Congratulations to Andy Bell who has / have been nominated in Production Award: Record Producer of the Year sponsored by Paul McGeechan in the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. Vote for Andy Bell now! It’s going to be another great night at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards on Saturday 5th December in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre. Why not join us for a brilliant night of music and awards. Buy a ticket here.
We asked Andy of Andy Bell the following questions.
Tell us about yourself
I'm a producer and engineer working with artists from across the UK and Europe, from singer songwriters to trad folk musicians to free improv ensembles to commissioned projects and everything in between and beyond. The majority of records and work I produce is routed in musicians performing together. I've produced albums in studios like Realworld to village halls in the Cairngorms and even a house on Eigg, the variety is fantastic.
The records I have produced are played across the BBC and have gathered various national and International awards, one track made it on to the USA ‘Top 100 Track of 2016’ annual NPR ‘Best Of’ playlist either side of Bon Iver and Beyonce, the first ever Gaelic record to do so.
In 2026 I founded Hudson Records, a small indie label based in Sheffield, we work with lots of artists, many of whom are based in Scotland, including Spell Songs and Karine Polwart! We've built a lovely family of artists and a great community to share their music with.
Today I also help plan and produce projects, marrying my experience across the live, recorded and music industry worlds.
Any particular career highlights?
The recent Spell Songs release took me all over the place, Loch Lomond, Uist and most excitingly Karine Polwart, Sandy Butler and I got to visit Bass Rock and record in the midst of the Gannet Colony! I recorded at Jackson Brown's studio last year in LA with Martin Simpson and the great Greg Leisz who has played on pretty much all of my favourite records and obviously everything I get to do with all the wonderful artists I get to work with whether it's down in England at the amazing Realworld or all the way up to Watercolour or Blackbay on the west coast, I love it all.
What are your plans for the future?
Lots of releases on Hudson Records and producing and projects with other folk from across the UK and beyond including projects in Canada, Portugal and Norway. Hopefully some Scottish record production with the likes of Rachel Newton, Lauren MacColl, Salt House, Jenny Sturgeon, Malin Lewis, Karine Polwart and many more in 2027!
Andy Bell Social Media
Website: http://www.hudsonrecords.co.uk
Facebook: @HudsonRecordsUK
Instagram: @hudson_records
YouTube: @HudsonRecords
Listen to music: https://hudsonrecords.bandcamp.com/
The 2026 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are on the 5th December 2026 in Paisley Arena, Lagoon Centre! You will be able to watch it live in person (buy a ticket here).
Hosted by Scottish personalities Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the night will welcome live performances from some of the brightest lights on the thriving trad scene today including Valtos, Gnoss, Sian, Fèis Phàislig, Spodo Komodo and BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Rachel Groves and many more!
If you would like to support Hands Up for Trad in their work with Scottish trad music and musicians why not become a friend of Hands Up for Trad. In addition to our high profile events like the Scots Trad Music Awards, we also deliver a less well known, education programme for young people from 8yrs right through to young adults at the start of their careers. Read more here.