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Adele Henderson Announced as First Featured Vocalist on AON: THE GATHERING
Aberchirder singer becomes the pioneer voice of a Scotland-wide music project built on community and place
Adele Henderson, singer from Aberchirder
Finn Moray has announced Adele Henderson as the first singer awarded a featured vocalist role on AON: THE GATHERING, the Scotland-wide album that is building a living musical map of the country, town by town and village by village.
Adele, a 33-year-old mother of two who grew up and still lives in Aberchirder in Banffshire, will perform Foggie, the track written about her home village and its people. Her selection marks a significant moment for the project, offering early proof that its Social Compact — built on finding talent, fairness, place and community benefit — is already working in practice.
The song and the project were showcased on BBC Radio Scotland’s Off the Ball with Tam Cowan and Stuart Cosgrove on Saturday 24th January 2026. Finn Moray launched on 15th December 2025 and, in a short time, has received strong reviews and sold the album to listeners across the world.
Rather than relying on industry networks, AON: THE GATHERING is designed to uncover singers who are genuinely connected to the places the songs represent. Adele’s name emerged through local recommendation and community connection, reflecting the project’s belief that talent often sits quietly within communities, waiting to be found.
"Foggie is where I grew up and where I still feel most at home. My family are here, my pals are here, and it’s a place where people really do look out for each other. When I first heard the song, it gave me shivers. I felt a huge sense of pride that someone had written a song about Foggie and that I had been trusted to sing it."
The Pioneer Voice
Adele’s connection to the song runs beyond geography. Raised around family businesses, school shows and community events, her musical life has always been intertwined with people and place. Being asked to give voice to Foggie carries both pride and responsibility.
David Sheret, the founder and songwriter behind Finn Moray, said: "Finn Moray exists to write songs about real places, find the voices that belong to them, and make sure any success is shared back with the communities that inspired it. There is extraordinary talent across Scotland, particularly in villages and towns that are rarely given a platform. Given the chance, people shine. Adele’s voice carries Foggie in it. You can hear the warmth, authenticity and belonging. That cannot be manufactured."
The Social Compact
The initiative operates under a published Social Compact which commits fifty per cent of all net profits to Scottish community, cultural and charitable causes, with the remaining fifty per cent reinvested into sustaining and growing the project. An additional twenty-five per cent of artist revenue is assigned to the singers who perform on AON: THE GATHERING, shared equally among all participants.
At its heart is AON: THE CALL, a collection of original songs written about the people and places that have shaped the songwriter’s life. The album includes songs about towns and areas such as Darvel, Lerwick, Yetholm, Cumbernauld, Aberdeen, Dunbeath, Dunfermline, Aberchirder, Glasgow, Edinburgh, St Andrews, Ayr and Inverness, alongside tributes to figures who have left a lasting imprint on Scottish cultural life.
A Wider Cultural Footing
The project has already begun to find a wider cultural footing. Finn Moray is now the official intro music for AB TV, the Aberdeen FC-focused podcast hosted by former Bad Boys Inc singer Ally Begg, bringing the sound of AON to a broad weekly audience. The Bard #2 has been adopted as the official song of the Scottish Football Supporters Association for this year’s World Cup, reflecting the project’s ability to sit naturally within Scotland’s everyday cultural life, from village halls to football terraces.
Call for Singers
AON: THE GATHERING will continue to announce further live artists over the coming months, each connected to the towns and villages behind the songs. Opportunities are open for singers connected to Dunbeath, Inverness, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Darvel, Yetholm, Cumbernauld, Dunfermline, St Andrews and Ayr. Vocalists with a strong connection to place, a distinctive voice and the appetite to represent their community are invited to get in touch at [email protected].
"Scotland has a creator class that deserves to be taken seriously. People who build audiences through craft, consistency, and character, and who often carry community on their shoulders without ever calling it that. The Finn Awards is our way of recognising that work properly, with heart, and with a structure that ensures the value flows back into Scotland through each winner's chosen charity whilst also supporting and recognising them."
To find out more about how to enter the awards or audition for AON: THE GATHERING, email: [email protected]
