Scots songwriter Karine Polwart combines the economy and universality of the folk storytelling tradition with a probing intellect and compassionate lyricism. Twice winner of "Best Original Song" at the UK-wide BBC Folk Awards, she continues to wonder at the homes her many poignant songs find for themselves.

"The most beautiful thing about songs is how they can take on a life and a meaning of their own. I'm constantly moved and inspired by the deeply personal experiences people let me in on to me as a result of hearing them".

Over the past few years, Karine has notched up a string of eclectic musical collaborations with alt folk balladeer King Creosote, Indo-Caledonian pop maestro Future Pilot AKA, the intellectual maverick of English folk song Chris Wood, Idlewild front man Roddy Woomble, bluegrass ace Tim O'Brien and even the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. She's not quite as easy to pigeonhole as you might imagine.