Scots Language Awards 2023: TradTime wi TMSA on KCR.FM

Weel duin tae TradTime wi TMSA on KCR.FM wha hae bin nominatit in Scots Project o the Year in the Scots Language Awards. Vote now!

The Scots Language Awards are in the Johstone Toon Ha, Johnstone on 16th September at 7pm. Tickets fir the ceremony are available tae buy here: https://handsup.link/SLA-BuyTickets.

We askit Allan Taylor o TradTime wi TMSA on KCR.FM thae speirins.

Tell us aboot yersel or yer ootfit.
Fit started as a one aff show, Trad Time Wi TMSA on Keith Community Radio (KCR) is a fortnichtly show featuring aabody fae established stars, tae youngsters jist startin oot, tae local performers that hinna been recorded and tae promote the tongue o the North-East. The mair that wir tongue is used in the media the mair likely it is tae thrive and survive.
The TMSA, Aberdeen Branch, promotes aathin, music, sang, poetry and storytelling in the North-East o’ Scotland. We hae concerts, sessions, oor annual competitions day and mare recently we’ve launched oor ain World’s room tae the same format as his been deen successfully in Edinburgh for mony a year.
Wi also hae a partnership wi Scottish Culture & Traditions (SC&T) Youth far we hae family friendly sessions, a young performers concert and introductory taster sessions tae introduce bairns tae Scottish traditional music and sang.
Keith Community Radio his shows o aa sorts fae rock n’ roll, tae folk and country and oor show, Trad Time Wi’ TMSA, isna the only show thit celebrates Doric. There’s Ramblins o a Buckie Quine by Caroline Fowler and Legends o e North-East by Jackie Ross!

Whit wis it got ye involvit wi the Scots leid?
It’s fit we hiv ayewis deen an in particular the Doric o oor pairt o i country. Trad Time wi TMSA started fan oor chairmannie, Allan Taylor, got involved wi Sheila McDonald fae KCR.FM for a one aff show last year. Afore the first programme wis finished they’d agreed a four weekly show! Sine efter aboot 3 month or so it wis ilka fortnight wi Natalie Chalmers jinin Allan as co-host.

Why dae ye feel it is important tae use Scots in everyday life?
Scots music, Scots sang, doric/Scots verse and storytelling is aa part o oor rich Scottish Culture and Heritage tae be enjoyed in mony ways. It’s a form o entertainment whether it be tae listen tae or learn, perform or write. Some folk dae it tae mak a livin and ithers, like oorsels at the TMSA dae it for fun, tae mak freens fae aa ower, file promotin it tae young folk and preserving oor braw language for generations tae come.
If we dinna use it, it will be lost and fowk need tae be encouraged tae use it. Oor language his a rich vocabulary or wirds that describe things that ye can nearly feel jist bi sayin I wird. English jist disnae hae at kine o power.

Dae ye hae a favourite Scots phrase or saying?
Eer’s a guid puckle tae pick fae!!! bit we’ll settle on “Flee low and ye hinna far tae fa”.

Is there a Scots speaker who inspires you?
The recently sadly departed Dr Robbie Shepherd MBE. Robbie wis a great encouragement a mentor, a role model. An somebody fa wis on the telly and the radio, spikkin wi nae pit on an as naitral as he wid be spikkin tae a cronie in the local hostelry

Do you hear Scots spoken regularly in your local area? Have you noticed any changes over time?
It varies! bit yer as likely tae hear a foreign tongue in some places as ye are a Scots tongue. Especially in i toon (Aiberdeen). Oot in I country it’s different story, an i farrer fae Aiberdeen ye get, the mair the scots tongue is i naitral language.

Ony particlar career heighlichts
Allan: The highlicht on ess particular project is first o aa, the setting up alang wi Sheila McDonald o KCR.FM o “Trad Time wi TMSA” Half wye through recordin i first show we baith hid a thought that mibbie ees could be a regular show. Noo it is weel established and gaan fae strength tae strength On presentin i show itsel for me bein able tae gie fowk aat are guid performers and bring them tae a new audience gies me great satisfaction as weel as makkin sure oor language is tae I fore.
Natalie: My highlicht daein’ Trad Time Wi’ TMSA wis being asked tae tak part and co-host next tae Allan in this new project for the TMSA. I affa enjoy planning the setlists for each show and aye try tae hae a richt variety fae music, sang, doric verse and storytelling, bringing new and auld Scottish music tae the audience fae honouring Elizabeth Stewart aifter she passed awa last year, tae highlichting the talent o the young fowk thit hiv gone tae the National Centre o Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton.

Wha’s yer plans fir the days aheid?
Noo wi hae a year under wir belt, we’re plannin tae get mair fowk recorded and showcased. Fowk that hinna hid i opportunity tae be played on i radio afore. Tae build a database so thitt fowk thitt wint tae fin oot mair and far tae fin a wye intae Scots music, song, verse and language, can dee it. An aat fowk fa wint tae gie their time tae helping, can be foun bi them thits needin help.
Wir celebratin’ oor 40th anniversary as a branch so wer gan tae be recordin oor annual Doric concerts on Setterday 7th an Sunday 15th October in Cookney and Fetternear so watch ess space!

The Scots Language Awards are in the Johnstone Toon Ha, Johnstone on 16th September at 7pm. Tickets are available to buy here: https://handsup.link/SLA-BuyTickets There wull be some grand entertainmint oan the nicht tae, includin a recital fae Renfrewshire’s poet laureate Shaun Moore,wha wis appointit as the region’s Tannahill Makar last year. talks fae weel regairdit Scots scrievers Cat Cochrane an Shane Strachan, alang wi musical performances fae celebratit multi-instumentalist brithers Euan and Lewis McLaughlin, an sangster Iona Fyfe.

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