Alistair Russell

Alistair Russell

SINGING FROM THE HEART BECAUSE HE BELIEVES IN THE WORDS

welcome to my site

I’ve been singing and playing folk music since my teens, and a professional musician and sound engineer for over thirty years. I sing songs mainly from my family homeland Scotland, its neighbour Ireland, self-penned songs inspired by my world-wide travelling with Battlefield Band, and any other song that takes my fancy.

I grew up in the North-East of England, with Scottish parents who had a rich fund of songs of their own—music hall favourites, Harry Lauder songs, sentimental ballads and stage Irish songs which my father brought back from working on contract.

Read more about me on the biography page here. Or listen to my music here

July 2025 – Please note my paperback book second print run is down to single figures of remaining copies! If you want a hard copy, please don’t hesitate to order.

There will be no more print runs, but please see on the shop page the offer of a digital version at a nominal price! This is designed to keep the book alive and available, rather than to make money. Thanks to all the hundreds of you who bought hard copies.

https://www.alistairrussell.co.uk/shop/

“Alistair has one of the most distinctive and finest voices in Folk Music..…the whole recording exudes class and the repertoire is top notch… all sung with that superb voice”

Listen to my music

 To hear more, please visit my music page.

RECENT REVIEWS

  • This is another fine outing …..of almost exclusively trad tunes and songs. A notable exception is the album’s killer punch – Mark Knopfler’s Piper To The End - a stunning modern antidote to war-mongering. They are obviously well trialled in a live context, which in many respects is my preferred setting for most of this material, knowing that this pair are such consummate performers (and that Alistair Russell is a hugely experienced sound engineer).

    Grem Devlin – Living Tradition

  • Excellent warm singing and guitar…. The arrangements are full and deep… a warm, lush sound created by musicians doing what they do best… the CD works as a whole… even songs that are extremely familiar…have something new to say when given the Russell treatment. The quality of recording and production is excellent.

    Shreds & Patches UK

  • This CD... draws on the bedrock of Celtic standards.... the names ring out like battle honours of the folk scene, and with two great musicians not a false note is struck.....tune sets with Chris to the fore....guitar work impeccably appropriate........ I'm sure that when you all buy this album you'll believe the choice ultimately triumphant.

    Jim Ellison, Tykes News