Karen Marshalsay is a master of traditional Scottish harp music. Specialising on all three Scottish harps – both gut- and wire-strung and the baroque bray harp with its buzzing sitar effect – Karen has appeared throughout the UK, Europe, America and Australia.
Career highlights include the Edinburgh International Festival, Celtic Connections, and the Australian National Folk Festival, working with African, Indian and Paraguayan musicians and on multi-cultural projects including Yatra, which premiered at the Edinburgh Mela in 2008.
With a particular interest in pipe music, Karen has played with Allan MacDonald in his acclaimed pibroch concerts, including the Edinburgh International Festival’s From Battle Lines to Bar Lines series (2004), and for the National Piping Centre’s 2013 Ceòl na Piòba concert.
As a composer, Karen has produced new works for Celtic Connections’ New Voices series, Hands up for Trad’s Distil showcase concerts, and Drake Music Scotland, and she was Composer in Residence with Harps North West in 2016. She released a solo album, The Road to Kennacraig, in July 2019.
Karen also currently performs with the legendary Irish flute player, singer and founder of Boys of the Lough, Cathal McConnell’s trio.
Full of entertaining musical insights, Karen’s concerts take you into the timeless world of Scotland’s ancient instrument.
“One of the leading contemporary performers on the instrument” – The Scotsman
“One of the finest harpists in the world…all three Scottish harps centre stage and giving the acoustic lift that heightens the senses gloriously” – Liverpool Sound and Vision
“The Road to Kennacraig is a compelling and well-wrought collection” – The Living Tradition
Listen HERE
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Fife, click here to find out more!
Want to be the first to hear about what's happening in Fife? Just hit 'Like' on our Facebook page, join the What's On Scotland Facebook Group and 'Follow' on our Twitter account and you're all set!The multi award-winning production of Noël Coward’s provocative comedy 'Present Laughter' returns to the big screen. Catch it at Crail Community Hall on 7th August!
READ MOREThe Balgove Night Market returns in 2024 and takes place on the first Tuesday of the month between May and September.
READ MOREBen Ottewell, legendary Gomez singer and lead guitarist, plays PJ Molloys on Saturday 27th July!
READ MOREDJ Free Luigi makes his return to The Ship Inn on 27th July for a night of action on the decks!
READ MORECome join us at CJ'S Function Room in Rosyth for an unforgettable night of OldSkool tunes from the early days of rave!
READ MORERhys Heaven is on hand to entertain with his mix of songs from across the decades, in our bar at The Ship Inn on 28th July!
READ MORERain of Animals have performed across Europe and you can catch them at The Ship Inn, Elie on Friday 2nd August!
READ MOREForgan Arts Centre and Big Rock Records join forces to bring you a new music and arts festival in the centre’s lush grounds and gardens on Saturday 3rd August.
READ MOREJoin us at The Ships Inn, Elie on Saturday 3rd August for an evening of live music in our bar courtesy of Thomas Rock.
READ MORE