sky Arts producer who put her forward to play on the Unsigned Heroes series from Tony Visconti, a famous music producer who worked with the likes of David Bowie. Photo: YouTube Screenshot via M A N N A