This is just the beginning....beautiful life's

Scots star taking the world of music by storm after big year paves way for more hit gigs and collaborations with some of the biggest names around

- BY RICK FULTON

RIANNE Downey has just had her best year yet but is hoping to reach even greater heights in 2026.

In 2025, the former busker, from Bellshill, scored a top 20 hit with her debut album and supported Paul Heaton, Texas and Tom Grennan, plus she headlined her own tour.

She also played festivals like Glastonbury, TRNSMT, Isle of Wight and Belladrum.

Her calendar for 2026 is filling up with gigs in Dundee, Edinburgh and Aberdeen as well as playing Celtic Connections at the end of January.

She is also booked to play her first festival of the new year - Kendal Calling, in the summer.

She said: "This is just the beginning. It's a beautiful life."

As well as an ever-expanding fanbase, which got her debut album The Consequence of Love to No18, she has also caught the eye of music's old guard.

It was former Housemartins frontman Heaton who first spotted her potential, when during the pandemic, she posted a cover of Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) by his other band Beautiful South.

Three years later, and after supporting the likes of Paolo Nutini, The View and The Snuts, Paul called her and invited her to sing with him. She is now his go-to live vocalist and appeared on his latest solo album The Mighty Several in 2024.

While she was Paul's creative partner this year, she was also asked by Billy Bragg to play at his curated event at Glastonbury and to support Texas, whose lead singer is Sharleen Spiteri, at their outdoor shows.

Rianne said: "I was dead nervous as I look up to her so much. But she was so down to earth and cool as a cucumber.

"After the Lincoln Castle gig she came to my dressing room and said she'd watched a few songs and thought it was amazing.