Like many new bands in recent years, Edinburgh folk outfit Àirdan can trace their beginnings to the pandemic, particularly that period when restrictions loosened and small gatherings were permitted. All four members already knew each other from the city’s folk scene, playing pre-covid in pub sessions, ceilidh bands and folk clubs.  

‘I come from a very traditional Irish music scene,’ says guitarist David Lennon, who arrived in the city from Belfast in 2017. ‘When I moved over to Scotland I couldn’t believe how much folk music there was in the city, especially at the university.’

Being robbed of that face-to-face community at a stroke in 2020 focused minds when it did become possible to meet up. The newly minted Àirdan made up for lost time, appearing at Celtic Connections for their live debut before playing the likes of Eden Festival, Moniaive Folk Festival and sundry club gigs in Edinburgh. ‘We were all so glad to be able to play music with our friends again,’ says Lennon. ‘I think that was the most important thing for us.’ 

Àirdan may have been forged in friendship but the line-up is eclectic. ‘Fiddler extraordinaire’ Paul Sinclair is a quarter Finnish and steeped in Scandi tradition; accordionist Coll Williamson plays a lot of world music; and Polish drummer Ewa Adamiec majors in West African percussion with a side order of sitar. Lennon is effusive in his enthusiasm for the scene that birthed their band. ‘Edinburgh is such a culturally rich city. People come in and out of your lives for a couple of weeks with brilliant pieces of music and little influences that you pick up and then they leave again. That’s why I think Edinburgh is that melting pot of influences.’

With their background, Àirdan will fit in just fine at the self-styled ‘world ceilidh’ that is Galloway’s Knockengorroch Festival, taking their place alongside such diverse artists as Malian diva Rokia Koné, dub outfit African Head Charge, Malawian one-man band Gasper Nali, Arizona-born, Edinburgh-based multi-instrumentalist Cera Impala, and fellow Future Sound alumnus Kate Young. Meanwhile, debut album Cosmic also arrives in May, produced by broadcaster and Blazin’ Fiddles member Anna Massie, with a mix of original compositions and American, Scottish, Irish and Swedish tunes.

For Lennon, the title alludes to ‘the idea of being part of something that is bigger than yourself. No egos are allowed in Àirdan. It’s a very open environment. We always listen, no matter what. If anyone brings a tune to the band, we always give it a stab and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t, but you have to meet up and have that goal. We’ve always tried to meet up once a week and when we finish practise on a Wednesday, we’ll go off to the pub and host a session. Sometimes if it’s not too busy we’ll stick in a cheeky Àirdan track because it’s a wee bit different. We love playing music for people.’

Àirdan play the Langwhan (Longhouse) stage at Knockengorroch Festival on Thursday 22 May.