The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards will return to Dundee on Saturday, 2nd December, with the night set to celebrate and showcase Scotland’s burgeoning traditional music scene in style.
The 21st edition of the awards will truly be a coming of age as the event champions the evolution and successes of the scene over the last two decades, with tickets for the glittering event at the Caird Hall on sale now.
The awards will welcome a show-stopping bill of talent to the stage throughout the evening, with event-goers treated to performances from a who’s who of the Scottish traditional music scene.
Performances will come from legendary Skye folk-fusion group Peatbog Faeries (read our review of their latest album ‘I See a World’, also a Featured Album of the Month), acclaimed Gaelic songstress Joy Dunlop and her band and Celtic party-starters Mànran.
Hot off the back of her Young Traditional Musician of the Year title, the Amy Laurenson Trio will also take to the Caird Hall stage, as well as the inimitable fiddle genius Duncan Chisholm (recently interviewed here).
Multi-award-winning Scottish folk singer, songwriter and storyteller Karine Polwart and pianist and composer Dave Milligan (interviewed here) will also perform throughout the evening, while the next generation will showcase their talents when SC&T Youth, an organisation providing exciting and inclusive Scottish traditional music opportunities for young people in the North East of Scotland, step up to play.
The evening will also include a fitting musical tribute to the cherished radio host and advocate for traditional music, Robbie Shepherd, who presented BBC Radio Scotland’s Take the Floor for 35 years. Elsewhere, a house ceilidh band will get the evening’s party started.
There will be 21 award categories celebrated over the evening, with the nominees and winners representing the past, present and future of Scotland’s traditional music scene. Voting for the awards will open to the public in October, and all the winners will be announced on the night.
Scotland’s traditional culture, music and arts organisation, Hands Up For Trad, organise the annual event. Organiser Simon Thoumire said: “The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards is the single most important awards ceremony for musicians, fans and community organisations within the Scottish traditional music scene, and it’s wonderful to be returning to Dundee this December for what is sure to be a very special night.
“From arena concerts to new field festivals dedicated to the genre, there has never been a more exciting time for the scene and this year’s awards will not only celebrate that, but champion how far we have come over the past 21 years.
“It’s incredibly exciting to reveal the incredible line-up of talent that’s set to perform at this year’s awards and to launch tickets for the event. Na Trads, as they are affectionately known, present an incredible opportunity for fans of traditional music to be part of the biggest night of celebration for the genre and see the very best perform live and be rewarded for all they continue to do. We look forward to welcoming everyone to the Caird Hall this December.”
The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards will take place at the Caird Hall, Dundee, on Saturday 2nd December.
Tickets are on sale now at https://handsup.link/ScotsTradMusicAwards2023.