Folk birthdays
Singers, musicians, songwriters and collectors, by their birthdays through the year from today.
Today
- 30 Sep Allan Taylor Singer and songwriter; It's Good to See You
October
- 1 Oct Joe Heaney 1919 to 1984 Sean-nós singer and storyteller; Connemara
- 1 Oct John Lorne Campbell 1906 to 1996 Gaelic scholar and field recordist; Canna
- 1 Oct Marjory Kennedy-Fraser 1857 to 1930 Collector and arranger; Songs of the Hebrides
- 2 Oct Gillian Welch Singer and songwriter; with David Rawlings
- 4 Oct Bridget St John Singer and guitarist; Ask Me No Questions
- 6 Oct Flora MacNeil 1928 to 2015 Gaelic traditional singer; Barra
- 7 Oct Joe Hill 1879 to 1915 Labour songwriter; Industrial Workers of the World
- 7 Oct Mícheál Ó Domhnaill 1951 to 2006 Singer and guitarist; the Bothy Band, Skara Brae
- 10 Oct John Prine 1946 to 2020 Singer and songwriter; Sam Stone, Paradise
- 10 Oct Kirsty MacColl 1959 to 2000 Singer and songwriter; They Don't Know, Fairytale of New York
- 10 Oct Tom Hughes 1907 to 1986 Fiddler and ploughman; the Borders style
- 12 Oct Cyril Tawney 1930 to 2005 Singer and songwriter; Sally Free and Easy, The Grey Funnel Line
- 12 Oct Ralph Vaughan Williams 1872 to 1958 Composer and collector of English folk songs
- 13 Oct Frances Tolmie 1840 to 1926 Collector of Gaelic song; Skye and the Western Isles
- 13 Oct Iona Opie 1923 to 2017 Folklorist; The Lore and Language of Schoolchildren
- 13 Oct Simon Nicol Guitarist and singer; Fairport Convention
- 15 Oct Alistair Hulett 1951 to 2010 Songwriter; Roaring Jack, Dance of the Underclass
- 17 Oct James Madison Carpenter 1888 to 1983 Collector of British folk song and drama
- 18 Oct Paddy Reilly Ballad singer; The Fields of Athenry, The Dubliners
- 18 Oct Sam Larner 1878 to 1965 Fisherman and traditional singer; Winterton, Norfolk
- 18 Oct Sarah Makem 1900 to 1983 Traditional singer; Keady, County Armagh
- 20 Oct Roy Bailey 1935 to 2018 Singer; songs of protest and justice
- 21 Oct Anne Lorne Gillies Gaelic singer and scholar; Songs of Gaelic Scotland
- 21 Oct Derek Bell 1935 to 2002 Harper, oboist and pianist; The Chieftains
- 21 Oct Jeannie Robertson 1908 to 1975 Traveller ballad singer; Aberdeen
- 22 Oct Dominic Behan 1928 to 1989 Songwriter and writer; The Patriot Game, Liverpool Lou
- 23 Oct Archie Fisher 1939 to 2025 Singer, guitarist and songwriter; Travelling Folk
- 24 Oct Cecilia Costello 1884 to 1976 Traditional singer; Birmingham
- 26 Oct Jim McCann 1944 to 2015 Singer; The Dubliners, Grace
- 28 Oct Rachel Newton Harpist, singer and viola player; The Furrow Collective
- 29 Oct Tom Clancy 1924 to 1990 Singer; The Clancy Brothers
- 31 Oct Tom Paxton Singer and songwriter; The Last Thing on My Mind, Ramblin' Boy
November
- 2 Nov Dave Pegg Bass player; Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull
- 2 Nov Jim Causley Singer; West Country songs
- 3 Nov Bert Jansch 1943 to 2011 Guitarist, singer and songwriter; Pentangle
- 4 Nov Tommy Makem 1932 to 2007 Singer, banjo and whistle player; The Clancy Brothers
- 7 Nov Liam Ó Maonlaí Singer and bodhrán player; Hothouse Flowers
- 8 Nov Katharine Briggs 1898 to 1980 Folklorist; An Encyclopedia of Fairies
- 9 Nov Margaret Fay Shaw 1903 to 2004 Collector of Gaelic song and lore; South Uist
