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Siobhan Skates was born and raised in Sydney Australia where she grew up with her Irish born parents in a home filled with all sorts of music and musical instruments.

Siobhan's first introduction to the music scene was as a drummer in the New South Wales Ladies Highland Pipe Band. This experience led Siobhan to experiment with a local rock band as a singing drummer. She first discovered the guitar at 19 when she picked up an old dust covered acoustic during free time at her work as an Ambulance Officer. She began busking on the streets of her home city for both the experience and the craic. 

Following a relocation in 1991 to the birthplace of her parents in Belfast, Siobhan began to take singing in public a little more seriously. In 1993 she joined four other women vocalists to form an all-girl accapella group The Wildflowers. The group toured Germany on several occasions and released an album 'Total Vocal' in 1994.

However it was the singing partnership of Siobhan and another member of the Wildflowers singer songwriter Rosemary Woods (who Siobhan had met in 1991) which provided acclaim in both Ireland and further afield.  'Go It Alone, Together’, an album of original material shared equally between the two songwriters was much anticipated and well received on its release in 1995. Respected music journalist, the late Geoff Harden wrote in his review '...its going to be my favourite album of 1995, I just know it.'

As a duo, Siobhan and Rosemary made numerous TV and radio appearances and played many noted festivals throughout Ireland including Belfast, Letterkenny, Ballyshannon, and Rostrevor. They were also a popular draw in the folk clubs of Scotland and spent several weeks playing in the Washington DC area of the US.

Around this time, Siobhan was approached by BBC Radio Ulster to host the series 'Summer Folk'.  This introduction to radio led to other music based programmes for Siobhan to which she is still linked - most notably 'The Late Show'.

In late 1996, Siobhan and Rosemary began to concentrate on their solo careers. Siobhan returned to Australia for six months, playing the renowned Woodford Folk Festival in Queensland.

Since returning to Ireland in 1997 Siobhan has been the lead vocalist in several Belfast-based bands playing to pub and club audiences. Siobhan's bands have included the three piece acoustic band Bodacious, a five piece country band Romeo Texas and a two piece Tongue and Groove. Siobhan still enjoys the pub challenge, and currently fronts Sheila and the Shakers. 

In the summer of 2009 Siobhan found her dormant drum gene and joined the quirky, rootsy Wookalily as their drummer. (Nothing to do with age and getting to sit down for an entire gig!)

Siobhan's first love however still remains her solo performances to the listening crowd who can appreciate her original material and the quality of her powerful voice.
Siobhan says "being in concert is all about being at one with the audience". That is certainly true as Siobhan creates an intimacy in her concerts with warmth, charm and a range of songs delivered in her distinctive voice that has been compared to such greats as Joan Baez and Karen Carpenter.

Siobhan's first solo CD 'Better than a Dream' is due for release in 2009. It is a mixture of original and cover material, which showcases Siobhan's songwriting, versatility and respect for the work of others.