Traditional Musician
Described by All Celtic Music as “a singer and fiddler making her mark around the world… a true cultural ambassador.”
Described by All Celtic Music as “a singer and fiddler making her mark around the world… a true cultural ambassador,” Alison McNeill is a Scottish artist whose performances celebrate connection, culture, and creativity.
As lead singer and fiddler with the award-winning folk-rock band Reely Jiggered, Alison is a dynamic performer heavily inspired by world music and cross-cultural exchange performing both at home in festivals such as Celtic Connections and BBC Introducing and collaborating with musicians and artists from every corner of the globe. Her Scottish–Pakistani fusion project with sitarist Rakae Jamil saw her performing in Urdu, Hindi and Farsi on the main stage at Scotland’s largest South Asian festival, the Glasgow Mela, and on tour in Lahore, Sialkot, and Islamabad for the British High Commission in Pakistan. She has also worked with Indian dancers Oxcana, Kirsten, and Reene on innovative interdisciplinary performances blending traditional dance and Scottish folk.
She has represented Scotland in the USA, performing at New York’s Tartan Week in venues including Sony Hall and Club Cumming, as well as for major whisky brands and Scotland’s Tartan Army. She has also collaborated with Alba Ballet, bringing live traditional and contemporary Scottish music into the world of dance.
In Mexico, Alison performed as guest soloist with La Camaradería and Ditirambo, creating bold new Celtic–Latin fusions. In Denmark, she has collaborated with Danish artists and performed at the Viking Hall in Lejre and Copenhagen Town Hall, while in Kenya, she has performed in the capital led workshops and collaborations at the Still I Rise School in Nairobi.
Her creative collaborations extend into theatre and the performing arts. Alison worked with circus performer and fire artist Miriam Wolanski at the Scottish Crannog Centre, creating immersive outdoor works inspired by Scottish mythology, weaving together spoken word, song, music, soundscape, and circus in powerful site-specific settings. At the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Alison was part of the band for the award-winning show Lena, performing alongside an all-star cast and contributing to the accompanying documentary film.
She has performed for The Queen, King Charles, and First Ministers of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon and Alec Salmond
A classically trained violinist and vocalist, Alison studied both disciplines alongside Scottish Traditional Music. With deep roots on the island of Islay and a world-champion piper for a grandfather, she grew up steeped in the sounds of Scotland, learning fiddle tunes from Old Peter McLellan and studying with masters including Buddy MacMaster, Ronan Martin, and Alasdair McCulloch.
Highlights include appearances at Celtic Connections, BBC Introducing, Celtival Festival (Italy), performing with the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, and singing the Scottish National Anthem at international rugby matches.
"Reely Jiggered have got to be one of Scotland's most interesting bands around at the moment....They are a real inspiration!"
Scotland Correspondent Magazine.
Her early achievements include winning the Gold Badge at the Royal National Mòd, hosting shows on Radio Mòd, and performing as soloist and leader with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra at the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. She’s appeared on MTV Awards (Edinburgh) with the National Youth Choir of Scotland alongside Christina Aguilera, and has performed with the South West Texas Symphony Orchestra and Japanese Taiko Drummers.
Her solo album “Celtic Magic” earned a 5-star review from All Celtic Music, while Reely Jiggered’s three albums “Reely Jiggered” , “Kaleidoscope” and Tricky Terain have received international acclaim and airplay. Celtic Music Radio’s Alan Grant hailed Kaleidoscope as “a stunning collection of music by the most talented of musicians… an album that will live forever.”