From whisky-fuelled beginnings in Thurso to sold-out shows supporting Torridon, Folk’d Up’s story is one of bold evolution and pure passion. As the Highland-based band gears up for Belladrum 2025 and a game-changing debut album, they reflect on growth, grit, and the energy that keeps their music blazing
You’ve come a long way since your debut in April 2024—how does it feel looking back at that first gig now, especially with Belladrum 2025 on the horizon?
That first gig seems so long ago now. So much has happened since then. A couple of things stick out for me—it was obviously our first gig. We all travelled up to Thurso and stayed overnight. After the gig we all got very drunk and had the best laugh.
It was a real moment of “we’re actually a proper band now and this feels real for the first time.” The second thing was that no one had ever heard our songs before. Although we had confidence in them, we were apprehensive about how they’d translate to a live crowd. It does feel good looking back and seeing how far we’ve come. We learned a lot from that first gig.
Supporting Torridon at a sold-out show was a huge moment. Has that experience influenced how you approach live performances or shaped your confidence as a band?
It was a huge moment for us. We’re so grateful to the Torridon guys for giving us such a massive platform. They definitely took a gamble on us—I think it was only our fifth gig at the time. It was also our first with the backing singers. There was a lot going on; it was one of those sink-or-swim situations. Thankfully, we all got on stage and just went for it.
We did gain a lot of confidence from that gig. We proved to ourselves we’re comfortable playing in front of larger crowds.
You’ve welcomed a new drummer into the fold—how has that changed the dynamic within the band, both creatively and on stage?
We’ve had a few great drummers as we’ve evolved as a band. It’s been a genuine pleasure working with them—they’ve each brought their own style which has slowly helped us piece together our sound.
I think now with Jack MacPhee in the fray, you can expect a real aggressive, high-energy sound from us. Perfect for the upcoming festival gigs. We’re really excited to have him in the band. The first rehearsal was electric—I feel creatively we can push that sound even harder.
Your sound has clearly evolved since “Whisky Eyes.” With a new track dropping ahead of Belladrum, what can fans expect from this next chapter?
Our songs are sounding bigger and bolder. We have Calum Chisholm recording and producing our tracks—he’s definitely capturing the essence of our sound. We’re so happy with the way the recordings are going.
I feel the confidence in our songs is starting to shine through in the recordings. Our next song “One for the Road” is a huge anthem. We close all our gigs with it—it’s very catchy, you’ll be humming it in your head for days.
“Let It Roll” and “Yeah Yeah” marked a shift away from folk toward something bigger and bolder. How do those tracks reflect where you’re headed with the upcoming album?
The album is going to have a massive sound. There will still be an element of folk because of how some of the songs were written, but for the most part it’s really going to rock. There’ll be a few surprises along the way too.
We kind of outgrew the folk sound when the likes of “Let It Roll” and “Yeah Yeah” were written. To be honest, we’re much more comfortable performing and recording this new sound. It’s more “us”, if that makes sense.
We honestly think people will love the album. We can’t wait to finish it and get it out there.
You’ve mentioned that your music blends folk tempo with ’90s indie/rock energy. How do you strike that balance when writing new material—especially now that your sound is expanding?
When writing the songs, the folk elements naturally give us that high energy and tempo. Then we lean into our own music influences—mainly from indie music from the ’90s—to give that anthemic, gritty feel.
Belladrum is known for celebrating Highland talent and genre fusion. What does playing there mean to you, and how are you preparing for that stage?
Most of the band grew up in the Highland area, so going to Bella was always a big thing—it’s ingrained in the culture.
It’s such a friendly festival, and we are itching to get up on the Seedlings Stage this year. We’re really happy with the slot we’ve been given. As far as preparation goes—it’s rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.
Momentum has clearly been on your side. What’s been the biggest lesson in keeping that energy going—and what’s next after the album drops?
I think the main thing that keeps the momentum going is that we all really enjoy what we’re doing. We love the tunes, we love rehearsing them, and we love playing them to crowds.
We’re all very different personality-wise, but we just click when we get together. The thought of releasing an album is another big motivation to keep the momentum going.
Next year, we’d like to take the band further afield—maybe Glasgow, Edinburgh or Liverpool for some gigs.
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With momentum on their side and a fresh, high-energy sound honed through electrifying rehearsals and confident studio sessions, Folk’d Up are poised for their biggest chapter yet. Their appearance at Belladrum’s Seedlings Stage and the release of One for the Road are just the beginning—this is a band surging toward something unforgettable.
