Charlie Stewart

Biography

Charlie Stewart is a Scottish fiddle player and double bassist known for his work in traditional and contemporary folk and jazz-informed projects. Born and raised in Scotland, he grew up immersed in traditional music and developed his instrumental skills at a young age through the country’s vibrant session and teaching culture.[4] Over time he became active on the Scottish scene both as a sideman and ensemble member, balancing deep roots in Scottish traditional music with an openness to improvisation and cross-genre collaboration.[4]

Stewart’s career has included performances with leading Scottish and UK-based traditional and folk artists, notably working in a traditional idiom with harpist Rebecca Hill and other ensembles that explore the intersection of folk, jazz, and contemporary acoustic music.[4] His playing is marked by rhythmic drive on double bass, lyrical and ornamented fiddle lines, and a stylistic palette that draws primarily on Scottish traditional music while engaging with broader acoustic and improvisatory influences.[4] Through live performances at events such as the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival and other Scottish festivals and venues, he has built a reputation as a versatile accompanist and ensemble player rather than a spotlight-seeking solo artist, contributing to the evolving sound of modern Scottish traditional music.[4]

Fun Facts

• Charlie Stewart is proficient on both fiddle and double bass, allowing him to move flexibly between melody and rhythm roles within traditional ensembles.[4]
• He explicitly identifies Scottish traditional music as his musical home, while also appearing under the banner of jazz-oriented events such as the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival, highlighting his comfort at the folk–jazz boundary.[4]
• Stewart is featured by Jazz Scotland as part of its curated lineup, indicating recognition of his work not only in pure folk circles but also within Scotland’s broader jazz and improvised music community.[4]

Musical Connections

Key Collaborators

• Rebecca Hill - Regular collaborator in Scottish traditional music settings, performing as a fiddle and double bass partner to her harp in concerts and festival appearances. (Live performances and sets in Scottish traditional and folk-jazz contexts (including programming associated with Jazz Scotland and related festivals).) [c. 2010s–present (exact years not specified in sources)]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Mammoth Cave Secret (Hillbillies in Hell: Select Curios from the Dank Hayseed Dungeon, Vol. 3)
2. Santa Claus Won't Come This Year (Santa Claus Won't Come This Year b/w Santa Claus Ain't A Hippie)
3. Santa Claus Won't Come This Year (Christmas Dreamers: Yuletide Country (1960-1972))
4. Santa Claus Ain't A Hippie (Christmas Dreamers: Yuletide Country (1960-1972))
5. Santa Claus Ain't A Hippie (Santa Claus Won't Come This Year b/w Santa Claus Ain't A Hippie)
6. Old Age and Rough Treatment (I Got a Baby)
7. Santa Claus Won't Come This Year (Indiana Rockabilly Vol. 1)
8. Old Age and Rough Treatment (Indiana Rockabilly Vol. 3)
9. Hey! Castro (Thers's Gold in Them There Hills, Vol. 10)
10. A Diamond Waltz for Waverley (A Diamond Waltz for Waverley)

External Links

• Spotify