The 2012 MG ALBA Traditional Music Awards are taking place in Fort William this weekend and the Provost of Lochaber, Councillor Allan Henderson, is looking forward to extending a warm Highland welcome to everyone coming along.
He said: “The Highland Council are delighted that the 10th MG ALBA Scottish Traditional Music Awards are taking place in the Highlands especially in Lochaber where many traditional musicians live and work.
“The Council has supported and continues to support traditional music and Gaelic song tuition through the Youth Music Initiative and the local Fèisean. We also provide financial support to the Blas Festival, and are already making plans to celebrate when the National Mod returns to the Highland the Capital in 2014.
“I am delighted and proud that we are able to support what is a very prestigious awards ceremony in the Traditional Scottish Music events circuit.”
The Council is providing financial support towards the hosting of the event and the sponsorship of the Best Venue Award which will be presented on Saturday night at the Nevis Centre by Chairman of the Council’s Finance, Housing and Resources Committee, Councillor David Fallows.
The event is timely as the Council has embarked on its second generation Gaelic Language Plan and hosting the event in the Highlands is one of the enabling actions within the document.
This year the event is run over two days with the entries into the Hall of Fame taking place on Friday (7th December) and the Award Ceremony on Saturday night in the Nevis Centre in Fort William.
Simon Thoumire, organiser of the Scots Trad Music Awards says: “We’re delighted to be back in Fort William this year, celebrating 10 years of the Scots Trad Music Awards. The awards have always been so well supported by musicians and Trad music fans from the highlands and it’s fantastic to be back here for what’s looking to be the biggest and best awards ceremony yet.”
The Award Ceremony will be broad cast live from 9-11pm on BBC Alba. The channel is available in Scotland via Freeview, and throughout the UK on Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media and online (BBC iPlayer). The Awards Ceremony will also be re broadcast between Christmas and New Year.
ENDS