- 11 Nov Hamish Henderson 1919 to 2002 Poet and collector; School of Scottish Studies
- 11 Nov Ian Hardie 1952 to 2012 Fiddler and composer; Jock Tamson's Bairns
- 12 Nov Maud Karpeles 1885 to 1976 Collector; Cecil Sharp's collaborator
- 15 Nov Frank Kidson 1855 to 1926 Leeds song scholar; Traditional Tunes
- 15 Nov Rick Kemp Bass player and songwriter; Steeleye Span
- 17 Nov Luke Kelly 1940 to 1984 Singer and banjo player; The Dubliners
- 18 Nov Peter Kennedy 1922 to 2006 Collector and broadcaster; Folk Songs of Britain and Ireland
- 19 Nov Stan Hugill 1906 to 1992 Shantyman, author and sea song historian
- 20 Nov Vin Garbutt 1947 to 2017 Singer, songwriter and whistle player; the Teesside Troubadour
- 22 Nov Cecil Sharp 1859 to 1924 Collector of English folk songs and dances
- 22 Nov Rose Simpson Bass and fiddle; the Incredible String Band
- 24 Nov Robin Williamson Singer, storyteller and harper; the Incredible String Band
- 25 Nov Peter Opie 1918 to 1982 Folklorist; The Oxford Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes
- 26 Nov Ciarán Mac Mathúna 1925 to 2009 Collector and broadcaster; Mo Cheol Thú
- 26 Nov Davy Graham 1940 to 2008 Guitarist; Anji, DADGAD tuning
- 26 Nov Ray Fisher 1940 to 2011 Singer; Scots ballads and the Fisher family
- 29 Nov Eamonn Campbell 1946 to 2017 Guitarist and producer; The Dubliners
December
- 3 Dec Ralph McTell Singer, songwriter and guitarist; Streets of London
- 4 Dec Kate Rusby Singer and songwriter; the Barnsley Nightingale
- 6 Dec Kevin Crawford Flute and whistle player; Lúnasa
- 8 Dec Anne Geddes Gilchrist 1863 to 1954 Collector of Lancashire song; Folk-Song Society editor
- 8 Dec Ric Sanders Fiddler; Fairport Convention, the Albion Band
- 9 Dec Meredydd Evans 1919 to 2015 Singer and scholar of Welsh folk song
- 11 Dec Henry Burstow 1826 to 1916 Bellringer and traditional singer; Horsham
- 14 Dec Gwyneth Glyn Poet and singer songwriter in Welsh
- 15 Dec Brian Peters Concertina and melodeon player; ballad singer
- 15 Dec Chris Leslie Fiddler; Fairport Convention, Whippersnapper
- 16 Dec Barney McKenna 1939 to 2012 Tenor banjo player; The Dubliners
- 19 Dec Ronald Hutton Historian; The Stations of the Sun
- 19 Dec Tommy Sands Singer and songwriter; The Sands Family
- 22 Dec Donald Riddell 1908 to 1992 Fiddler, fiddle maker and teacher; Kirkhill
- 23 Dec Karine Polwart Singer and songwriter; Faultlines, Malinky
- 24 Dec Siân James Singer and harpist; Welsh song
- 24 Dec Willie Clancy 1918 to 1973 Uilleann piper, flute and whistle player
- 25 Dec Jacqui McShee Singer; Pentangle
- 25 Dec Trevor Lucas 1943 to 1989 Singer and guitarist; Fotheringay, Fairport Convention
- 26 Dec Seán McGuire 1927 to 2005 Fiddler; Belfast
- 27 Dec Mike Heron Singer and songwriter; the Incredible String Band
- 28 Dec Christine Collister Singer; Gregson and Collister, Richard Thompson
- 30 Dec Kathleen MacInnes Gaelic singer and actress
- 31 Dec June Tabor Singer; Silly Sisters, Oysterband
January
- 1 Jan George Petrie 1790 to 1866 Antiquary and collector; the Petrie Collection
- 1 Jan Margaret Barry 1917 to 1989 Singer and banjo player; Cork and London
- 4 Jan Clive Gregson Songwriter and producer; Gregson and Collister
- 5 Jan Fred Jordan 1922 to 2002 Traditional singer and farm worker; Shropshire
- 5 Jan Georgia Ruth Harpist and songwriter in Welsh and English
- 6 Jan Bob Copper 1915 to 2004 Traditional singer and writer; the Copper Family
- 6 Jan Pop Maynard 1872 to 1962 Traditional singer and marbles champion; Copthorne
- 6 Jan Sandy Denny 1947 to 1978 Singer and songwriter; Fairport Convention, Fotheringay
- 9 Jan Joan Baez Singer and activist; American folk revival
- 9 Jan Nic Jones Singer, guitarist and fiddler; Penguin Eggs
- 9 Jan Tim Hart 1948 to 2009 Singer and guitarist; Steeleye Span
- 10 Jan Louisa Jo Killen 1934 to 2013 Singer and concertina player; recorded as Louis Killen
- 12 Jan Matt Molloy Flute player; The Chieftains
- 13 Jan Frankie Armstrong Singer of ballads; the natural voice movement
- 16 Jan Iona Fyfe Ballad singer; Scots and Doric
- 17 Jan Matt McGinn 1928 to 1977 Songwriter; The Foreman O'Rourke
- 17 Jan Mike Waterson 1941 to 2011 Singer and songwriter; The Watersons
- 20 Jan Billy Thom 1937 to 2010 Dance band drummer
- 20 Jan Francie McPeake 1917 to 1986 Piper and teacher; the McPeake Family
- 25 Jan Ewan MacColl 1915 to 1989 Singer, songwriter and activist; Dirty Old Town, Radio Ballads
- 26 Jan Ashley Hutchings Bassist; Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span, Albion Band
- 27 Jan Phil Cunningham Accordion player and composer; Silly Wizard
- 28 Jan Jimmy Shand 1908 to 2000 Accordionist and dance band leader; The Bluebell Polka
- 28 Jan Paddy Tunney 1921 to 2002 Singer, lilter and writer, the Man of Songs; Fermanagh
- 28 Jan Sabine Baring-Gould 1834 to 1924 Collector of Devon and Cornish song; Songs of the West
- 29 Jan Sean Lakeman Guitarist and producer; Equation
- 30 Jan Kevin Danaher 1913 to 2002 Folklorist; The Year in Ireland
- 30 Jan Paddy Keenan 1950 to 2026 Uilleann piper; The Bothy Band
- 31 Jan Alan Lomax 1915 to 2002 Collector; recorded Britain and Ireland in the 1950s
- 31 Jan Michael Coleman 1891 to 1945 Fiddler; Sligo style
February
- 1 Feb Bobby Crowe 1933 to 2014 Accordionist and dance band leader; Fife
- 1 Feb Francis James Child 1825 to 1896 Scholar; the English and Scottish Popular Ballads
- 4 Feb Fay Hield Traditional singer and ethnomusicologist
- 6 Feb Charles Wheatstone 1802 to 1875 Scientist; inventor of the English concertina
- 9 Feb Philip Donnellan 1924 to 1999 BBC documentary maker; working lives and folk song
- 10 Feb Gavin Greig 1856 to 1914 Collector; the Greig Duncan Folk Song Collection
- 10 Feb Hamish Imlach 1940 to 1996 Singer, guitarist and raconteur; Glasgow
- 10 Feb Roy Palmer 1932 to 2015 Folk song historian and author
- 11 Feb Blair Dunlop Singer, songwriter and guitarist
- 13 Feb Judy Dyble 1949 to 2020 Singer; Fairport Convention, Trader Horne
- 14 Feb Angus R Grant 1967 to 2016 Fiddler; Shooglenifty
- 15 Feb Lal Waterson 1943 to 1998 Singer and songwriter; The Watersons, Bright Phoebus
- 16 Feb Phil Tanner 1862 to 1950 Traditional singer, the Gower Nightingale
- 18 Feb Packie Manus Byrne 1917 to 2015 Singer, whistle player and storyteller; Donegal
- 20 Feb Alan Hull 1945 to 1995 Singer and songwriter; Lindisfarne
- 24 Feb Richard Digance Singer, guitarist and comedian
- 25 Feb Bernard Wrigley Singer, comedian and actor; the Bolton Bullfrog
