Hands up for Trad, in association with BBC Scotland Interactive, are hosting the second ‘Scots Trad Music Awards’ Celebrations on the 4th December, 2004 at The Queen’s Hall, South Clerk Street, Edinburgh (Box Office ). The aim of these Awards is to highlight Scotland's wonderful traditional music in all its forms and to create a high profile opportunity which will bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media & public attention.
To vote for any of the events below online visit or print this form out and send to this . More info can be had at Hands Up for Trad's website.
The 2004 Hamish Henderson Award for Services To Traditional Music - (sponsored by BBC Radio Scotland) was presented to The McCalmans.
The original line-up of Ian McCalman, Hamish Bayne and Derek Moffat first met during registration for entry into Edinburgh College of Art on 6th October, 1964. Discovering their mutual interest in folk music they went on to form the band which over forty years has become almost a Scottish institution. The McCalmans have travelled the world enthusing their audiences with rousing three-part harmony singing laced with on-stage self-deprecating humour. In 1982, Hamish retired to the quieter life, making concertinas and Nick Keir joined the group. Derek Moffat passed away on October 21, 2001, at the age of 54, and Stephen Quigg (who stood in for him during his illness) officially joined the line-up
Album of the Year - (sponsored by )
Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas - Fire & Grace WINNER
Master fiddler Alasdair Fraser, long regarded as one of Scotland's premier musical ambassadors, presents the rich Scottish fiddle tradition with unsurpassed eloquence, passion and energy. In his latest collaboration, with vibrant young cellist Natalie Haas, Alasdair continues his journey, exploring the dynamic and rhythmic soul of Scottish dance music together with lyrical, sensitive airs.
Blair Douglas: Angels from the Ashes
Blair Douglas was a founder member of bands as diverse as Runrig, Mactalla and Cliar, and has created a series of idiosyncratic and highly-regarded recordings under his own name. The latest, Angels from the Ashes , marks a return to top form for a musician who admits he reached a low ebb in the wake of a fire that destroyed the family home, and all of his instruments and music in 1997.
Martyn Bennett: Grit
There are ten tracks on this unforgettable album. Using voice archive recordings of singers like Lizzie Higgins and Sheila Stewart which he has married to electronic techno noise and dance rhythms he delivers a modern sounding album still true to its traditional roots. Amongst the passages of crunching beats there are contrasting almost peaceful interludes. Martyn Bennett is an artist who continues to astound.
The Occasionals - Reel of Four
This is the fourth collection of music by The Occasionals, a selection of sets for Scottish country dancing featuring a range of traditional and contemporary tunes, with some new compositions by accordionist Freeland Barbour and fiddler Ian Hardie. Add in Gus Millar on drums and Kevin Macleod on banjo, mandolin and tenor guitar and you have The Occasionals ~ Reel of Four
Personality of the Year
Fiona MacKenzie WINNER
"I should like to nominate Fiona Mackenzie, Mairi Mhor Gaelic Song Fellowship, (Highland Council) for her work in bringing Gaelic song and music to schools and communities in the Highlands and Islands. Her CD Seinn o ho ro Seinn has proved an inspiration to teachers and Gaelic learners since it was launched in October 2003. She has now also produced the first book of Ross-shire Gaelic songs to be published in several generations."
Frank McArdle
"My nomination goes to Frank McArdle who is the main teacher of Glasgow Comhaltas branch and St. Roch's. He is the main man for spreading traditional music in Glasgow and his encouragement and dedication have began the careers for many trad musicians including John McCusker, Claire McLaughlin, Mark Maguire to name a few. His Tuesday night classes see more than 200 pupils of all ages learning to play a variety of instruments and many of his pupils are All-Ireland medallists who wouldn't have been able to achieve without Frank McArdle. I could go on for hours about all the good he has done for music, but i won't! I think you get the idea-no one deserves the award more than Frank McArdle.
Harris Playfair
"Based in Kelso, Harris has been a long standing teacher and advocate of traditional music in the borders. His coaching of the stunning Kelso School band, who performed at last year's awards, shows what can be done with raw talent, inspiring them and gaining a standing ovation on the night.""
