Hen Hoose Collective Takeover: R.Aggs, Susan Bear & Katya Mansell (Aberdeen Queer Arts Festival 2026)

Hen Hoose Collective Takeover: R.Aggs, Susan Bear & Katya Mansell (Aberdeen Queer Arts Festival 2026)

Hen Hoose is delighted to present a special curated stage as part of Aberdeen Queer Arts Festival, celebrating the incredible talent, creativity and diversity within our communities.

Bringing together three outstanding artists, this showcase highlights the breadth of queer musical expression – from euphoric post-punk and immersive electronic soundscapes to beautifully crafted indie-pop.

R.Aggs specialises in euphoric post-punk, combining guitar, violin and vocals to create a sound that is both inventive and exhilarating. With international recognition through collaborative projects including Trash Kit, Shopping and Sacred Paws, Aggs brings a singular energy and artistry to every performance.

Based in Glasgow, Susan Bear is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist, producer and sound designer who creates atmospheric, hardware-driven electronic music blending IDM, indie-pop and experimental sounds. A stalwart of the Scottish music scene and a lynchpin of Lost Map Records, Susan Bear writes, records and mixes their own solo albums. They have toured globally and worked with acts like Pictish Trail and The Pastels.

Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Katya Mansell creates exciting indie-pop built around catchy melodies, bright chords and experimental rhythms. Influenced by artists including Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver and Death Cab for Cutie, Katya’s songs combine emotional depth with thoughtful musicality, delivering beautifully crafted and heartfelt performances.

Hen Hoose is proud to bring these exceptional artists together for a celebration of creativity, collaboration and the remarkable talent flourishing across Scotland.

R.AGGS is the solo project of multi instrumentalist and songwriter Ray Aggs. A prolific specialist in euphoric post punk, Aggs achieved international acclaim as a guitarist with touring projects Shopping, Sacred Paws and Trash Kit and recently evolving as a fiddle player with  Caliope, The Pegwells and Curlew. Their solo music brings together folk and punk through an infectious mix of tropical wonky synths and a righteous force of melody. 

Susan Bear is a Glasgow-based artist, multi-instrumentalist and producer creating shimmering indie-electronic music. Her second album, Algorithmic Mood Music (Lost Map Records, 2024), was written, performed, produced, recorded and mixed entirely by Susan in her home studio. The album’s singles received extensive airplay across BBC 6 Music, BBC Scotland and regional radio throughout the UK.

Alongside their solo work, Susan has spent over a decade producing, performing and collaborating with artists including Sacred Paws, Karine Polwart, Sarah Hayes, The Pastels, Martha Ffion, Pictish Trail and Malcolm Middleton. She is also a member of the Hen Hoose collective, co-writing and producing three tracks on its 2026 album as well as mixing and mastering the record.

Their latest series of singles, released via Epidemic Sound, has been created entirely using analogue hardware from the Glasgow Library of Synthesised Sound, continuing her exploration of nostalgic electronic textures and hands-on music-making.

Katya Mansell is a Scottish indie singer-songwriter and producer who blends ethereal melodies and bright chords with honest storytelling. Katya’s work explores themes of queer identity, belonging, love and yearning, writing with an openness which cultivates connection with her listeners, making her one of Scotland’s most compelling songwriters.

Katya Mansell has seen much success since her debut single was released in 2023, named as a top 20 single of the year by Snack Magazine. She was a semi-finalist in the prestigious International Songwriting Competition, a Spotlight Artist for The Skinny, and the recipient of the Paolo Nutini Scholarship. Her music has been played on BBC Radio Scotland, including The Roddy Hart Show and BBC Introducing.

Katya has toured with The South (formerly The Beautiful South) and Horse McDonald, and has performed for Sofar Sounds, having been talent-spotted for the event by The Ivors Academy. Katya has music published by BMG, Peer Music and Universal.

“Katya possesses exceptional songwriting ability. Her work is marked by superb songcraft, strikingly honest lyrics, and a very distinctive artists perspective. Katya’s vocal delivery and lyrical wordplay bring a unique character to her songs, making them particularly well suited not only for radio but also for sync opportunities across film, television, and other media. Her writing demonstrates both emotional depth and commercial awareness—an uncommon and valuable combination.” – Dan Gautreau / First Cut Music.

“The exquisite, shimmering grace of Katya Mansell’s vocals.” Fortitude Magazine