The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards celebrated its 10th year in style tonight (Saturday 8th December) with a glittering awards ceremony which was the biggest and best yet!
Broadcast live on BBC ALBA for the first time, the awards – organised by Hands Up for Trad – saw stars of the Scottish music scene gather at the Nevis Centre, Fort William to celebrate and honour the very best of traditional Scottish talent.
Winners of this year’s prestigious prizes included Mike Vass (Composer of the Year), Julie Fowlis (Trad Music in the Media), Duncan Chisholm (Instrumentalist of the Year) Paul McKenna (Scots Singer of the Year) and Niteworks (Up and Coming Artist of the Year).
Edinburgh’s Scots Fiddle Festival was named Event of the Year while quirky music venue, Bogbain Farm scooped the prize for Venue of the Year (See full winners list below).
Ten artists were also chosen by a panel comprised of their peers and award organisers to be inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall Of Fame. They are Silly Wizard, Ian Hardie, Jim Halcrow, Roddy MacLeod MBE, Norman MacLean, Anne Lorne Gillies, Martyn Bennett, Donald Riddell CBE and Hamish Imlach.
The evening was concluded by a fantastic array of performances from the country’s Trad music stars including, Treacherous Orchestra, Karine Polwart, Inveraray and District Pipe Band and Gordon Duncan Experience. Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross also performed, paying a special tribute to the late, great songwriter, Michael Marra.
Event Founder and Hands Up for Trad Creative Director: Simon Thoumire says: “We’re so pleased that the Scots Trad Music Awards has continued to grow over the last ten years. Huge congratulations to all tonight’s winners and nominees. It’s been a fantastic year for Trad music – we’ve seen artists like Julie Fowlis come to prominence after her music was featured in Disney Pixar’s Brave this year. We can only hope that successes like these will continue for another ten years. ”
Donald Campbell, Chief Executive of event sponsors MG ALBA says: “The Trad Awards recognise excellence and MG ALBA is pleased to have been able to support the awards again this year and proud to be associated with such talent. We congratulate not only the winners but also all those who were shortlisted across the various categories”
For more information, quotes, interviews and images, contact Wire Media:
Kirsty Atkinson | kirsty@wire-media.co.uk | 07736 281 684| 0141 440 6761
Lesley McKeran | lesley@wire-media.co.uk | 07747 617 729| 0141 440 6761
www.twitter.com/scotstradmusicawards
www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards
EDITOR’S NOTES
The full winners list for this year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards:
Album of the Year sponsored by Birnam CD – Cillebhride (Kilbride) – Kathleen MacInnes: KMA
Club of the Year sponsored by Royal Scottish Country Dance Society – Falkirk Folk Club
Composer of the Year sponsored by PRS for Music – Mike Vass
Community Project of the Year sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust – Feis Rois Local and National Ceilidh Trail 2012
Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland – Scots Fiddle Festival
Gaelic Singer of the Year sponsored by Macmeanmna – Riona Whyte
Instrumentalist of the Year sponsored by Temple Records – Duncan Chisholm
Live Act of the Year sponsored by Greentrax Recordings – Session A9
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association – Paul McKenna
Scottish Dance Band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs – Deoch and Dorus
Scottish Folk Band of the Year sponsored by All Celtic Music – Breabach
Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by The National Piping Centre – George Watson’s College Pipes and Drums
Trad Music in the Media sponsored by The Saltire Society – Julie Fowlis for Brave
Music Tutor of the Year sponsored by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative – Gillian Frame
Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland – Niteworks
Venue of the Year Award – Bogbain Farm, Inverness
Well done to all the winners. Brilliant for Paul and Mike- 2 Awards in one Band !!!