Hamish Napier, a multi-instrumentalist, singer and composer from the Scottish Highlands, and a very much in-demand gun-for-hire musician on Glasgow’s vibrant traditional music scene, has nominated himself for no less than two categories in the BCC Young British Celtic Music Awards, affectionately known as the ‘Belters‘.
Says Napier “I am delighted to finally give myself some recognition for all of my hard work over the years, promoting myself on Facebook and YouTube. Being a folk musician nowadays is all about engaging with social media. Most of the bands I play with can’t rehearse at all unless we are continually telling everyone about it on Facebook.”
Napier has never met anyone that has won a Belter Award, “it was just such a surprise really, I mean, I totally forgot that because I am British, I do technically qualify for this.”
“To nominate myself in the categories of ‘Best Folk Album of the Century‘ and ‘Most Patient Scottish Folk Musician Awaiting a Major English Festival Booking‘ is a real honour”, says the 33 year old. It was only recently that it suddenly dawned on me that it is perfectly acceptable to actually give myself credit for my own work!
“I am lucky that I still seem to be considered to be a ‘young’ musician, as I have a bald head and a beard, and a bit of a beer belly. It was only last week that someone told me about a 5-year-old fiddler from the Junior Junior Junior Feis Rois that recently secured a record deal with a major label after playing the Tongadale Reel backwards at high speed on a unicycle. I feel old just thinking about that.”
With over 15 years as a professional musician, Napier has performed in several headline acts at major Scottish folk festivals and on national TV and Radio.
“I am so thrilled to finally put myself forward for a Patience Award. However, I am aware that as a Scotsman, I have as much chance of actually winning a Young British Celtic Music Award as I do being asked to headline at a major English folk festival without one.”
Nominated for Best Album, Napier’s new release ‘The River‘ was launched at Celtic Connections in January, and features a work specially commissioned by the festival as part of its acclaimed ‘New Voices’ series.
“The last Scottish folk musician to actually win a Best Album award wore an Arran Sweater when they were in fashion. I hope to win the award so I can become British like Andy Murray did when he won Wimbledon.”
“It’s such a relief that I no longer have to wait for a panel of industry experts to decide whether my album is any good or not. I just kind of realised…well yeah…I like it.”
The Belter Awards will take place in Napier’s tenement flat in Glasgow next week, where the winners will be announced. The ceremony will be filmed by independent media company the Somhairle Macdonald Corporation and broadcast from Napier’s own website. Napier is also on the lookout for a ‘D class’ celebrity to announce the winners.
Napier asks “does anyone know where I can buy a packet of those shiny gold envelopes?”
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