The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards celebrated their 15th year in style (Saturday 2nd December) by bringing the biggest and best names in trad to a glitzy award ceremony in Paisley. A full list of winners below.
Check out Louis DeCarlo’s photos from the evening here.
Broadcast live on BBC ALBA, BBC Radio Scotland and globally through the BBC ALBA website, the prestigious awards – organised by Hands Up for Trad – saw stars of the Scottish music scene take to Paisley’s Lagoon Centre to celebrate and honour the very best of traditional talent. With performances from The Shee Big Band, Elephant Sessions, Siobhan Miller and many more, the event proved why it’s hailed as one of the biggest events in Scotland’s cultural calendar, helping Paisley continue to shine as it bids for UK City of Culture 2021.
This year’s notable winners include Elephant Sessions, who clinched the coveted Album of the Year award, sponsored by Birnam CD, for their second album ‘All We Have is Now’ which pushes the edge of their folk-rock sound. This year has been a busy one for the band, having toured the UK and Europe promoting their album to mass critical acclaim.
Newly crowned World Pipe Band Champions for 2017, Inveraray & District Pipe Band celebrated another victory as they fought off stiff competition to scoop the Scottish Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by The Glenturret Single Malt Whisky.
Greentrax Recording’s Live Act of the Year went to trad heavyweights Skipinnish. The band kicked 2017 off with a bang, releasing the hugely popular single, “Alive”, reaching number 26 in the UK music charts, followed by a new album “The Seventh Wave” and a sold-out album launch tour. Skipinnish are sponsors of the Trad Music in the Media category, which was won by BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Other winners of the raft of prestigious prizes handed out on the night included Gaelic Singer of the Year winner, Robert Robertson, who beat off stiff competition from Mary Ann Kennedy, Alasdair MacIlleBhàin and Calum Alex MacMillan. Talisk – one of the fastest rising bands in UK Folk scene – clinched the Scottish Folk Band of the Year award sponsored by Threads of Sound.
Hands Up for Trad, which is supported by Creative Scotland, exists to promote Scottish traditional music through education, information and advocacy to artists, audiences and participants throughout Scotland and beyond.
Hands Up for Trad’s Creative Director Simon Thoumire, said: “Every year we welcome some of the best talent in the world to these awards, and we are honoured to see our 15th year one of the biggest and best yet. We’ve had an outstanding evening with immense talent being showcased and celebrated, so congratulations once again to all of tonight’s nominees and worthy winners.
“We would also like to thank the Paisley 2021 Bid team, for being such warm hosts, Renfrewshire Council for their overwhelming support this year and finally, huge thanks to MG ALBA for their continued contribution to the awards and for allowing the entire world that chance to tune in and enjoy the evening with us – we can’t thank you enough for your support.
“We’re thrilled to announce that in 2018 the Scots Trad Awards are headed to Perth Concert Hall on Saturday 1st December – stay tuned for all our exciting news.”
Murdo MacSween, Communications Manager for the event’s title sponsor, MG ALBA, said: “We at MG ALBA are delighted to support the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards and we’re proud to be able to showcase on BBC ALBA the wealth of trad talent this country has to offer.”
Paisley 2021 Bid Director Jean Cameron said: “It’s been great to host the event for the first time and I’d like to issue a hearty congratulations to all the worthy winners.
“There’s been some incredible talent on show tonight and Paisley is proud of its great links with trad through our annual arts festival the Spree and also through hosting the Royal National Mòd, which we will welcome back again in 2021 or 2022.
“This year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards has been a special event, made even more significant as a decision on the UK City of Culture 2021 title is expected soon.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland, said: “Every single category at this year’s MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards was bursting with talent, so it’s plain to see why 2017 has been such an amazing year for Scotland’s folk and trad music. Congratulations to all of the winners and nominees for taking this scene to a higher level at home and abroad. It’s great to see the likes of Talisk, Elephant Sessions, Siobhan Miller, Robert Robertson and Ho-ro carry our traditional heritage on their young shoulders, championing Scottish culture around the world and into the future.”