- 27 Feb Jake Thackray 1938 to 2002 Singer and songwriter; witty, wordy songs
- 27 Feb Percy Dearmer 1867 to 1936 Priest and editor; The English Hymnal
- 27 Feb Sam Sweeney Fiddler; Bellowhead, Leveret
- 28 Feb A. L. Lloyd 1908 to 1982 Singer, writer and collector; Folk Song in England
March
- 2 Mar Vashti Bunyan Singer and songwriter; Just Another Diamond Day
- 4 Mar Walter Pardon 1914 to 1996 Traditional singer; Knapton, Norfolk
- 7 Mar Paddy Clancy 1922 to 1998 Singer and harmonica player; The Clancy Brothers
- 9 Mar Martin Shaw 1875 to 1958 Composer; The Oxford Book of Carols
- 10 Mar Dónal Lunny Bouzouki player and producer; Planxty, Bothy Band
- 13 Mar Terry Cox 1937 to 2026 Drummer; Pentangle
- 17 Mar Bob Johnson 1944 to 2023 Guitarist and singer; Steeleye Span
- 22 Mar Niel Gow 1727 to 1807 Fiddler and composer; Scottish dance music
- 25 Mar Emily Smith Singer, pianist and accordion player
- 25 Mar Micho Russell 1915 to 1994 Tin whistle player and singer; Doolin
- 26 Mar Seth Lakeman Singer, fiddler and songwriter; Kitty Jay
- 26 Mar Steve Tilston Songwriter and guitarist
- 27 Mar Harry Cox 1885 to 1971 Traditional singer; Catfield, Norfolk
April
- 1 Apr Breandán Breathnach 1912 to 1985 Piper and collector; Ceol Rince na hÉireann
- 1 Apr Davie Stewart 1901 to 1972 Traveller singer and accordion player
- 1 Apr George Ewart Evans 1909 to 1988 Oral historian; Ask the Fellows Who Cut the Hay
- 3 Apr Richard Thompson Guitarist and songwriter; Fairport Convention
- 4 Apr Danny Thompson 1939 to 2025 Double bass player; Pentangle
- 5 Apr Charles Parker 1919 to 1980 BBC producer; the Radio Ballads
- 5 Apr Dave Swarbrick 1941 to 2016 Fiddler; Fairport Convention
- 5 Apr Leo Rowsome 1903 to 1970 Uilleann piper, pipe maker and teacher
- 6 Apr Gordon Giltrap Acoustic guitarist and composer; Heartsong
- 11 Apr Cerys Matthews Singer and broadcaster; Welsh traditional song
- 11 Apr Duncan Williamson 1928 to 2007 Traveller storyteller and singer; Argyll and Fife
- 11 Apr Joe Burke 1939 to 2021 Button accordion player; East Galway
- 18 Apr Tony MacMahon 1939 to 2021 Button accordion player and broadcaster; The Long Note
- 21 Apr Arthur Cormack Gaelic singer and broadcaster; Cliar
- 25 Apr Wizz Jones 1939 to 2025 Guitarist and singer; British folk blues
- 28 Apr Jean Redpath 1937 to 2014 Singer; Scots song and Robert Burns
- 30 Apr Alison Kinnaird Harper; the revival of the Scottish harp
May
- 1 May Tony Rose 1941 to 2002 Singer and concertina player; Bandoggs
- 3 May Mary Hopkin Singer; Those Were the Days
- 3 May Pete Seeger 1919 to 2014 Singer, banjo player and activist; The Weavers
- 4 May Francis McPeake 1885 to 1971 Uilleann piper and singer; the McPeake Family
- 5 May Martin Simpson Singer and guitarist; English and American traditions
- 5 May Séamus Ennis 1919 to 1982 Uilleann piper, collector and broadcaster; As I Roved Out
- 7 May Christy Moore Singer and guitarist; Planxty, Moving Hearts
- 7 May Harvey Andrews Singer and songwriter; Hey Sandy
- 8 May Bobby MacLeod 1925 to 1991 Accordionist and dance band leader; Tobermory
- 8 May Eddie Butcher 1900 to 1980 Traditional singer and songmaker; Magilligan
- 10 May Donovan Singer and songwriter; Catch the Wind, Sunshine Superman
- 10 May Johnny Collins 1938 to 2009 Shanty and sea song singer; Norwich