Rita Hunter
"I would like to nominate Rita Hunter (Feis Rois Manager) for Personality of the Year. As an organiser, she never stops bringing new ideas to the traditional music world. She's been at the centre of the resurgence and her "teaching to performance" portfolio ensures sure that we are constantly getting new talent emerging on the scene."
Community Project of the Year (sponsored by )
ALP Scots Music Group
ALP Scots Music Group is a community education project based in Edinburgh which aims to make the traditional music, song and dance of Scotland widely available to everyone by offering classes, events, workshops, social gatherings and publications.
Broonie - The Legend
A new musical work celebrating the legacy of Scottish folktales, presented through traditional Scottish music, song and dance with a contemporary twist. This projects aims were to introduce people to Scottish traditional music and dance and to learn something of the rich heritage of Scottish folklore. The music was written by Andrew McGarva, (of the folk band Coila) and the band featured Marc Duff and Alistair McCulloch.
Feis Rois Traditional Music in Schools project WINNER
Fèis Rois organises the TMIS scheme, bringing traditional musicians, singers and dancers to Primary 6 & 7 children throughout Scotland. Lively 1-hour visits give children the chance to hear good quality traditional music, to learn about the instruments and the different types of tunes and most importantly to join in. Each visit invites all the pupils to learn either a song or a dance together, and teachers are sent a resource pack with advice on how to follow things up. Fèis Rois made contact with every area in Scotland, and up to 15,000 children, almost exclusively in Social Inclusion Priority areas, have already received visits. The feedback is absolutely incredible and very moving, and reveals that many children rarely or never see or hear live music. We receive great letters from teachers and pupils, lots of them saying that they didn't think they would like Scottish music but that now they love it! Fèis Rois has also been bowled over by the fantastic enthusiasm and tremendous professionalism of all the visiting musicians and singers, who tear around the country and really enjoy the work. TMIS was created by the Scottish Arts Council and is funded through the Scottish Executive's Cultural Strategy.
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop
Glasgow Fiddle Workshop or GFW as it is affectionately known began in 1990 as one of a number of traditional arts activities set up by the Community Education team of the then Strathclyde Region. GFW was formed as a voluntary organisation in 1994 with the aim to offer a facility for people to increase their knowledge of Scottish Traditional Fiddle styles and to learn more about fiddle music and its history.
Club of the Year (sponsored by )
Edinburgh Folk Club
One of the first Scottish folk clubs, EFC won the Radio 2 Folk Club of the Year in 2003. They have an annual songwriting competition and run every Wednesday night in the The Pleasance Cabaret Bar at 8pm.
Glenfarg Village Folk Club
The Internationally Famous Glenfarg Village Folk Club is now in its 26th year and still going strong. It meets every Monday night and offers a wide range of musical acts as well as providing an opportunity for budding performers to 'have a go'. Over the course of a year you can enjoy both traditional and contemporary folk from home and abroad, blues, jazz, ragtime, story telling, poetry and great humour. The organisers are always tracking down the latest talent to break onto the folk scene as well as dusting down some of the golden oldies who have been around for a wee while longer. There is much more to Glenfarg Village Folk Club than Monday nights in the Terrace Bar. Members also enjoy many social events throughout the year.
Gretna Accordion & Fiddle Club
Gretna Accordion & Fiddle Club meets in The Halcrow Stadium, Gretna, on the first Sunday of the month from September to May. The club hosts many wonderful traditional music evenings and attracts members from both Dumfriesshire and Cumbria.
Hootananny, Inverness WINNER
Hootananny Ceilidh Café Bar, is a great place to hear traditional music. Situated in the heart of Inverness and open since July 2002, it quickly became 'the' gathering place for celtic musicians and bands both local and visiting. There is 'live' music available every night during spring, summer and autumn and Wednesdays through to Sundays in the winter and there are workshops for those interested in learning a traditional instrument.
Event of the Year (sponsored by )
Celtic Connections Festival
The first festival was programmed in 1993 to fill a scheduling gap in The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall's winter season and to meet the growing demand for folk music. Since then it has developed into a citywide celebration of Celtic music and culture. Now, eleven years on, there are more than 200 events staged over a three week period in multiple venues across the city, producing Glasgow's only major festival. Although focusing mainly on Scottish traditional music, the festival is truly international. Performers from the Celtic heartlands of Canada, USA, France and Spain regularly appear - and, in the last two years, the festival has showcased Nordic music.
Hebridean Celtic Festival WINNER
The Hebridean Celtic Festival is a four-day musical celebration. Based in Stornoway, the Western Isles of Scotland, it is held annually and is fast approaching its tenth year. Over 14,000 festival-goers attended the 2004 event and there are a number of reasons for its increasing popularity:
The music - top quality programme with a Celtic twist, traditional, world influences and the best of home-grown talent; the setting - (grounds of Lews Castle); the community - which give the festival great support and a warm welcome to visitors. The festival also rolls out a series of community workshops and events that help ensure our culture continues to thrive. They are a family-friendly event and this is reflected in preferential ticket treatment.
Piping Hot, Glasgow International Piping Festival
Piping Hot was staged over the seven days in August leading up to the annual World Pipe Band Championships. The festival included recitals, workshops, concerts and competitions held at various venues across the city. It was the country's first ever festival dedicated to piping music and attracted both international and UK based audiences. Piping Hot presented an innovative contemporary programme featuring some of the most accomplished traditional musicians in the world alongside emerging performers whose edgy, experimental music and performance styles will challenge perceptions of piping.
Shetland Accordion and Fiddle Festival
This highly acclaimed festival swings in October to the sound of reels, jigs and marches. The success of the first festival in 1988 has been repeated and it is now a highly popular annual event. The highlight of this lively festival of concerts and dances, that take place throughout the islands, is the Grand Dance, where up to a dozen bands play virtually non-stop accordion and fiddle music.
Folk Band of the Year (sponsored by Foot Stompin' Celtic Music)
Blazin' Fiddles
In the past decade no other band has quite captured the excitement, passion and the sensitivity of Scottish music as Blazin' Fiddles. Having grown from a showcase tour of individual fiddlers highlighting the distinctive flavours of Highlands and Islands fiddle music, Blazin' Fiddles have gone on to become a fully fledged band with a world-wide following. One of the most exciting and memorable fiddle ensembles ever to take the stage.
Meantime
Meantime are a four-piece band performing a mixture of traditional and new Gaelic music and song. They have built up an excellent reputation as one of the emerging talents on the current Gaelic music scene at a time when traditional music is enjoying a renaissance among a host of new, young and vibrant musicians.
Old Blind Dogs WINNER
For over ten years now, the Old Blind Dogs have stood at the leading edge of the roots revival that has both reawakened and revolutionised Scottish folk music. Popular on both sides of the Atlantic, the Old Blind Dogs continue to be energetic and inspired in their stage shows while their selection of songs and tunes, takes their homeland's traditional music in adventurous new directions.
Tannahill Weavers
The Tannahill Weavers are one of Scotland's premier traditional bands. Their diverse repertoire spans the centuries with fire-driven instrumentals, topical songs, and original ballads and lullabies. Their music demonstrates to old and young alike the rich and varied musical heritage of the Celtic people. These versatile musicians have received worldwide accolades consistently over the years for their exuberant performances and outstanding recording efforts that seemingly can't get better...yet continue to do just that.
Gaelic Singer of the Year (sponsored by )
Julie Fowlis
Originally from North Uist, Julie was brought up in a Gaelic speaking community and was involved in piping and Highland dancing from an early age, both in Uist and later in Ross Shire. She has appeared as a solo artist on television programmes such as Tacsi, Fàilte and An t-Urlar Ur and has appeared on Ceòlraidh and Air an Urlar with all female band, Dòchas.
Maggie MacInnes WINNER
Maggie is one of Scotland's foremost singers and clarsach players. She is steeped in the Gaelic tradition coming from a long line of Gaelic singers and storytellers from the island of Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Taking her music to an international audience runs in the family as she is the daughter of the world famous traditional singer, Flora McNeil M.B.E.
