With a career spanning over four decades, Ivan has released some 16 solo albums, and is famed not only for his solo work, but duo partnerships with Duncan Chisholm, and Ian Cooper (known collectively as The Knowe O’Deil), amongst others, as well as eight years fronting Celtic rock band Wolfstone, in the 1990s.

Originally from Sanday, one of Orkney’s north isles, Ivan is now resident in Norway, and regularly tours Scandinavia, the USA and the UK. 

Ivan’s songs and tunes are renowned the world over, with one of his collaborative works, Heart & Soul, co-written with Duncan Chisholm, featuring in the Robin Williams film, Good Will Hunting. He also penned one of Orkney’s best-known folk songs, Orkney Anthem (with the chorus; “Isles ne’er forgotten…”). Ivan continues to produce new material and perform live. The Orcadian’s new 12-track album, Decade, is the latest instalment in a glowing, stylish career. Ivan said: “Decade was recorded in Andy Harrison’s hoose in Kristiandsand, South Norway." Drever has been a semi-regular performer on Scottish radio, and additional appearances on Radio Scotland's Celtic Horizons, BBC Radio Orkney and Radio 2.

What the reviews say:

"Ivan mixes folk with some rock and roll sounds and has a compelling deep bass voice that he beautifully accompanies with his versatile guitar playing." 

"Ivan has been a major figure for decades as the front man of Wolfstone, in a duo with Duncan Chisholm, and as himself. He’s always ‘mixed it’ – bringing pretty crunchy rock sounds to folk music in Wolfstone and then, on the opposite extreme, making a very ‘straight and affectionate album (Tradition) of folk anthems. Here, he sounds like what you’d expect if Bruce Springsteen came from Orkney and decided to make a country-flavoured album. Ivan’s voice is slightly less ‘creaky’ than Brucey’s in this context, but he has a lovely, world-weary way of singing that draws you into the stories he’s telling.

This is a fairly stripped-down album – just Ivan with a little help from his friends. These are all Ivan’s own songs, apart from a fabulous version of The Snows They Melt The Soonest, which he turns into a gentle shuffle. His own songs are variously comforting (Bring It Back), cynical (The Wall) and beautifully, tenderly sentimental (Soren’s Song)." Alan Murray, Living Tradition review on the Decade

" ... Rich in his native accents, both literally and by frequent reference to Orkney’s place-names, local characters, weather and unspoilt beauties, Drever’s set here highlighted the extensive stylistic territory he shares with fellow Scottish troubadour Dougie MacLean ... Both are blessed with seductively lovely voices, Drever’s of a darker, bassier hue, though these roomy, woody depths shade resonantly into warmer, lyrical tones. Both have an uncommon knack for a winsome tune, in Drever’s case frequently pitched somewhere between early Paul Simon and early Dylan ..." Sue Wilson, What's On, The Scotsman