- 11 May Douglas Kennedy 1893 to 1988 Director of the English Folk Dance and Song Society
- 13 May Rab Noakes 1947 to 2022 Singer and songwriter; Stealers Wheel
- 14 May Alasdair Fraser Fiddler and teacher; fiddle and cello with Natalie Haas
- 14 May Frank Harte 1933 to 2005 Singer and collector of Dublin street songs
- 14 May Gordon Duncan 1964 to 2005 Highland piper and composer
- 14 May Nansi Richards 1888 to 1979 Triple harp player; Telynores Maldwyn
- 15 May Aly Bain Fiddler; Shetland, Boys of the Lough
- 17 May Dick Gaughan Singer and guitarist; Five Hand Reel
- 17 May Sue Harris Hammered dulcimer and oboe; with John Kirkpatrick
- 19 May John Sheahan Fiddler and whistle player; The Dubliners
- 19 May Paul Brady Singer, guitarist and songwriter; Planxty
- 21 May Martin Carthy Singer and guitarist; Steeleye Span, The Watersons
- 23 May Mary Black Singer; De Dannan, No Frontiers
- 24 May Bella Hardy Singer and songwriter
- 25 May Tom Munnelly 1944 to 2007 Collector of Irish traditional song
- 26 May Ian Powrie 1923 to 2011 Fiddler and dance band leader
- 27 May Diz Disley 1931 to 2010 Guitarist and folk club entertainer; jazz and skiffle
- 29 May E. Estyn Evans 1905 to 1989 Geographer; Irish Folk Ways
- 30 May Elizabeth Cronin 1879 to 1956 Sean nós singer; Ballyvourney, County Cork
- 31 May Bob Davenport 1932 to 2026 Singer; Geordie songs and The Rakes
June
- 5 Jun Mary Neal 1860 to 1944 Espérance Club; the early morris revival
- 8 Jun Cathal McConnell Flute and whistle player and singer; The Boys of the Lough
- 8 Jun Kathryn Tickell Northumbrian piper and fiddler
- 8 Jun Sharon Shannon Button accordion player and fiddler
- 12 Jun Roy Harper Singer and songwriter; Stormcock
- 14 Jun Andy Irvine Singer and bouzouki player; Planxty, Sweeney's Men
- 14 Jun Julie Felix 1938 to 2020 Singer; Once More With Felix
- 16 Jun Iain Matthews Singer; Fairport Convention, Matthews Southern Comfort
- 17 Jun Peggy Seeger Singer and songwriter; Radio Ballads, Gonna Be an Engineer
- 19 Jun Julia Clifford 1914 to 1997 Fiddler; Sliabh Luachra
- 19 Jun Nick Drake 1948 to 1974 Singer, songwriter and guitarist; Five Leaves Left, Pink Moon
- 22 Jun Leon Rosselson Songwriter; satirical songs, The Galliards
- 25 Jun Frances Black Singer; The Black Family, Arcady
- 25 Jun Roy Williamson 1936 to 1990 Singer and songwriter; the Corries, Flower of Scotland
- 27 Jun Bill Caddick 1944 to 2018 Songwriter; John O' Dreams, Home Service
- 27 Jun Robin Hall 1936 to 1998 Singer; Robin Hall and Jimmie Macgregor
July
- 4 Jul Phyllis Kinney 1922 to 2026 Singer and scholar of Welsh traditional music
- 5 Jul Shirley Collins Singer; Anthems in Eden, Lodestar
- 6 Jul Sam Lee Singer and song collector; The Nest Collective
- 7 Jul Lisa O’Neill Singer and songwriter; Heard a Long Gone Song
- 7 Jul Sheila Stewart 1937 to 2014 Traveller singer and storyteller; Perthshire
- 8 Jul Percy Grainger 1882 to 1961 Composer and phonograph collector; Lincolnshire Posy
- 12 Jul Dave Burland Singer and guitarist; A Dalesman's Litany
- 12 Jul George Butterworth 1885 to 1916 Composer and collector of songs, tunes and dances
- 14 Jul Jez Lowe Songwriter; Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies
- 14 Jul Woody Guthrie 1912 to 1967 Singer and songwriter; This Land Is Your Land
- 15 Jul Roy Saer 1936 to 2026 Collector and scholar of Welsh folk song; St Fagans
- 18 Jul Belle Stewart 1906 to 1997 Traveller singer and songwriter; Blairgowrie
- 21 Jul Cara Dillon Singer; Irish traditional song
- 26 Jul Ian A. Anderson Editor of fRoots; Village Thing
- 26 Jul Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh Fiddler and singer; Altan
- 27 Jul Tony Capstick 1944 to 2003 Singer, comedian and broadcaster; Sheffield
- 29 Jul Declan Sinnott Guitarist and producer; Moving Hearts
- 31 Jul Ewan McLennan Singer and guitarist
August
- 1 Aug Kenneth Loveless 1911 to 1995 Morris concertina player; Squire of the Morris Ring
- 1 Aug Paddy Moloney 1938 to 2021 Uilleann piper and whistle player; The Chieftains
- 1 Aug Seán Ó Riada 1931 to 1971 Composer; Ceoltóirí Chualann, Mise Éire
- 4 Aug Moya Brennan 1952 to 2026 Singer and harpist; Clannad
- 5 Aug James Scott Skinner 1843 to 1927 Fiddler, composer and dancing master; the Strathspey King
- 5 Aug Joe Boyd Record producer; Fairport Convention, White Bicycles
- 8 Aug John Renbourn 1944 to 2015 Guitarist; Pentangle, John Renbourn Group
- 9 Aug Lucy Broadwood 1858 to 1929 Founder of the Folk-Song Society; English County Songs
- 10 Aug Jim Halcrow 1934 to 2015 Accordionist; Shetland dance music
- 14 Aug Maddy Prior Singer; Steeleye Span
- 15 Aug Norma Waterson 1939 to 2022 Singer; The Watersons, Waterson:Carthy
- 20 Aug Jim Moray Singer, arranger and producer; False Lights
- 23 Aug Eliza Carthy Singer and fiddle player; Waterson:Carthy, The Wayward Band
- 23 Aug Linda Thompson Singer; Richard and Linda Thompson
- 23 Aug Martyn Wyndham-Read Singer of English and Australian traditional songs
- 24 Aug Seán Keane Singer; Arcady
- 27 Aug Johnny Cunningham 1957 to 2003 Fiddler; Silly Wizard, Relativity
- 28 Aug Caoimhín Ó Raghallaigh Fiddler; The Gloaming
- 28 Aug Francis O’Neill 1848 to 1936 Collector of Irish dance music; Chicago police chief
- 29 Aug Derek Brimstone 1932 to 2017 Folk club guitarist, banjo player and comic
- 29 Aug Eddi Reader Singer; Fairground Attraction, the songs of Robert Burns
- 29 Aug Tom Anderson 1910 to 1991 Fiddler, collector and teacher; Shetland
September
- 2 Sep Liam Clancy 1935 to 2009 Singer and guitarist; The Clancy Brothers
- 5 Sep Al Stewart Singer and songwriter; Year of the Cat
- 5 Sep Donald MacPherson 1922 to 2012 Highland piper; Oban and Inverness
- 6 Sep Calum Maclean 1915 to 1960 Gaelic folklore collector; School of Scottish Studies
- 7 Sep Scan Tester 1887 to 1972 Anglo concertina player; Sussex dance music
- 8 Sep Andy M. Stewart 1952 to 2015 Singer and songwriter; Silly Wizard
- 8 Sep Hugh Shields 1929 to 2008 Song scholar; Folk Music Society of Ireland
- 8 Sep Peter Bellamy 1944 to 1991 Singer; The Young Tradition, The Transports
- 8 Sep William Kimber 1872 to 1961 Morris musician and concertina player; Headington Quarry
- 9 Sep Paddy Canny 1919 to 2008 Fiddler; East Clare, the Tulla Céilí Band
- 10 Sep Joseph Taylor 1833 to 1910 Traditional singer; Saxby All Saints, Lincolnshire
- 11 Sep John Martyn 1948 to 2009 Singer, songwriter and guitarist; Solid Air
- 15 Sep Liam O’Flynn 1945 to 2018 Uilleann piper; Planxty