Rachel Walker
Rachel Walker was introduced to Gaelic singing at the age of 10 as a participant at Fèis Rois. Brought up in Kinlochewe, and now living in Kirkhill, 24 year old Rachel was one of the first graduates from the RSAMD's BA Scottish Music degree course, where she studied Gaelic song with Kenna Campbell. Rachel has built up quite a reputation as a fine Gaelic singer, forming, along with some of her fellow students, the group Dòchas.
Rona Lightfoot
Rona Lightfoot, a wonderful Gaelic singer, was brought up in one of the most culturally rich families in South Uist. Her mother Cèit Bean Eardsaidh Raghnaill gave the Gaelic speaking world one of the best archive collections of Gaelic songs, and from their father, Rona and her brother inherited then mantle of the famous Macdonald pipers of South Uist.
Instrumentalist of the Year (sponsored by )
Archie McAllister (fiddle)
Archie McAllister's fiddling, steeped in West Coast dance traditions, carries a frankness of tone that is extremely effective on slow airs and downright exhilarating at full tilt. Archie is arguably the Scottish Folk Scene's most exciting live fiddler (Living Tradition) and plays with the Jura Ceilidh Band and Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band.
Chris Stout (fiddle)
After acquiring the title "Young Fiddler of the Year" for his traditional fiddling, and Shetland's "Young Musician of the Year" for performing a classical repertoire, Chris moved to Glasgow at the age of 16 to study at the Douglas Academy of Music. After a spell there, he completed two degrees at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, graduating in 1999. Chris has a wide range of musical abilities and interests including Electro Acoustic Composition, Jazz, Classical and traditional. Chris fronts his own band and also plays with Fiddlers Bid, The Finlay MacDonald Band, Salsa Celtica, Celtic Feet and in a duo with harpist Catriona MacKay.
Corrina Hewat (clarsach)
Over the last ten years, singer and harp player Corrina Hewat has emerged as one of the most distinctive, original and versatile artists on the contemporary Scottish scene. Synthesising the energies and idioms of traditional, jazz and classical music, in formats ranging from entirely solo to a 31-piece "folk orchestra", Corrina's combined talents as a vocalist, instrumentalist, composer and arranger have won her steadily increasing acclaim among critics, fellow musicians and audiences alike.
Fred Morrison (bagpipes) WINNER
Fred Morrison was, from the very beginning, immersed in the atmosphere of Uist piping. He was taught by his father, an excellent piper from the Clann Seonaidh Aonghais Ruaidh, of South Uist, whose tutoring was based wholly on the cainntearachd, a unique singing style used to teach piping, where specific notes and rhythms are given particular sounds. Fred's natural flair and immaculate technique, along with his sincere approach, combine to create a unique and rousing performance. In the "Scotsman" his playing has been described as 'almost shocking in its subtlety and brilliance'.
Journalist of the Year (sponsored by )
Jim Gilchrist
Jim writes for the Scotsman.
Kenny Mathieson
Kenny writes for the Scotsman and is editor of Hi-Arts Internet Journal
Rob Adams
Rob writes for the Herald and other papers and magazines.
Sue Wilson WINNER
Sue writes for the Sunday Herald and other papers and magazines.
Live Act of the Year (sponsored by )
Blazin' Fiddles WINNER
In the past decade no other band has quite captured the excitement, passion and the sensitivity of Scottish music as Blazin' Fiddles. Having grown from a showcase tour of individual fiddlers highlighting the distinctive flavours of Highlands and Islands fiddle music, Blazin' Fiddles have gone on to become a fully fledged band with a world-wide following. One of the most exciting and memorable fiddle ensembles ever to take the stage.
Finlay MacDonald Band
The Finlay MacDonald Band, brings together the tightest of Jazz, Funk grooves with blistering traditional and contemporary Tunes on pipes and fiddle. The band have been forging a reputation as one of the hottest live acts to come out of Scotland and are in demand all over Europe for Festivals, one off gigs and full tours.
