Karine Polwart

Karine Polwart is a Scottish writer, musician, singer-songwriter and storyteller whose work brings together folk influences, folklore, scientific enquiry and a strong sense of place. Through songs, essays, picture books, theatre projects and radio documentaries, she explores hidden histories, environmental loss, family life and the complexities of the wider world with lyricism and tenderness. Her work ranges from intimate solo performances to ambitious collaborations, often connecting personal stories and familiar landscapes with larger social and ecological themes.

Recent projects include Windblown, a theatrical work inspired by a palm tree at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden and dedicated to gardeners and grieving; Looking for the Thread, a collaborative album with Mary Chapin Carpenter and Julie Fowlis; and Spell Songs, a creative response to environmental loss. Her work also includes participative choir initiatives and Wind Resistance, a performance about moorlands and midwifery. Polwart shares music and project information through her website, where visitors can find dates, videos, photos, shop items and sheet music, listen to recordings, and join her mailing list.