- 16 Sep Ronnie Drew 1934 to 2008 Singer and guitarist; The Dubliners
- 20 Sep Lizzie Higgins 1929 to 1993 Traveller ballad singer; Aberdeen
- 20 Sep Tommy Peoples 1948 to 2018 Fiddler and composer; Donegal style
- 26 Sep Dolores Keane 1953 to 2026 Singer; De Dannan, A Lion in a Cage
- 27 Sep Barbara Dickson Singer and actress; Fife folk clubs to Blood Brothers
- 27 Sep Dougie MacLean Singer and songwriter; Caledonia
- 29 Sep Anne Briggs Singer; unaccompanied traditional song
Birthday not known
- Aidan O’Rourke Fiddler and composer; Lau
- Alex Campbell Singer; the folk revival's Big Daddy
- Andy Cutting Melodeon player; Blowzabella, with Chris Wood
- Angeline Morrison Singer and songwriter; The Sorrow Songs
- Benji Kirkpatrick Guitarist and bouzouki player; Bellowhead, Faustus
- Bill Leader 1929 to 2026 Recording engineer and producer; Leader and Trailer
- Billy Pigg 1902 to 1968 Northumbrian smallpiper
- Bob Fox Singer and guitarist; The Pitmen Poets
- Bob Hart 1892 to 1978 Traditional singer; Snape, Suffolk
- Bobby Casey 1926 to 2000 Fiddler; West Clare and London
- Brian McNeill Fiddler, songwriter and novelist; Battlefield Band
- Cathy Jordan Singer and bodhrán player; Dervish
- Catrin Finch Harpist and composer
- Catriona McKay Harpist and composer; Fiddlers' Bid
- Chris Stout Fiddler; Shetland
- Chris While Singer and songwriter; While and Matthews
- Chris Wood Songwriter, fiddler and singer
- Colin Ross 1934 to 2019 Northumbrian pipe maker, piper and fiddler; High Level Ranters
- Cyril Poacher 1910 to 1999 Traditional singer; the Ship Inn, Blaxhall
- Dafydd Iwan Welsh language singer and songwriter; Yma o Hyd
- Dave Arthur Singer, writer and folklorist; Dave and Toni Arthur
- Dave Mattacks Drummer; Fairport Convention
- Denis Murphy 1910 to 1974 Fiddler; Sliabh Luachra
- Donald Shaw Accordion and keyboards; Capercaillie, Celtic Connections
- Duncan Chisholm Fiddler and composer; Wolfstone, Affric
- Edward Bunting 1773 to 1843 Collector of Irish harp music; the Belfast Harp Festival
- Emily Portman Singer and songwriter; The Furrow Collective
- Findlay Napier Singer and songwriter; Back of the Moon
- Fintan Vallely Flute player and writer; Companion to Irish Traditional Music
- Frankie Gavin Fiddler and flute player; De Dannan
- Fred Morrison Piper; Highland pipes, smallpipes and low whistle
- Gordon Hall 1932 to 2000 Traditional singer; Horsham, Sussex
- Harry Upton Traditional singer; Balcombe, Sussex
- Hector MacAndrew 1903 to 1980 Fiddler; the Gow tradition
- Iarla Ó Lionáird Sean-nós singer; The Gloaming
- J. P. Bean 1949 to 2015 Author; Singing from the Floor
- Jack Armstrong 1904 to 1978 Northumbrian smallpiper
- Jackie Daly Button accordion and concertina; Sliabh Luachra
- Jackie Oates Singer and fiddler
- Jacqueline Simpson Folklorist; A Dictionary of English Folklore
- Jerry Donahue Guitarist; Fotheringay, Fairport Convention
- Jim Copper 1882 to 1954 Traditional singer; the Copper Family
- Jimmie Macgregor Singer and broadcaster; with Robin Hall
- Jimmy MacBeath 1894 to 1972 Bothy ballad singer
- Joe Cooley 1924 to 1973 Button accordion player; Tulla Céilí Band
- Joe Holmes 1906 to 1978 Fiddler, lilter and singer; with Len Graham
- John Doherty 1900 to 1980 Fiddler; Donegal
- John Forrest Anthropologist; historian of morris dancing