Session A9
A dream team featuring some of Scotland's most innovative fiddle players, enhanced by a class act backing band dubbed the nation's next supergroup. Session A9 is a project that has evolved from live tune sessions up and down the length of the country - hence the name, and strives to bring fresh, creative and original music to a worldwide audience.
Unusual Suspects
This twenty-two strong, star-studded supergroup - including fiddles, accordions, pipes, brass, voices and a driving rhythm section - has twice taken Celtic Connections by storm and last year became a hugely successful Folkworks tour. "Remarkable achievement and uproarious experience" Inverness Courier
The Media Award (sponsored by )
Beolach
Students from the National Centre for Excellence in Traditional Music at Plockton, Feisean nan Gaidheal and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow were involved in a unique music project - Beolach - which was recorded for Television and Radio in Portree in March 2004. After a series of workshops, 36 musical items were recorded over the course of four days in Portree. Each organisation performed separately, collaboratively, and in performance with professional musicians. The event culminated in a public performance at the Skye Gathering Halls.
Highlands and Islands Arts Journal (HI~Arts Journal)
Highlands and Islands Arts Ltd (HI~Arts) is an independent company limited by guarantee with charitable status, established in 1990 to promote and develop the arts in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. HI~Arts launched the Highlands and Islands Arts Online Journal on 5th June 2003. The site now receives up to 4,000 unique visitors every day.
Take the Floor (Radio Scotland) WINNER
Take the Floor is the longest-running radio programme in Scotland. It began in the 1930s on the Scottish Home Service under the title 'Scottish Dance Music' to be renamed 'Take the Floor' in 1978 when Radio Scotland came on air. Robbie Shepherd has been presenting 'Take the Floor' and 'The Reel Blend' for BBC Radio Scotland since the early 1980's and, in recognition of this, was awarded an M.B.E. for his services to Scottish Dance Music and Scottish Culture in 2001.
The Sunday Getherin' (Radio Borders)
The Sunday Getherin' is the weekly show dedicated to traditional music in the borders. The show started of with a one hour time slot on 25th January 2004 but became so popular that it was extended to a two hour time slot within 6 months. There's a wide selection of music from folk to Celtic and Scottish dance to traditional.
Retailer of the Year (sponsored by )*
Folk Revolution (22 Clarendon Place, Glasgow)
Folk Revolution have tried to create a 'one-stop' shop for traditional music. Unlike many music retailers, they stock CDs as well as books, instruments and accessories. As the business has grown, it has grown in different and often unexpected directions, and it continues to do so. Folk Revolution are proud to be able to say that many of the artists whose CDs we stock come into the shop frequently.
Foot Stompin Celtic Music WINNER
Edinburgh based Foot Stompin' Celtic Music (www.footstompin.com) is dedicated to bringing its customers the latest CDs, news, reviews and hot topics from the vibrant Scottish traditional music scene and to highlighting the many talented musicians who play this wonderful music. Foot Stompin' Celtic Music is a family business and an arm of Foot Stompin' Records, a label whose special interest is the 'bright young stars' of Scottish music.
MusicScotland is currently one of the most requested sites on the Internet for Scottish and Celtic music. They have been trading since 1999 with music companies throughout Scotland, Ireland and the UK to maintain a comprehensive and growing catalogue of Scottish music on CD. They're based in Tobermory on the Island of Mull and have recently opened a retail store here, just off Main Street near the Mishnish Hotel.
Record Rendezvous (14a Church Street, Inverness)
Record Rendezvous was established in 1968. It sell CDs and cassettes of all genres from bagpiping to folk to Scottish dance band.
Scots Singer of the Year (sponsored by )
Dick Gaughan WINNER
An inspirational figure in Scottish music for more than thirty years Dick Gaughan has recorded 12 solo albums including the seminal "Handful of Earth" plus countless other collaborations, with such bands as Boys of the Lough, Five Hand Reel and Clan Alba. A unique vocal style, described as "both stirring and spine-chilling," combined with his phenomenal guitar technique and highly eclectic repertoire ensures a large following for this most influential folk singer of his generation.
