"Much better to sing in something close to your own accent" Absolutely especially when you come from the north-east of England anyway. You don't get much closer to a Scottish accent than that without it actually being Scottish. Classic example is Bobby Shaftoe. I know it isn't but it could easily be a Scottish song. Likewise the Unthanks sound just as natural as the Scottish versions when doing Betsy Bell in their own accent. Had they put on Scottish accents then I imagine it would have been a bit different.