- John Francis Flynn Singer, flute and whistle player
- John Kirkpatrick Melodeon and concertina player; English song and morris
- John Spiers Melodeon player; Spiers and Boden, Bellowhead
- John Tams Singer, songwriter and actor; Home Service
- Jon Boden Singer, fiddler and arranger; Bellowhead
- Josienne Clarke Singer and songwriter
- Julie Fowlis Gaelic singer and piper
- Julie Matthews Singer and songwriter; While and Matthews
- Julie Murphy Singer in Welsh and English; Fernhill
- Karen Matheson Gaelic singer; Capercaillie
- Kathryn Roberts Singer; Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman
- Kevin Burke Fiddler; The Bothy Band, Patrick Street
- Kris Drever Singer, guitarist and songwriter; Lau
- Len Graham Traditional singer and song collector; Ulster
- Liam Weldon 1933 to 1995 Singer and songwriter; Dark Horse on the Wind
- Lisa Knapp Singer and songwriter
- Lucy Ward Singer and songwriter
- Máirtín O’Connor Button accordion player; De Dannan
- Margaret Bennett Folklorist, writer and singer
- Martin Graebe Folk song researcher; Sabine Baring-Gould
- Martin Green Accordionist and composer; Lau
- Martin Hayes Fiddler; East Clare style, The Gloaming
- Mary Ann Kennedy Gaelic singer, harpist and broadcaster
- Mary Bergin Tin whistle player; Feadóga Stáin, Dordán
- Matt Cranitch Fiddler and scholar; Na Filí
- Maz O’Connor Singer, songwriter and composer
- Mike Harding Singer, comedian and broadcaster
- Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh Singer and flute player; Danú
- Nancy Kerr Fiddle player and singer; with James Fagan
- Niamh Dunne Fiddler and singer; Beoga
- Niamh Parsons Singer; Arcady
- Nicholas Carolan Founding director; Irish Traditional Music Archive
- Noel Hill Concertina player and teacher
- Noel Murphy Singer, guitarist and humourist
- Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin Singer and scholar of Irish song; A Hidden Ulster
- Pete Coe Singer and songwriter; Bandoggs, Ryburn 3 Step
- Peter Knight Fiddler; Steeleye Span, Gigspanner
- Phil Beer Fiddler and multi instrumentalist; Show of Hands
- Radie Peat Singer, concertina and harmonium player; Lankum
- Reg Hall Melodeon player; historian of Irish music in London
- Rob Young Music writer; Electric Eden
- Robin Huw Bowen Welsh triple harp player
- Ron Copper Traditional singer; the Copper Family
- Ronnie Browne Singer and songwriter; The Corries
- Ross Ainslie Piper and whistle player; Treacherous Orchestra
- Sam Carter Guitarist and singer; False Lights
- Seán Cannon Singer and guitarist; The Dubliners
- Shelagh McDonald Singer and songwriter; Stargazer
- Siobhan Miller Singer; Scots songs
- Steve Cooney Guitarist, composer and producer
- Steve Knightley Singer and songwriter; Show of Hands
- Steve Roud Folklorist; the Roud Folk Song Index
- Tomás Ó Canainn 1930 to 2013 Uilleann piper and writer; Na Filí
- Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill Singer and keyboard player; The Bothy Band, Skara Brae
- Turlough O’Carolan 1670 to 1738 Blind harper and composer
- Vic Gammon Folk song scholar, singer and melodeon player
- Will Starr 1922 to 1976 Accordionist; Scottish dance music
- Willie Scott 1897 to 1989 Traditional singer; Border shepherd and crook maker