MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards announces 2020 Hall of Fame Inductees

Addie Harper Jnr

In a special show recorded during lockdown, for 2020 BBC ALBA is set to air the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Hall of Fame Inductees on Friday 11^th December at 9pm, presented by singer and presenter Joy Dunlop in the first episode of a two part programme named Na Trads 2020.

This year the event was set to take place in Dundee’s Caird Hall, which has been held for a mix of digital and physical in 2021. With live music and event restrictions in place for the foreseeable future, Hands Up for Trad has been working hard since March to support artists and provide alternative platforms for musicians to reach their audiences, fundraise and sell tickets online, culminating in a two-part programme ‘Na Trads 2020’ on BBC ALBA.

The first episode is the Hall of Fame presented by Joy Dunlop at 9pm on Friday 11^th December, and the second and final episode for the main Awards airing in the 90 minute broadcast on the Saturday 12^th December presented by Mary Ann Kennedy and Alistair Heather. The second episode of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards will also be shown again at 9pm on Saturday 18^thDecember 2020.

MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service), and works in partnership with the BBC to deliver BBC ALBA.

Supported by partners MG ALBA and Fèisean nan Gàidheal, the 2020 Hall of Fame Awards episode features interviews with many of the Inductees honoured for their Services to Performance, and many of their famous tracks and tunes played by the House Band led by Anna Massie.

Arthur Cormack, Chief Executive of Fèisean nan Gàidheal said: “We have supported the Hall of Fame for a number of years as Fèisean nan Gàidheal believes in recognising the immense contribution to our culture of some of our most treasured and revered performers. Our main work is supporting community Fèisean to pass on aspects of Gaelic culture and traditional music to young people. As both Gaelic and Scots culture relies on oral transmission, a key element is learning from the carriers of our songs, tunes, dances and stories. Our thanks to this year’s inductees and congratulations to them and their families.”

Murdo MacSween, Communications Manager at title sponsors MG ALBA, added: “It gives us particular pride at MG ALBA to be title sponsors in this especially testing year. We’ve seen fantastic collaborations and innovation – all reaching audiences in ever unique and inspiring ways. These awards give us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the creative pioneers and incredible wealth of talent we have in Scotland, and we’re delighted to be able to join with Hands Up for Trad to enable this once more.

Organising body, Hands Up for Trad funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, was formed in 2002 and exists to increase the profile and visibility of Scottish traditional music through information, advocacy and education to artists, participants and audiences.

For their Services to Performance, the 2020 Hall of Fame inductees are:

Fèisean nan Gàidheal supports 47 community-based Fèisean to teach traditional music and aspects of wider Gaelic culture to over 6,500 young people annually. The organisation also provides a comprehensive cultural programme which takes in work in schools and events in over 200 communities across Scotland, engaging with over 70,000 people. Face-to-face work has been curtailed this year but a lot of new work has been created for online delivery and the organisation’s focus has been, more than ever, on supporting traditional artists through engagement opportunities.

Hands Up for Trad’s founder and Creative Director Simon Thoumire thanks all involved: “We are so lucky in Scotland to have so many amazing performers who have made our music what it is today. It is brilliant to welcome these 2020 inductees into a hall which is full of people Scotland can’t do without.”

The Services to Community Section of Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame were announced online in June 2020.

Keep up to date with all the latest news at www.scotstradmusicawards.com

Find us on Twitter @handsupfortrad Instagram @handsupfortrad or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handsupfortrad

Tag: @HandsUpForTrad @MGALBA

Please use Hashtags #NaTrads #NaTrads2020 #HUFTOnline #BBCALBA

PRESS: For interviews, playlists or tracks and images please contact Chris Hunt at Genuine on chris@genuine.scot

For all currently available biographies, images and logos please visit Dropbox:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a3d66l3rsfwv5q6/AAAChIIgUrWSH7CjXdyvklUia?dl=0

Notes to Editors:

Hands Up for Trad – Hands Up for Trad exists to promote Scottish traditional music through information, education and advocacy to artists, participants and audiences across Scotland and beyond.

MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service). MG ALBA works in partnership with the BBC to deliver BBC ALBA. Find out more about MG ALBA and the partnership at www.mgalba.com or visit www.bbcalba.co.uk for scheduling and programme information.

Fèisean nan Gàidheal was established in 1991 as the independent umbrella association of the Fèis movement. It is a membership organisation that offers a range of services to its members including grant-aid, training, insurance, and instrument loans. FnG is funded by Creative Scotland, Bòrd na Gàidhlig, Scottish Government and Highlands & Islands Enterprise and delivers contracts for several local authorities.

Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. They enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. Creative Scotland distributes funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.

For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland