MERA ROYLE

The worthy winner of the 2018 BBC Young Folk Award comes neither from England or Ireland, but somewhere inbetween.

 

A sixth-form student at Ramsey GrammarSchool until this summer, harpist Mera Royle is the proud flag-bearer for the distinctive musical tradition of the Isle of Man, with a repertoire that combines ancient Manx tunes with her own compositions. Having carried off the award in April against stiff competition from the likes of Jack Warnock, Josiah & Ludwig and the Drystones, Mera looks set to become one of the brightest young stars on the British folk scene.