This summer's Under Canvas festival is kindly supported by Witherby Publishing Group Charitable Trust, whose contribution allowed us to programme talented emerging musicians. Following their recent sessions in the tent, we caught up with one of these acts: new kids on the block Silk and Salt.

What brought Silk and Salt together?
All three of us were playing music in Glasgow when we decided to form a trio. We were drawn to each other's sound and excited at the prospect of making music together. Our first rehearsal was a year ago. We met up, played songs and laughed a lot. It was lovely. New friendships blossomed alongside our sound.
Grace (vocals, guitar) loves finding inspiration in all those mundane everyday moments that are never really mundane. Having grown up rurally on Skye, her musicality and songwriting is rooted in spending a lot of time outside, being immersed in Gaelic culture and music, and learning guitar from her Dad.
Iona (piano) spent loads of time listening to trad bands like Planxty and The Rankins when she was younger as her mum loved them. She then fell in love with American old time music after attending fiddle camp, so started learning trad piano. Studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland while so many young piano players are emerging onto the scene has been a huge motivation to her.
Katie (fiddle, guitar, vocals) comes from a musical family - both her grandparents played a huge part in the folk revival. She spent a year on Uist honing her fiddle and guitar skills before studying at the RCS.. She has a wide range of musical influences, but surprised us all by saying Tom Jones was one of her biggest when we spoke to Rapal for BBC Radio nan Gàidheal before our Under Canvas gig. Tom Jones cover incoming!
What have been the biggest milestones in your career so far?
We just spent a week writing in a little village near Oban. It felt exciting to put time into writing new songs together - finding the time to do this felt like a milestone in itself!
We’ve also supported some really special artists such as Salthouse, The Deep Blue and were billed alongside the amazing Hannah Rarity for Under Canvas. It feels like a milestone and an absolute pleasure to share the stage with musicians that have inspired and influenced us over the years.
What’s next for you as artists?
Now that we've written songs together, I think we’re all in agreement that the next step is recording! We’re all excited and intrigued to get into the studio and see what it will all sound like when it comes together.
What can audiences expect from a live Silk and Salt performance?
Audiences can expect original songs that reflect and interlink nature, relationships, navigating our way through the world and finding home in people and places. There are strong Scottish trad influences in there as well as pop and folk.
How important do you think events like Under Canvas are in giving a stage to emerging artists?
So important. It was great to be given the opportunity to create an hour long set, then have the chance to perform it twice in such a lovely gig setting.
To also feel the enthusiasm of the organisers, and gain opportunities like chatting to BBC Radio nan Gàidheal is so encouraging and fun.
We’re delighted to see and be part of events like Under Canvas, as they are vital to the music industry - especially for emerging artists.
Eden Court is able to give a stage to emerging artists at Under Canvas thanks to organisations including Witherby Publishing Group Charitable Trust, who very kindly supported this year’s programme of musicians in the early stages of their career.