Gordeanna McCulloch
Gordeanna McCulloch began her singing apprenticeship in Norman Buchan's Ballads Club in the sixties and went on to become a fully fledged tradesperson with the Clutha, travelling extensively at home and abroad singing powerfully and mainly traditional songs. Gordeanna has a love of powerful songs, and the main principle in singing a song is that she feels something about it. She was for some time a member of the popular singing quartet Palaver and still sings in an occasional duo with Chris Miles and in the Glasgow based Eurydice Choir.
Jim Malcolm
Jim Malcolm, lead singer with the much-travelled group Old Blind Dogs, was brought up in Perthshire and Angus and, by his early twenties, was winning songwriting competitions and playing in folk clubs all over Scotland. He has recorded four solo albums and undertaken several tours in the North America and Europe. His songs have been recorded by other artists and Neptune, from the CD "Sconeword", featured on an award-winning documentary about a North Sea oil spill.
Maureen Jelks
Maureen was born in Dundee and always loved to sing, but didn't discover the traditional music scene till the 1970s when her fine voice ensured that she won several of the TMSA competitions. Much influenced by the singing of the late Belle Stewart, Maureen was one of the singers featured in the television series for BBC2 'The Jean Redpath Song Masterclass'. She performs as both a soloist and with singing group Palaver and enjoys teaching traditional songs in schools in Dundee and Fife.
Scottish Dance Band of the Year (sponsored by )
Da Fustra WINNER
Possibly Shetland's longest running Ceilidh band, having been around since 1969, Da Fustra maintains the momentum and style that is the Shetland Ceilidh. This very popular band have made several CDs, a video and made many broadcasts including several for Robbie Shepherd's "Take the Floor on BBC Radio Scotland.
Fergie MacDonald Band
Button accordian player Fergie MacDonald is a legend in the Scottish Highlands where he and his band are always in demand for ceilidhs and wherever there's a need for great dancing music.
Fergie is a regular performer on B.B.C. Scottish dance music programmes and was the first Scottish band leader to broadcast ceilidh music. Fergie is at the top of the ceilidh band music scene and has recorded over 23 albums.
Ian Cruikshanks Scottish Dance Band
The Ian Cruikshanks Band from Kirriemuir are a top class dance band renowned not only for their excellent tunes but also their a top class sound and timing. These qualities which have made them popular with dancers and listeners alike, have ensured that this dance band are always in demand.
Nicol McLaren and the Glencraig Scottish Country Dance Band
Nicol McLaren is from a musical family and started playing the accordion at the age of nine. After studying Agriculture at Edinburgh University,he formed The Glencraig Scottish Dance Band in 1983. They made their first recording in 1989 and have gone on to become one of the busiest and most popular band on the dance scene. They have made twelve "Take the Floor" broadcasts for BBC Radio Scotland and this year picked up the accolade of "Guest Artist of the Year" at Box and Fiddle Fellowship Input Awards (BAFFIs)
Pipe Band of the Year (sponsored by )
Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band
Formed in 1972, Boghall & Bathgate is an organisation focussed towards the competitive side of the pipe band movement and is currently under the musical direction of Pipe Major Ross Walker and Leading Drummer Gordon Brown. An aspect of the Boghall & Bathgate organisation is the band's continued involvement in teaching piping and drumming to the youngsters of the local area and beyond. They have two junior bands comprising some 40-50 young people from the Bathgate and surrounding area which have been as successful as the adult bands, winning 5 World Championships between them and over 11 World Drum Corps titles.
Kintyre Schools Pipe Band
This band has progressed so fast and have such enthusiasm and dedication from Iain McKerrell, their teacher, that it has impacted on the whole community. From nothing a few years ago, there is now a Novice and a Junior band. Lots of parents are involved, and the community are proud. They won the World Novice Championship in 2003.
Kirkwall City Pipe Band WINNER
The Kirkwall City Pipe Band is a non-profit making organisation that promotes the playing and teaching of Highland Bagpiping and Drumming in the Orkney Islands. The KCPB membership comprises of a wide spectrum of the community.
