A talented singer is set to fly the flag for Scotland this weekend when she takes to the stage in front of 2,000 music fans at London's new Folkstock festival.
Pauline Alexander, 34, is the only Scot performing at the inaugural festival, which aims to bring together the best new musicians in the UK. The singer and her guitarist Edwin Gallacher will appear on the main stage alongside folk acts including Lucy Ward and Kris Drever.
It is the first time that the Scot, from Glasgow's East End, has played in England.
Pauline, who began singing seriously in her twenties, said: "I'm really excited. I applied to play the festival a few months ago and I was not sure what was going to happen but then I got accepted and put on the main stage.
"I'm very proud, it's a big step up for me. Two years ago I could never have imagined this happening. There are going to be a lot of notable people there and it's a real privilege to be on the main stage next to them."
The festival rounds off an extraordinary couple of years for the singer, who released her first album, Thoughts for the Masses, in 2011. The album has been given a rapturous reception, receiving air play on radio stations across the country and being named album of the week by Iain Anderson on BBC Radio Scotland. Her first music video, Dear Sister, has also been shown on the Phil Mack Country Show.
She is now working on a second album, due for release in 2014 and will release new material with her collaborative project, Grand Gestures, next month, before appearing on the Vic Galloway show.
The singer, who has worked in child care and alcohol projects in Glasgow, added: "I've been pleasantly surprised by the response I've received. I'm a very down to earth person and I do have expectations, I think you should do regardless of where you're from, but all the airplay and support the album's had makes me feel like I'm not wasting my time and that it's worth it.
"I'm doing a normal day job as well as the music and now I'm hoping to make the transition and make music my career.
"I don't pigeon hole myself, I grew up listening to a wide variety of music but I've always been a stripped back singer, I felt that was closer to me than what was in the charts.
"I would love to be working with people that are on the scene. I've got a good vibe and I feel that I want to ride and go with it."
Pauline will play the main stage at Folkstock on Saturday, September 21. For more information visit Pauline's Facebook page.
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