Shortlisted nominations have been unveiled for the 2016 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. The winners will be announced at the event on Saturday 3rd December, at the Caird Hall Dundee. Tickets are available from 01382 434 940 or www.dundeebox.co.uk.
Hailed the most prestigious awards ceremony in the traditional music calendar. Organisers Hands Up for Trad will hand out sixteen awards to the best Scottish trad talent across Scotland. This year’s ceremony will see some of the biggest names in Scottish traditional music perform, including The Scott Wood Band, Songs of Separation and Mohsen Amini – who was crowned BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Traditional Musician 2016 – and many more.
The Album of the Year (sponsored by Birnam CD), is arguably one of the most sought after awards and competition is stiff this year, with the award being contested by 10 nominees including Hamish Napier, Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton, Jarlath Hendeson and Dallahan.
Piping Live is up against Orkney Folk Festival in the Event of the Year category (sponsored by VisitScotland) alongside Pulse and Hamish feature film.
Blazin’ Fiddles, Elephant Sessions, Mànran, Niteworks, Skerryvore and Treacherous Orchestra make up the Live Act of the Year shortlist (sponsored by Greentrax). While Dosca, Top Floor Taivers, Ryan Young, and Tannara are shortlisted for Up and Coming Artist of the Year (sponsored by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) category. A full list of nominees is below.
Event founder and promoter, Simon Thoumire, said:
“We want to say a huge thanks to everyone who has voted and we’d like to congratulate all the shortlisted nominees. Hands Up for Trad are dedicated to showcasing the amazing Trad talent in Scotland and we’re looking forward to the ceremony and an unmissable night of live music on Saturday 3rd December – join the party.”
Iseabail Mactaggart, MG ALBA Director of Development and Partnerships, said:
“We’re delighted to see such exciting shortlists – and proud that MG ALBA is associated with, and nurturing, such an innovative, inspiring sector, and that BBC ALBA gives them the platform they deserve. Meal a naidheachd dhuibh uile – congratulations all.”
Alan Morrison, Head of Music, Creative Scotland, said:
“The quality of this year’s nominees shows that the traditional music scene in Scotland is thriving and it is great to see these artists being commended at such a prestigious event. Creative Scotland are proud to support Hands Up For Trad and we wish all the nominees the best of luck.”
Hands Up for Trad is one of Creative Scotland’s Regularly Funded organisations and exists to promote Scottish Traditional Music to audiences, artists and participants through Education, Information and Advocacy.
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FULL LIST OF NOMINEES:
Album of the Year – Sponsored by Birnam CD (with links to FRUK reviews)
Abyss by Talisk (live review link)
Astar by Breabach
Brighter Still by Adam Holmes and The Embers
Hearts Broken, Heads Turned by Jarlath Henderson
Hello, Goodbye by John McCusker
Matter of Time by Dallahan
Songs of Separation by Songs of Separation
SYMBIOSIS by Ross Ainslie and Ali Hutton
The Hebridean Sessions by Dàìmh
The River by Hamish Napier
Club of the Year – Sponsored by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland
Stonehaven Folk Club
Dundee Acoustic Music Club
Rolling Hills Folk Club
Mauchlin Accordion and Fiddle Club
Composer of the Year – Sponsored by PRS for Music
Graham MacKenzie
Hamish Napier
Kris Drever
Freeland Barbour
Mairearad Green
Joe Armstrong
Community Project of the Year – Sponsored by the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust
Merlin Academy of Traditional Music
Feis Rois Life Long Learning Project
Fuaran – Fèisean nan Gàidheal
Friends of Wighton
Event of the Year – Sponsored by VisitScotland
Piping Live
Orkney Folk Festival
Pulse
Hamish Feature Film
Gaelic Singer of the Year – Sponsored by Macmeanmna
Ellen MacDonald
Calum Ross
Joy Dunlop
Kaela Rowan
Instrumentalist of the Year – Sponsored by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Tony McManus
Innes White
Mohsen Amini
Rachel Newton
Craig Paton
Live Act of the Year – Sponsored by Greentrax Recordings
Blazin’ Fiddles
Elephant Sessions
Mànran
Niteworks
Skerryvore
Treacherous Orchestra
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year – Sponsored by the Traditional Music & Song Association of Scotland
Simon Gall
Lori Watson
Hector Riddell
Shona Donaldson
Scottish Dance Band of the Year – Sponsored by the National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
Trail West
Sixties Bairns
Peter Wood Shetland Dance Band
Lomond Ceilidh Band
Folk Band of the Year – Sponsored by Threads of Sound
Rura
Rant
Barluath
Breabach
Scottish Pipe Band of the Year – Sponsored by The Glenturret Single Malt Whisky
North Lanarkshire Schools Pipe Band
Police Scotland Fife Pipe Band
Johnstone Pipe Band
Stirling and District Schools Pipe Band
Trad Music in the Media – Sponsored by Skippinish
Scots Radio Podcast
Take the floor
fRoots
Fresh Folk
Music Tutor of the Year – Sponsored by Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative
Jim Hunter
Simon Chadwick
Daniel Thorpe
Mhairi Marwick
Lynsey Tait
Rachel Hair
Up and Coming Artist of the Year – Sponsored by the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Dosca
Top Floor Taivers
Ryan Young
Tannara
Venue of the Year – Sponsored by the Musicians’ Union
The CatStrand
The Reel, Orkney
The Glad Café
Drouthy Cobbler, Elgin
Voting for the shortlisted acts will be open from, Tuesday 1st November, until Friday 18th November and you can cast your vote at projects.handsupfortrad.scot/scotstradmusicawards/voting/
Tickets are available from 01382 434 940 or www.dundeebox.co.uk.