Hands Up for Trad have opened nominations for this year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.
The much-anticipated MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards celebrates excellence in traditional music. Honouring artists, instrumentalists, composers and singer-songwriters plus phenomenal performances from some of the biggest names in traditional music, the ceremony recognises outstanding musical talent from all over Scotland.
NOMINATE YOUR FAVOURITE ACT OR ORGANISATION HERE.
The public have until Sunday 14thOctober to nominate in each of the eighteen categories with the prestigious prizes encompassing all aspects of traditional music including Composer of the Year Award sponsored by PRS for Music, the Belhaven Bursary for Innovation in Music which is equalled in cash only by the Mercury Music Prize and was last year awarded to neo-trad quintet, Elephant Sessions. The award of £25,000 is accompanied by a craft beer brewed in the winner’s name. The winners will be unveiled in front of an audience of music fans and industry at Perth Concert Hall on 1stDecember 2018.
Organising body, Hands Up for Trad was formed in 2002 and exists to increase the profile and visibility of Scottish Traditional Music through information, education and advocacy.
Hands Up for Trad’s Creative Director Simon Thoumire said: “It is very exciting to begin the 2018 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. It’s been another exciting year with lots of fabulous albums released and gigs played. Thanks again to all our sponsors and partners for making the Scots Trad Music Awards possible.”
Communications Manager for MG ALBA, Murdo MacSween, said: “The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are a stand-out event in the Scottish music calendar and we’re proud to work with Hands up for Trad to showcase world class talent and the height of creativity.”
Stuart Fleming, PRS for Music Senior Manager, Scotland & Northern Ireland, said:“I am delighted that PRS for Music is once again supporting the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, celebrating the fantastic traditional music of Scotland’s rich and exciting culture. These awards recognise talent from all over Scotland, and the traditional scene is only continuing to grow.”
Hand Up for Trad are also delighted to announce the longlist for Trad Album of the Year, sponsored by Birnam CD. The award shines a light on the traditional recording industry and showcases the vast number of albums released each year in the trad and folk music genre. The longlist of 25 albums, decided by an industry panel is included below:
Air Fàir an Là by Niteworks
alterum by Julie Fowlis
Bare Knuckle by Chris Stout and Catriona McKay
Ellipsis by Fourth Moon
EVO by SKERRYVORE
Glasgow by Findlay Napier
In Praise of Home by Rura
Inyal by Inyal
Notes from the boat by Mike Vass
Pipes by John Mulhearn
Punch by The Poozies
Sanctuary by Ross Ainslie
Sandwood by Duncan Chisholm
SOLO by Sarah-Jane Summers
Some Other Land by Adam Sutherland
Sròmos by James Duncan Mackenzie
Symbiosis II by Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton
Tales From The North by Calum Stewart
The Key by Blazin’ Fiddes
The Morning Tempest by Josie Duncan & Pablo Lafuente
The Pipe Slang by Jamie MacDonald & Christian Gamauf
The Railway by Hamish Napier
The Rough Bounds by Daimh
The Seer by Lauren MacColl
Undersong by Salt House
The longlist will now be whittled down to a shortlist of ten albums which is decided by 50% industry panel and 50% public.
Broadcast live on BBC ALBA, the evening provides entertainment from key figures dominating Scotland’s rapidly growing traditional music scene. The line-up includes Croft No Five, Mànran, Karine Polwart Trio, Hannah Rarity, Eabhal, Catriona Watt, Gordon Duncan Experienceand Gerda Stevenson.
You can nominate your favourite acts or organisations via http://www.scotstradmusicawards.com
Keep up to date on Twitter @handsupfortrad Instagram @handsupfortrad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handsupfortrad and use hashtag #Natrads
If you wish to attend the final ceremony, tickets are available to buy via: https://www.horsecross.co.uk/whats-on/the-mg-alba-scots-trad-music-awards-35002 For box office call 01738 621031 or email box@horsecross.co.uk.
Notes to Editors:
Imagery and Logos available via Dropbox
Key Dates:
October 2nd– 14th Online Nominations Open to the Public
November 6th– 23rd Shortlist of 10 Announced and Online Voting Open
1stDecember MG ALBA Scots Traditional Music Awards Final Ceremony
Press is handled by Genuine. For further press information please contact Chris Hunt / Shauna McGregor at Genuine on chris@genuine.scot / shauna@genuine.scot
Hand Up for Trad– Hands Up for Trad exists to promote Scottish traditional music through information, education and advocacy to artists, participants and audiences across Scotland.
MG ALBA is the operating name of Seirbheis nam Meadhanan Gàidhlig (Gaelic Media Service). MG ALBA works in partnership with the BBC to deliver BBC ALBA. Find out more about MG ALBA and the partnership at www.mgalba.comor visit www.bbcalba.co.ukfor scheduling and programme information.
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports the arts, screen and creative industries across all parts of Scotland on behalf of everyone who lives, works or visits here. We enable people and organisations to work in and experience the arts, screen and creative industries in Scotland by helping others to develop great ideas and bring them to life. We distribute funding provided by the Scottish Government and the National Lottery.
For further information about Creative Scotland please visit www.creativescotland.com. Follow us @creativescots and www.facebook.com/CreativeScotland
Perth & Kinross Council is the local government council for the Perth and Kinross area of Scotland. With a focus on improvement, we are dedicated to listening to communities, understanding what is important, mobilising our strengths and working together to deliver what matters. The Council is committed to improving services; enhancing the quality of life of our citizens and making best use of public resources.
PRS for Music represents the rights of songwriters, composers and music publishers in the UK and around the world. As a membership organisation it works to ensure that creators are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. With over 100 representation agreements in place globally, PRS for Music‘s network represents over two million music creators worldwide. In 2017, 6.6 trillion performances of music were reported to PRS for Musicwith £717m collected on behalf of its members, making it one of the world’s leading music collective management organisations.
PRS for Music’s public performance licensing is now carried out on PRS for Music’s behalf by PPL PRS Ltd, the new joint venture between PPL and PRS for Music.
Tyree Gin Made with Kelp & Machair Botanicals from the Inner Hebridean island of Tiree, Tyree Gin is an exciting addition to the ‘Hebridean Gin’ market.
Alongside the core botanicals, the predominant flavour of Tyree Gin is achieved through six locally foraged botanicals: Eyebright, Ladies Bedstraw, Water Mint and Angelica collected from the island’s rich and fertile machair ground together with Kelp and Sea-Belt from the wild Atlantic Ocean which combine impeccably to create a true taste of Tiree.
