SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR MG ALBA SCOTS TRAD MUSIC AWARDS
After weeks of anticipation and thousands of nominations from the public, the shortlist for the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, has been unveiled. (See full list in editor’s notes). The prestigious event honours and celebrates the achievements of Scotland’s traditional musicians and 2012 will be the most important year in the event’s history, as it marks its 10th anniversary.
The public can now vote for this year’s winners across 16 categories including Album Of The Year, Composer Of The Year, Venue Of The Year and Gaelic Singer Of The Year by logging online at www.scotstradmusicawards.com/voting. The winner of each category will be the artist who receives an equal combination of the most industry and fan votes.
Public voting will close on Wednesday 21st November and all winners will be announced at a glittering ceremony hosted by Mary Ann Kennedy and Tony Kearney on Saturday 8th December at Nevis Centre, Fort William
The winners of three special categories have been chosen by music and industry experts to be inserted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal. The Performers who will be inducted this year include the late Martyn Bennett, Anne Lorne Gillies and Roddy MacLeod MBE. The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award will be awarded to Isobel Mieres and Services to Gaelic Music to Rory and Calum Macdonald (full details in editor’s notes).
Over the past 10 years the awards have celebrated and seen performances by some of the finest Scottish traditional musicians and bands including Barbara Dickson, Peatbog Faeries, Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Karine Polwart.
Event founder and promoter Simon Thoumire says: “Traditional music still thrives in Scotland – from festivals and events to bands, pipers, singers and even record labels, there are thousands of people around the country that continue to make the scene grow. I’m delighted that over the past 10 years we’ve been able to give something back but really I should be thanking all our talented nominees, for without them, the awards would be nothing. We’re going to mark our milestone with a brilliant event so get your tickets now”
Donald Campbell, Chief Executive of event sponsors MG ALBA said “We are delighted to sponsor the Scots Trad Music Awards for a fifth year. The MG ALBA partnership with Hands up for Trad since 2008 has resulted in enhanced visibility and understanding of MG ALBA’s Gaelic media. Our aim this year is to build on that by encouraging participation in the Gaelic Learners resource LearnGaelic.net (www.learngaelic.net) and FilmG, our Gaelic Short Film competition (www.filmg.co.uk)”
Music fans can secure a place at the event now by buying tickets from Nevis Centre by calling 01397 700 707 or by logging onto www.neviscentre.co.uk. Entertainment will be provided throughout the night by some of the country’s top Trad stars including Treacherous Orchestra, Karine Polwart, Inveraray and District Pipe Band and Gordon Duncan Experience.
For more information, interviews and images, contact Wire Media:
Lesley McKeran | lesley@wire-media.co.uk | 0141 440 6761
Lee Beattie | lee@wire-media.co.uk | 07855 367 922
www.twitter.com/scotstradmusicawards
www.scotstradmusicawards.com
EDITOR’S NOTES
The Scots Trad Music Awards are organised by Hands up for Trad and supported by:
MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service). MG ALBA is in partnership with the BBC to provide BBC ALBA. Find out more about MG ALBA and about the partnership at www.mgalba.com or visit www.bbcalba.co.uk for schedule and programme information.
- The Highland Council
- Creative Scotland
- The Saltire Society
- Bòrd na Gàidhlig
The full shortlist for this year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards:
Album of the Year sponsored by Birnam CD
Karine Polwart – Traces
Kathleen MacInnes – Cille Bhride (Kilbride)
Rachel Newton – The Shadow Side
Treacherous Orchestra – Origins
Instrumentalist of the Year sponsored by Temple Records
Duncan Chisholm
Lorne MacDougall
Megan Henderson
Ross Ainslie
Composer of the Year sponsored by PRS for Music
Laura-Beth Salter
Mike Vass
Paul Anderson
Simon Bradley
Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland
Feis na Mara
Gerry Rafferty at Celtic Connections
Scots Fiddle Festival
Stonehaven Folk Festival
Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Alistair Ogilvy
Brandon McPhee
Niteworks
Rona Wilkie
Trad Music in the Media sponsored by The Saltire Society
Eberhard ‘Paddy’ Bort – Life and legacy of Hamish Henderson and the Scottish Folk Revival
Gary West – Voicing Scotland
Julie Fowlis (for Brave)
Na Caimbeulaich documentary – (Bees Nees / BBC Alba)
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association
Alasdair Roberts
Christine Kydd
Paul McKenna
Scott Murray
Music Tutor of the Year sponsored by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative
Gillian Frame
Lynsey Tait
Scott Murray
Sharon Hassan
Venue of the Year
An Tobar
Bogbain Farm
New Cample Farm
Sandy Bells – Forrest Hill Bar
Live Act of the Year sponsored by Greentrax Recordings
Fred Morrison Trio
Kris Drever
Session A9
The Shee
Scottish Folk Band of the Year sponsored by All Celtic Music
Breabach
Paul McKenna Band
Rua Macmillan Trio
Rura
Gaelic Singer of the Year sponsored by Macmeanmna
Fiona J Mackenzie
Gillie Mackenzie
Isobel Ann Martin
Riona Whyte
Community Project of the Year sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust
Scots Music Group Inspire Project
Feis Rois Local and National Ceilidh Trail 2012
Glasgow Irish Minstrels Branch of Comhaltas
Tiree Music Festival
Scottish Dance Band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
Charlie Kirkpatrick Scottish Dance Band
Deoch and Dorus
Graeme Mitchell Scottish Dance Band
Monach Isle Ceilidh Band
Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by the National Piping Centre
Coalburn IOR Pipe Band
Denny and Dunipace Gleneagles Pipe Band
George Watson’s College Pipes and Drums
ScottishPower Pipe Band
Club of the Year sponsored by Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Aberdeen Folk Club
Balerno Folk Club
Falkirk Folk Club
Highland Accordion & Fiddle Club
2012 Special Awards (not for voting)
Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame
Performers – Awarded to musicians who have been in the industry over 30 years who have altered our musical landscape for the better including musicians, now no longer with us:
Silly Wizard
Ian Hardie
Jim Halcrow
Roddy MacLeod MBE
Norman MacLean
Anne Lorne Gillies
Martyn Bennett
Donald Riddell CBE
Hamish Imlach
Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award -This award was introduced in 2003 to celebrate those special people whom Scottish traditional music couldn’t do without. It was posthumously awarded to Hamish Henderson and thereafter known as “The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award.” In 2005 when the Hall of Fame was born we decided to bring the two awards together and insert recipients of both into the Hall of Fame.
Isobel Mieras
Services to Gaelic Music sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Rory Macdonald and Calum Macdonald
