Burns’ song released for the first time by Glasgow singer-songwriter Kate Reid

So, it’s little wonder that she has turned to the Bard for inspiration for her first solo single, The Banks o’ Cree, which is released this month (January 21).

To add to its significance, Glasgow-based Kate reckons this song has never been recorded before.

“I can’t put into words what it means to finally be releasing this song as I first recorded it away back in 2014,” said Kate.

“I am particularly happy with my version as it’s a lesser known Burns poem that, as far as I am aware, has not been recorded by anyone else

“We set it to a bonny tune and I spent hours rehearsing, just listening to the guitar and piano parts over and over and over, and singing along in my head to get it absolutely spot on.”

The B-side is The Flower of Fochabers from the Ord Collection, a book of traditional songs from the North East, where Ayrshire-born, Kate grew up.

This first pair of songs are about love, both requited and unrequited, and take place on two Scottish river banks, one in Ayrshire and one in Aberdeenshire.

“I was having a bit of a battle with life when I recorded them as I’d lost my direction and wandered completely off course,” said Kate.

She had no-one to make music with, so decided to do it by herself which, Kate admits, was ‘a bold decision for someone feeling so blue.’

“But I worked with a very kind producer David McNee (formerly of The Paul McKenna Band) who bolstered my confidence and worked hard to get the best out of me, and I think he has,” she said.

“I remember clearly the day we recorded the final version, it was a crisp Easter Sunday, the sun was shining, the birds were singing and the bells were ringing out right across Barrhead.

“It’s a day I will never forget. I’m at my happiest in the vocal booth – nothing else comes close.”

Coming from the North East corner of Scotland, she grew up with the Doric and can recite poetry in both Doric and Scots.

Kate, who fell in love with Burns as a schoolgirl and spent time studying his complete works later in life, was an All-Scotland Accordion Champion at the age of 14 and toured with the Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society while still at school, seeing the Niagara Falls and playing huge venues on a month-long tour of Quebec and Ontario.

With her two sisters she formed a band, ‘The Midden’ and won a Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections in 2001 before going on to tour Europe extensively. A support slot to Snow Patrol before a 25,000-strong crowd at Glasgow’s Hogmanay in 2004 remains a highlight.

In 2017 she published her first book of poetry, ‘Balnakeil’ and hosts a Sunday evening show on Celtic Music Radio.

“I have poured my heart and soul into these latest recordings so I hope people will enjoy the music,” said Kate, who is planning to release a single every couple of months or so throughout 2021.

• The songs – A-side, The Banks o’ Cree and B-side, The Flower of Fochabers – will be released on January 21 and available for download from katereid.online and across all digital platforms.