Heisk play the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2019 in Aberdeen. Photo by Paul Campbell. Heisk have also played the Hands Up For Trad Online Music Club Concerts in 2020.
Nominations open this Monday 5th October for the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2020, as organisers Hands Up for Trad announce the awards will be broadcast in partnership with BBC ALBA and reveal the Top 30 Albums.
Featuring phenomenal performances from leading trad musicians, the highly regarded annual Awards give recognition to excellence within Scotland’s thriving traditional musical culture. Encompassing all aspects of making and playing from composing, Gaelic song, folk and Scottish dance music to pipe bands and a host of others in between, each year sees a lively and enthusiastic crowd enjoying some of the biggest names as the industry and audiences join to honour singers, instrumentalists, composers and songwriters.
Public Nominations for the Awards are online at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Trads2020, and annually generate over 100,000 public votes.
Voting for the Top 30 Albums nominated is online at https://projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/trad-album-of-the-year-2020/
The remaining shortlisted Nominees will be announced ready for Public Voting from 3rd November onwards.
Tweaked for 2020 to reflect the pivot the entire industry has made due to Covid-19, this year’s twelve Awards are:
- Music Tutor of the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland
- Gaelic Singer of the Year, sponsored by The Highland Society of London
- Album of The Year, sponsored by Birnam CD
- Up & Coming artist of the Year, sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
- Event of the Year
- Community Music Project of the Year, sponsored by Greentrax Recordings
- Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year, sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA)
- Trad Video of the Year, sponsored by Threads of Sound
- Online Performance of 2020, sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust
- Services to Gaelic Award, sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig
- Original Work of the Year, sponsored by PRS for Music
- Trad Music in the Media, sponsored by Sabhal Mòr Ostaig
- Musician of the Year, sponsored by the University of the Highlands and Islands
This year the annual Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame is sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, with special plans to be announced.
Morag Macdonald, Youth Music Initiative Manager, Creative Scotland said: “The Youth Music Initiative is delighted to support this award that recognises the ongoing dedication and enthusiasm of music tutors who contribute so much to the music ecology of Scotland. This year more than ever we have witnessed musicians going the extra mile to ensure that children and young people have opportunities to engage with music making and we look forward to celebrating the commitment of some of these individuals.”
Murdo MacSween, Communications Manager at title sponsors MG ALBA, said: “It gives us particular pride at MG ALBA to be title sponsors in this especially testing year. We’ve seen fantastic collaborations and innovation – all reaching audiences in ever unique and inspiring ways. These awards give us an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the creative pioneers and incredible wealth of talent we have in Scotland, and we’re delighted to be able to join with Hands Up for Trad to enable this once more.
In addition to the broadcast, Hands Up for Trad will present a Trads Online livestream presented by Singer & Songwriter Findlay Napier. With the full programme due to be announced soon, it will air on Facebook & YouTube from lunchtime up until the Awards, featuring a variety of informal and fun live gigs, cèilidhs and workshops that the Scots trads and folk industry is world famous for. Participating audiences, partners, and sponsors will be directly supporting musicians and crew, many of whom have lost significant income as a result of the COVID-19 crisis.
Organising body, Hands Up for Trad funded by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland, was formed in 2002 and exists to increase the profile and visibility of Scottish traditional music through information, advocacy and education to artists, participants and audiences.
Hands Up for Trad’s Creative Director Simon Thoumire thanks all involved: “Since lockdown it’s been a huge team effort to process everything that’s happening with Covid-19, and provide musicians and crew with the support needed due to cancelled launches, gigs and tours, as well as provide audiences with entertainment and culture, much needed during these troubled times.
“Thanks to all the people who nominate and vote, and to the artists, media and our sponsors and partners for their flexibility and passion for making the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2020 possible.”
This year the event was set to take place in Dundee’s Caird Hall, which has been held for a mix of digital and physical in 2021. With live music and event restrictions in place for the foreseeable future, Hands Up for Trad has been working hard since March to support artists and provide alternative platforms for musicians to reach their audiences, fundraise and sell tickets online.
Keep up to date on Twitter @handsupfortrad Instagram @handsupfortrad on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/handsupfortrad
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