“A rising Scottish folk star“ – Jim Gellatly, Amazing Radio

“A wonderful songwriter” – Charlie Ashcroft, Amazing Radio USA

“A great, hard-working singer-songwriter with a story tell” – Del Osei-Owusu, Songbird Sessions

Calum Baird is an independent Scottish singer-songwriter and musician playing songs that tie together social, cultural and political ideas and themes in a folk music style influenced by Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Dick Gaughan, Phoebe Bridgers and Phil Ochs amongst others.  Calum has been immersed in music from a young age and his songs incorporate a wide selection of instruments which takes his music into the indie-folk/folk-rock genres.

As an artist, Calum is fully engaged in cultural production.  He began song-writing as a teenager, drawing on his own experiences and observations to connect with audiences and listeners.  His debut album, “No Right Turn,” was released in 2015 and showcased a unique blend of folk, rock, and blues songs. The album features a mix of introspective folk tracks, love songs and rock-infused protest songs, all delivered with honest, emotive lyrics and soulful vocals and guitar playing.

Since then, Calum has continued to release music independently, with each new release displaying his growth and evolution as a songwriter and musician.  His music has been featured on radio stations across the UK and internationally, and he has performed at festivals and events throughout the country and into Europe.  These performances include Barnasants Festival in Barcelona in 2017, where he was the first Scots person to perform at the festival as well as tours of Germany in 2019 and 2021.  Calum was also the first Scots person to play at Festival Musik und Politik in Berlin since the 1980s and he has performed numerous times at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival from 2013 to 2022.

Calum’s music is characterised by its honesty and authenticity, with lyrics that are often introspective and personal. Calum has been featured in online media and blogs as well as in national and international press, including being featured in The Scotland on Sunday as their Artist of the Week.

In addition to his music, Calum is also a passionate advocate for social justice and equality.  His lyrics often touch on issues such as poverty, inequality, and anti-racism, and he uses his platform to speak out on these issues.  Calum continues to write and perform music that speaks directly to audiences.

As well as touring and writing his own music, Calum wrote and composed the musical score for the award-winning feature-film Exiles (2021) written by Glasgow poet and writer, Victoria McNulty. 

Become a supporter of Calum’s work for less than £3 a month by visiting his Ampled page and start getting benefits from your support today.

Keep up to date with Calum by following him on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.