WINNERS of the annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards were announced on a special show on BBC ALBA on Saturday.
The usually live event featured special performances from some of traditional music’s top luminaries, including The Iona Fyfe Trio, Project Smok, Deirdre Graham, Jarlath Henderson and Karen Matheson as well as Phil Cunningham.
Hosted by Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the event had been set to take place in Dundee’s Caird Hall, but Hands Up for Trad worked to support artists and provide an alternative platform, culminating in two special programmes of Na Trads on BBC ALBA.
The awards will be shown again on BBC ALBA at 9pm on Saturday and will be available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days. Ealasaid MacDonald, director of strategy and external affairs at title sponsors MG ALBA, which operates BBC ALBA in partnership with the BBC, said: “Once again, the Trads has showcased the best of creativity and talent across Scotland.
“MG ALBA would like to congratulate all those who have taken part, those nominated and the winners, as they have been part of a very different year where music has been an essential part of all our lives. We are delighted that Hands Up for Trad brought us all together for this wonderful opportunity to celebrate the best of traditional music.”
Hands Up for Trad’s founder and creative director Simon Thoumire said:
“The arrival of Covid-19 has required a massive change for us all and impacted us in so many different ways, and I want to thank MG ALBA and our sponsors, the artists and musicians and crew and everyone who voted.
“Everyone has worked together tirelessly to maintain, pivot and bring our music programme online right through this year, culminating in the fantastic BBC ALBA broadcast of the Na Trads 2020 programme of our annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, the pinnacle of our year.”
Three pillars of the Scots Trad Music community were recognised through special awards. The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Award sponsored by Creative Scotland was awarded to James Robertson; the Services to Gaelic Award sponsored by Bord na Gaidhlig awarded to John Smith; and the 2020 Hamish Henderson Award for
Services to Traditional Music went to Lisa Whytock.
The full list of winners are – Album of The Year, sponsored by Birnam CD: The Woods by Hamish Napier.
Original Work of the Year, sponsored by PRS for Music: Everyday Heroes by Skerryvore.
Community Music Project of the Year, sponsored by Greentrax Recordings: Tunes in the Hoose.
Event of the Year Award sponsored by VisitScotland: BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award 20th Anniversary Concert (Celtic Connections).
Gaelic Singer of the Year, sponsored by The Highland Society of London: Fionnag NicChoinnich (Fiona MacKenzie).
Musician of the Year, sponsored by the University of the Highlands and Islands: Tim Edey.
Online Performance of 2020, sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust: Duncan Chisholm’s Covid Ceilidh.
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year, sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association (TMSA), for artists singing in Scots language: Siobhan Miller.
Trad Video of the Year, sponsored by Threads of Sound: Calum Dan’s Transit Van by Peat & Diesel
Trad Music in the Media, sponsored by Sabhal Mor Ostaig: Anna Massie.
Up & Coming Artist of the Year, sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland: Rebecca Hill.
Music Tutor of the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative: Josie Duncan.
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