The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland
The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland was formed in 2002 by The National Piping Centre in Glasgow, with assistance from the Scottish Arts Council's National Lottery Fund. The band, under the direction of Paul Warren, are a non-competing, performance-orientated band intended to nurture and develop the talents of Scotland's best young pipers and drummers. The band is made up of fifty of the best young pipers and drummers from across Scotland, with ages ranging from 12 to 18. The pipers in the band come from both solo piping and pipe band backgrounds with the band giving them the opportunity to explore other musical styles.
Songwriter of the Year (sponsored by New Makars Trust)
Jim Malcolm WINNER
Jim Malcolm, lead singer with the much-travelled group Old Blind Dogs, was brought up in Perthshire and Angus and, by his early twenties, was winning songwriting competitions and playing in folk clubs all over Scotland. He has recorded four solo albums and undertaken several tours in the North America and Europe. His songs have been recorded by other artists and Neptune, from the CD "Sconeword", featured on an award-winning documentary about a North Sea oil spill.
David MacLennan
David, from Gresse Island of Lewis, is not only a fine song writer he is also sculptor, visual artist, Gaelic language teacher .and member of folk band Meantime. His piece "Le Cheile" (Together) performed by Coisir Sgir' A' Bhac (The Back Choir) won a major prize at this year's Royal National Mod in Perth.
Dougie MacLean
Dougie MacLean is one of Scotland's most successful, respected and popular musicians. Singer-songwriter, composer and performer, he is also a fine guitarist and fiddle player. From his home base in Butterstone near Dunkeld in the beautiful Tay Valley, MacLean tours the world with his unique blend of lyrical, 'roots based' songwriting and instrumental composition. Dougie Maclean's "Caledonia", probably his most famous song, has been played and sung by many other folk artists throughout the world and was a No 1 hit when covered by Frankie Miller in 1992. Dougie was also responsible for the movie soundtrack song 'The Gael' which was used by 20th Century Fox as background music for their film The Last of the Mohicans.
Karine Polwart
Karine Polwart was voted "Best Scots Singer" at the 2003 Scots Trad Music Awards. Blending passionate stridency with plaintive sensitivity, she has a maturity and breadth of outlook and experience that distinguishes her as one of the most powerful and inventive narrative interpreters of her generation. Karine's edgy songwriting in Scots and English has won her acclaim on the UK folk-roots scene. Her gutsy Balkan-metred song "Thaney", from Malinky's "3 Ravens" album, was nominated for "Best Original Song" at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2003 whilst her poignant lament for the women of Srebrenica in Bosnia "Whaur Dae Ye Lie?" has attained the rare status of a modern classic by passing into wider folk repertoire, as well as being recorded by such luminaries as Sheena Wellington and Roy Bailey.
Up and Coming Band of the Year (sponsored by Wellington Consultancy)
Anna Massie Band
Anna Massie is an award winning multi-instrumentalist and, with her trio one of the most exciting prospects to appear on the Scottish traditional music scene. The Anna Massie band have great charm and stage presence, and, already they are in demand for festival and concert appearances both at home and abroad.
Dòchas WINNER
Dòchas are a young and dynamic band from the Scottish Highlands who have toured extensively all over Britain, Ireland, Europe and America. They bring an energetic and fresh style to their tunes and songs captivating audiences wherever they play. Dòchas have appeared on numerous television programmes and are able representatives of a thriving culture.
Fine Friday
Emerging as one of Scotland's top traditional trios, Fine Friday's music is at once powerful, poignant and creative. They have a distinctive sound, giving their own stamp to material from Scotland, Ireland and Scandinavia, and their songs, although mainly well known, are given an original interpretation by singer/guitarist Kris Drever. Fine Friday are a sweet balance of grace and vitality.
Saltfishforty
An energetic duo from Orkney, Saltfishforty are Douglas Montgomery and Brian Cromarty. Their sound, which features vocals, guitar, mandola and fiddle, is an eclectic hybrid of styles, rooted in traditional folk but also drawing on bluegrass, blues, jazz and Cajun. Saltfishforty are a brilliant blend of superb musicianship and empathy, adding up to a fiery new force.
More details at
* This category will be counted by Greentrax Records to avoid any conflicts of interest.
