THIS IS NOW on iTunes!

Eilidh’s new album is now available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and Paypal via this website. 

Off to the printers!

Eilidh’s album is officially off to the printers!  The recording, mixing, mastering and artwork have all been completed and now it’s time to wait (albeit with some nerves and excitement!) for the albums to arrive…

Recording album no. 2 in Nashville TN!

Eilidh is currently in Nashville TN recording her second album at Hill Studios on Music Row.  Working with producer / multi-instrumentalist Lee Holland and studio engineer Brad Hill for the first time, Eilidh says, “I’m thrilled to be working with Lee and Brad in Nashville.  It has always been a dream of mine to record here and I keep having to pinch myself that all this is actually happening!  The tracking process has been going really smoothly and as the recording progresses I’m starting to get really excited about introducing this new bunch of songs into the world.”  The new album is set for an autumn 2011 release.  Keep checking back here for further info!

Eilidh and Cara Dillon

Eilidh will be sharing the stage with Cara Dillon at the Roe Valley Arts & Cultural Centre on Saturday 7th May 2011.  Tickets are £15 and can be purchased from the Box Office: 028 7776 0650.

BBC Radio Ulster...'live' tonight!

Eilidh will be performing ‘live’ on BBC Radio Ulster (93.1FM) tonight from 8.00pm - 10.00pm alongside fellow N. Irish songwriters Anthony Toner, Ben Glover, Henry McCullough, Clive Culbertson and Allie Bradley.  This is a special outside broadcast from Flowerfield Arts Centre in Portstewart, N. Ireland hosted the BBC’s Ralph McLean.  Tune in if you can!

Eilidh on TV with The Priests!

Eilidh will be appearing on BBC 1 NI on Tuesday 21st Dec at 9.00pm as a special guest of The Priests on their programme ‘Christmas Carols with The Priests’.  It was filmed a few weeks ago in the Great Hall at Stormont in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  The programme will be repeated again on Christmas Eve on BBC 2 NI at 8.00pm.  It will also be available to watch online via BBC iPlayer from 22nd Dec for one week.

Radio slot and Festival gig!

Eilidh will be appearing ‘live’ on the Mark Patterson show at 3pm today (BBC Radio Foyle) with her guitarist Esa Taponen.  This radio slot comes in advance of her show tomorrow night at the Cromore Halt in Portstewart for the North Coast Folk Festival.  See ‘Gigs’ page for more info. 

Album Review!

Eilidh Patterson was an unknown name to me until I saw her play with Beth Nielsen Chapman on her recent tour.  Clearly having recognised her talents, Beth also had Eilidh perform one of her own songs- I wonder how many ‘wows’ were emitted night after night.

Eilidh Patterson hails from Derry in Northern  Ireland and When The Time Comes is her debut CD, expertly produced by none other than U2’s sound engineer, Alastair McMillan. Written over a period of seven years, the CD has a distinctly folk sound, yet carries a modern twist.

 What is immediately striking is the purity of Eilidh’s voice; you could listen to her sing for hours. Moving On, the first single from the album, was inspired at a time when Eilidh was thinking of moving from Derry to Belfast a few years ago. It’s a song about being content with change – something I suspect many of us grapple with.  Precious Cargo speaks of longing, many will connect with the loss explored in Letting Go (not to be confused with the Suzy Bogguss/ Doug Crider song of the same title – this was written by Eilidh) Do I Eve Cross Your Mind was inspired when watching a Willie Nelson gig in Austin, Texas a couple of years ago.  Ostensibly lamenting a lost love, it is lyrically quite brilliant, even incorporating other well known song titles.  You Are There touches on the idea of faith, and It’s Easy is full of the joy evoked when embarking upon a new relationship. 

 However, for me, the absolute standout track is the beautiful Still Learning. The idea for the song was planted when Eilidh received a copper plaque from a friend, inscribed with the quote; I Am Still Learning” - Michaelangelo.  Articulately written, it begins with the perspective of a baby learning to walk then moves through to adulthood. It is particularly evident in this song what a fine wordsmith Eilidh is, and at times she uses words and lines worthy of a Gretchen Peters or Beth Nielsen Chapman song.

This is one of the strongest debut CDs I have had the pleasure of listening to and am already looking forward to seeing what else Eilidh Patterson has in store. For now, this CD belongs in everyone’s collection, as I suspect that I am still learning, as are the rest of her fans, what her talents truly are.

Helen Mitchell



BBC R2 Friday Night Is Music Night!

Eilidh has been asked to join Beth Nielsen Chapman on stage at The Mermaid Theatre, London for a ‘live’ broadcast of the BBC Radio 2 programme, Friday Night Is Music Night on SATURDAY 17th SEPTEMBER.  Hosted by Aled Jones, this promises to be an exciting evening of entertainment, both at The Mermaid and on the airwaves!  If you can’t make it along, tune in to BBC Radio 2 on 88-91FM online / digital radio / regular old-fashioned radio at 8.00pm :-)

New date added to BNC tour!

Another show on 6th October 2010 with Beth Nielsen Chapman at The Buccleuch Centre, Scotland!  See gigs page for more details…