One of the things I’ve continued to hear throughout this year, especially in recent months is how strong the calibre of folk and traditional music releases has been. The Scottish music scene is no exception – it just seems to go from strength to strength as this shortlist shows which has just been revealed by MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards. The Album of the Year, as you can see from the list below, is going to be very tough with 10 very strong nominees.
The winners of the 16 awards will be revealed on Saturday 2nd December, at Paisley’s Lagoon Centre as Paisley bids for UK City of Culture 2021. This is one hell of a night – we’ve attended several now and the experience is just unforgettable – more akin to a party than an Award ceremony. From the live music to the anticipation of who will win each category it’s the glitzy event of the Scottish music calendar, helped along the way by Hands up for Trad’s Simon Thoumire‘s shoes – always a talking point of the evening.
The night will be jam-packed with live performances from The Shee Big Band, who are roping in honorary Shees from throughout their eleven years to join them on stage, as well as performances from nominees Elephant Sessions and Siobhan Miller, making it a must-see event. Tickets are available now and can be purchased by calling 0300 300 1210 or visiting http://www.paisley2021.co.uk/events/. They can also be bought directly from Paisley Arts Centre.
Needless to say, we’ve continued to support the Scottish music scene over the years and (we even reached the finals ourselves in 2014 for best representing Scottish music) so, not surprisingly, many of the artists nominated have been covered over the past year on these pages. In the list below we’ve included links.
Most importantly don’t forget to vote: Voting for the shortlisted acts is open from now until 24th November and votes can be cast online here.
Album of the Year sponsored by Birnam CD
Afterlight by Ímar
All We Have Is Now by Elephant Sessions
An Dà Là – The Two Days by Mànran
An Dàn – Gaelic Songs for a Modern World by Mary Ann Kennedy
Bere by Saltfishforty
Fiddle + Guitar by Ross Couper + Tom Oakes
Mac Ile by The Islay Sessioners
Room with a View by Old Blind Dogs
Ryan Young by Ryan Young
Strata by Siobhan Miller
Community Project of the Year sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust
EPL events (Angus)
SCaT (Aberdeen)
Fun Fiddle (Edinburgh)
Tiree Songbook
Composer of the Year sponsored by PRS for Music
Adam Sutherland
Ailie Robertson
Lauren MacColl
Angus MacPhail
Aidan O’Rourke
Live Act of the Year sponsored by Greentrax Recordings
Elephant Sessions
Ímar
Tide Lines
Skipinnish
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland
Hannah Rarity
Iona Fyfe
Siobhan Miller
Claire Hastings
Blue Rose Code
Up and Coming Artist Award sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Gnoss
Hò-rò
Heron Valley
Inyal
Brighde Chaimbeul
Music Tutor of the Year sponsored by Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative
Emma Tomlinson
Keith Dickson
Dave Martin
James Alexander
Pippa Reid-Foster
Gaelic Singer of the Year sponsored by Macmeanmna
Mary Ann Kennedy
Alasdair Whyte
Calum Alex MacMillan
Robert Robertson
Folk Band of the Year sponsored by Threads of Sound
Fara
Josie Duncan and Pablo Lafuente
Routes Quartet
Talisk
Dance Band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Box and Fiddle Clubs
Duncan Black Band
James Coutts Scottish Dance Band
John Carmichael Ceilidh Band
David Halcrow Band
Scottish Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by The Glenturret Single Malt Whisky
Inveraray & District Pipe Band
Royal Mail Burgh of Annan Pipe Band
Lochalsh Junior Pipe Band
Dollar Academy Pipe Band
Club of the Year sponsored by Tradition Arts and Culture Scotland
Edinburgh Folk Club
Arc Sessions (Fochabers)
Clydesdale Accordion Club (Lanark)
Campsie Accordion & Fiddle Club
Instrumentalist of the Year sponsored by Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
Jennifer Wrigley
Roisin Anne Hughes
Paul Anderson
Gary Innes
Maeve Gilchrist
Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland
Killin Music Festival
Edinburgh International Harp Festival
Oban Live
A Night For Angus (Shooglenifty at Celtic Connections)
Wind Resistance (Karine Polwart)
Trad Music in the Media sponsored by Skipinnish
BBC Radio nan Gaidheal A’ Mire ri Mòir
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
TradTV
Seirm (Bees Nees Media)
Venue of the Year sponsored by Musicians’ Union
An Lanntair (Stornoway)
Tolbooth (Stirling)
Knoydart Community Hall
Glassel Hall (Aberdeenshire)