MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2017: Talisk

Congratulations to Talisk who have been nominated in Folk band of the Year sponsored by Threads of Sound in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2017. Vote now!

We asked Mohsen Amini of Talisk the following questions.

Tell us about yourself
Nominees of the 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards’ Horizon Award, and winners of the 2015 Young Folk Award, Talisk are one of the fastest rising bands on the UK folk scene in recent years.

Mohsen Amini (concertina), Hayley Keenan (fiddle) and Graeme Armstrong (guitar) create a captivating, energetic and dynamic sound that, in just a couple of years, has earned them multiple award wins, unwavering nationwide media praise, and standing ovations far and wide. Atop their collective titles, Amini was the 2016 BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, adding to a trophy cabinet that far belies their years.

So too does their touring history, though – with appearances at world-leading festivals including the Cambridge Folk Festival, Denmark’s Tønder, Celtic Colours in Cape Breton, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention and Celtic Connections, as well as countiess others alongside live sessions on both BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland’s flagship folk programmes. With further tours and showcases throughout Europe and the US on the horizon, theirs is a star firmly, and rapidly, on the ascent.

Why are you involved in Scottish music?
Scottish music is predominantly the music we all grew up listening to and if it wasn't Scottish it was Irish, which everyone knows are pretty close in sound. So when taking music to a professional level, it was the most natural thing to do!

Any particular career highlights?
We've been especially lucky as a band to travel all over the place and take our music to different corners of the world so two particular highlights would have to be playing in Canada for the Celtic Colours festival, and Australia for The National Celtic Festival.

What are your plans for the future?
We have a pretty busy time coming ahead. Currently we're planning & writing album number two which will be released in 2018! In the time before though we've a German tour and UK tour taking us through November & December. February will be Celtic Connections and then March see's us off to the States where we will be touring with We Banjo 3 and then home again straight into another UK tour!

If you would like to come along to the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards in Paisley’s Lagoon Centre call 0300 300 1210 or to buy online visit www.paisley2021.co.uk/events/the-mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards. Tickets can also be purchased via Paisley Arts Centre. Bands performing on Saturday 2nd December include Elephant Sessions, The Shee Big Band, Siobhan Miller, Tidelines, Paisley Fèis, Snuffbox, The Seamus O’Sullivan Experience, Lori Watson, Jenna Reid and Harris Playfair, Songs of Bàrd Phàislig (featuring Gillebrìde MacIlleMhaoil, Sìneag MacIntyre, Màiri NicAonghais, Seonaidh MacIntyre, Ewan MacPherson, Mhairi Hall, Màiri Nic a Mhaoilein and more to be announced. There will also be a late night ceilidh after the Awards till 1am.