RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards 2020 nominations announced

The RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards return on 26th November and will take place in the RTÉ Radio studios. The event will be broadcast live at 8 pm on RTÉ Radio 1 (you can listen online here), with returning co-presenters Ruth Smith & John Creedon presenting two hours of music, song and chat, featuring an array of distinguished guests from the folk world.

The award categories include Folk Singer of the Year, Best Folk Album of the Year, Best Original Folk Track of the Year, Best Traditional Folk of the Year, Best Folk Group of the Year, Folk Instrumentalist of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition, a performer will be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The recipients for the Hall of Fame award will be announced on the night, joining this year’s 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award winner, guitarist Steve Cooney. Commenting on this award Nuala O’Connor of the RTÉ Radio 1 Executive Steering Committee said: “To hear him play and be in his presence is always a profound experience for listener and player alike. This Lifetime Achievement Award is an acknowledgement of Steve’s deep abiding commitment to his art and the glories that this has produced for all our soul’s enrichment.”

Glancing through the nominees Lankum are, not surprisingly – considering the great reception their album The Livelong Day received, appearing in several categories, so you’ll need to tune in on the night to see if they run away with more than one award as Ye Vagabonds did at last year’s award ceremony. Radie Peat of Lankum is also nominated as Best Folk Singer (very deserving) alongside some very strong contenders – Mick Flannery, Emma Langford and Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh.

It’s great to see the likes of Níamh Regan, Navá, Saint Sister, The Lost Brothers and The Bonny Men making an appearance…The Bonny Men certainly offered one of the most memorable videos of the year when ‘Jenny’s Welcome to Charlie’, a track from their album ‘The Broken Pledge’ was used for a short film about the torment of the creative process…they feature in two categories (Best Folk Group/Best Traditional Track).

That’s a strong list below, I’m not sure I’d want to be sat in the judge’s seat – that said there has been so much great music coming from Ireland over the past year and Irish folk music has certainly been riding the crest of a wave for a while now. Those we have covered on Folk Radio UK are linked below.

Presenter John Creedon said: “As a concert goer myself, I’m really missing live gigs. I can scarcely imagine what the performers are feeling, so I’m delighted to be part of this platform for the best of Irish talent. Despite the challenges, the creativity goes on and the show goes on!”

Ann-Marie Power, RTÉ Head of Arts and Culture, added: “After a year of gig cancellations and a really difficult time for the live music industry, we are delighted to highlight Ireland’s vibrant folk music scene in this 2hour radio special. It’s a privilege for us to give a platform to musicians. The 2020 RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the work of performers and artists who, despite all the odds, still created beautiful music in this year.”