For more information, contact Wire:
Gillian Lamont | gillian@wearewire.co | 0141 648 9610 | 07738 271 568
Caroline Docherty | caroline@wearewire.co | 0141 648 9612 | 07593 247 767
#tradawards ǁ #NaTrads
FULL LIST OF WINNERS:
Album of the Year sponsored by Birnam CDs
• All We Have Is Now by Elephant Sessions
• Afterlight by Ímar
• An Dà Là – The Two Days by Mànran
• An Dàn – Gaelic Songs for a Modern World by Mary Ann Kennedy
• Bere by Saltfishforty
• Fiddle + Guitar by Ross Couper + Tom Oakes
• Mac Ile by The Islay Sessioners
• Room with a View by Old Blind Dogs
• Ryan Young by Ryan Young
• Strata by Siobhan Miller
Community Project of the Year sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust
• Tiree Songbook
• EPL events (Angus)
• SCaT (Aberdeen)
• Fun Fiddle (Edinburgh)
Composer of the Year sponsored by PRS for Music
• Adam Sutherland
• Ailie Robertson
• Lauren MacColl
• Angus MacPhail
• Aidan O’Rourke
Live Act of the Year sponsored by Greentrax Recordings
• Skipinnish
• Elephant Sessions
• Ímar
• Tide Lines
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association
• Siobhan Miller
• Hannah Rarity
• Iona Fyfe
• Claire Hastings
• Blue Rose Code
Up and Coming Artist Award sponsored by Royal Scottish Conservatoire
• Hò-rò
• Gnoss
• Heron Valley
• Inyal
• Brighde Chaimbeul
Music Tutor of the Year sponsored by Creative Scotland
• Emma Tomlinson
• Keith Dickson
• Dave Martin
• James Alexander
• Pippa Reid-Foster
Gaelic Singer of the Year sponsored by Macmeanmna
• Robert Robertson
• Mary Ann Kennedy
• Alasdair Whyte
• Calum Alex MacMillan
Folk Band of the Year sponsored by Threads of Sound
• Talisk
• Fara
• Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente
• Routes Quartet
Dance Band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
• Duncan Black Band
• James Coutts Scottish Dance Band
• John Carmichael Ceilidh Band
• David Halcrow Band
Scottish Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by The Glenturret Single Malt Whisky
• Inveraray & District Pipe Band
• Royal Mail Burgh of Annan Pipe Band
• Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band
• Dollar Academy Pipe Band
Club of the Year sponsored by Tradition Arts and Culture Scotland
• Edinburgh Folk Club
• Arc Sessions (Fochabers)
• Clydesdale Accordion Club (Lanark)
• Campsie Accordion & Fiddle Club
Instrumentalist of the Year sponsored by Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
• Gary Innes
• Jennifer Wrigley
• Roisin Ann Hughes
• Paul Anderson
• Maeve Gilchrist
Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland
• A Night For Angus (Shooglenifty at Celtic Connections)
• Killin Music Festival
• International Harp Festival (Edinburgh)
• Oban Live
• Wind Resistance (Karine Polwart)
Trad Music in the Media sponsored by Skipinnish
• BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
• BBC Radio nan Gaidheal A’ Mire ri Mòir
• TradTV
• Seirm (Bees Nees Media)
Venue of the Year sponsored by Musicians’ Union
• Tolbooth (Stirling)
• An Lanntair (Stornoway)
• Knoydart Community Hall
• Glassel Hall (Aberdeenshire)
About MG ALBA
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.
About Creative Scotland
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. We 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. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery. For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
Fios mu MG ALBA
Is e MG ALBA ainm-gnìomh Sheirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig. Tha MG ALBA ag obair ann an co-bhanntachd leis a’ BhBC airson BBC ALBA a’ libhrigeadh. Airson barrachd fiosrachaidh mu MG ALBA agus mun cho-bhanntachd faic www.mgalba.com no tadhal air www.bbcalba.co.uk airson fiosrachadh mu chlàran agus phrògraman
About Tiree Gin
Made with Kelp & Machair Botanicals from the Inner Hebridean island of Tiree, Tyree Gin is an exciting addition to the ‘Hebridean Gin’ market. www.tyreegin.com
About Glenturret
Nothing has ever been ordinary about The Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest working distillery at Crieff in Perthshire. Since its origins among the smugglers and illicit stills of the 18th Century, it has had some fascinating stories to tell. Whisky booms and prohibition might have ruffled its feathers, but The Glenturret Scotch malt whisky, still made by hand in the traditional way, weathered all these challenges and has matured into an enduring brand that remains as the only traditionally hand mashed whisky in Scotland. These days Glenturret’s doors are open to welcome visitors and, as home to The Famous Grouse, the UK’s favourite blended whisky, it’s the perfect place to brush up on your whisky knowledge with a tour of The Famous Grouse Experience, and indulge your passion with a selection of tastings. More information at www.theglenturret.com.
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