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2007 SCOTS TRAD MUSIC AWARDS
The winners of the 2007 Scots Trad Music Awards were announced at a glittering awards ceremony at the Nevis Centre in Fort William. Hosted by Mary Ann Kennedy and Stuart Cassells, the Awards highlight Scotland's rich traditional music in all its forms. Over the last two months, members of the public have been voting for a range of different categories including Album and Composer of the Year to best community project.

Scotland’s favourite singer/musician, Julie Fowlis, picked up two awards. She was voted Best Gaelic Singer of the Year and her album Cuilidh was voted Best Album of the Year.

Minister for Culture Linda Fabiani who attended the Awards said: "It's great to see the Scottish Traditional Music Awards taking place in Fort William again, contributing to the Year of Highland Culture”. She added: "I congratulate all the winners from the different categories who have demonstrated such talent. Traditional music represents an important part of our cultural history but also a very real part of our future and these Awards are a great example of that future."

Organiser, Simon Thoumire, said: “Yet another night of amazing music making. Scotland’s traditional music is alive and well and glittering with talent.”

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY BIRNAM CD
WINNER: Cuilidh (Julie Fowlis)
The songs and tunes are shrouded in the historical folklore of her native North Uist in the Western Isles of Scotland. Julie's beautiful voice with her band that includes: Eamon Doorley (Danu), John McCusker (Kate Rusby), Chris Thile (Nickel Creek), Mark Kelly (Altan), John Doyle (Solas) and Donald Shaw (Capercaillie).

COMPOSER OF THE YEAR- SPONSORED BY DISTIL
WINNER: Phil Cunningham
Edinburgh born Cunningham is widely regarded as one of the most exciting and innovative accordion players of the times, Phil Cunningham has taken this instrument from strength to strength, setting the standards by which many young players fix their sights today. He has just finished presenting the highly acclaimed on series Scotland's Music with Phil Cunningham for the BBC. (www.philcunningham.com)

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY GREENTRAX
WINNER: Red Hot Chilli Pipers
Winners of the BBC talent show "When Will I Be Famous?" The Red Hot Chilli Pipers are three pipers and two percussionists who have all played at the highest level with some of Scotland’s most famous pipe bands. They combine fast paced innovative piping with a variety of lively percussion and are guaranteed to spice up any event. The group has appeared on the main stage at T in the Park and has performed all over Europe at events for companies such as Coca Cola, Pernod Ricard, The Royal Bank of Scotland, Tesco and The British Council. (www.redhotchillipipers.co.uk)

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY TEMPLE RECORDS
WINNER: Catriona McKay
Dundee born McKay became harp champion at the O'Carolan International Harp Festival (Keadue, Co. Roscommon) when leaving school. A desire to master harp techniques to an advanced level took her on to study pedal harp, Celtic harp and electro acoustic composition at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama where she gained a first class honours BA and several solo and chamber music prizes. She was also the winner of the Jakez Francois International Celtic Harp Competition 2004. Catriona plays harp and piano in the Shetland-based band Fiddlers' Bid and is also a member of the Chris Stout Quintet. (www.catrionamckay.com)

UP AND COMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND DRAMA
WINNER: Maeve MacKinnon
Maeve Mackinnon is one of Scotland's foremost young Gaelic and Scots singers. Born and bred in Glasgow, with Skye and Swedish ancestry, she is fast making a name for herself in the folk world with her fresh and contemporary interpretations of traditional Gaelic and non-Gaelic material.
(www.maevemackinnon.com)

GAELIC SINGER OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY MACMEANMNA
WINNER: Julie Fowlis
Award winning Fowlis was raised in North Uist, in the Western Isles. Steeped in local culture and the Gaelic tradition, she was involved in piping, singing and dancing from an early age. Her voice has been described by The Herald as “heart-melting". (www.juliefowlis.com)

CLUB OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY LIVING TRADITION MAGAZINE
WINNER: Ceol s Craic, Glasgow
A monthly club and platform celebrating Gaelic Arts and Culture.

COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY BBC RADIO SHETLAND
WINNER: Scots Music Group
The Scots Music Group promotes traditional music, song and dance within the Edinburgh area. (www.scotsmusic.org)

EVENT OF THE YEAR- SPONSORED BY VISITSCOTLAND
WINNER: The Royal National Mod
The Mod is Scotland's premier festival of the Gaelic language, arts and culture and is held annually in October at a different location in Scotland. The Mod is a competition-based festival that celebrates the Gaelic language and culture through music, dance, drama, arts and literature. (www.the-mod.co.uk)

SERVICES TO INDUSTRY AWARD - SPONSORED BY SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL
WINNER: John Purser for Scotland's Music – A Radio History
Radio Scotland’s acclaimed programme is written, researched and presented by John who has been creating award-winning radio since the 70s. Radio is only one of John’s many passions. He is a composer, a poet and playwright, and a musicologist of some renown.

CITTY FINLAYSON SCOTS SINGER OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND SONG ASSOCIATION
WINNER: Mairi CampbellMairi Campbell is the voice of The Cast, a duo which have produced three
critically acclaimed albums of Scots song and their own material. She is musical director and arranger for Sangstream, an Edinburgh based community folk choir and is also a noted fiddler, violist and stepdancer.

SCOTTISH DANCE BAND OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUBS
WINNER: Cullivoe Dance Band
The Cullivoe Dance Band was formed around 40 years ago is still going strong! The band continues to be incredibly popular at events throughout Shetland and beyond.

SCOTTISH FOLK BAND OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY FOOT STOMPIN' CELTIC MUSIC
WINNER: Old Blind Dogs
Over the years Old Blind Dogs have evolved and grown into one of Scotland's favourite folk bands. (www.oldblinddogs.co.uk)

SCOTTISH PIPE BAND OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL PIPING CENTRE
WINNER: The Mid Argyll Pipe Band
In 2007 the Maitland sponsored Mid Argyll Pipe Band celebrated its 80 anniversary.
Led by Pipe Major Tony Higgins this largely youth band performs at a number of local community engagements and has an ongoing teaching programme in piping and drumming.

In recent yours the band has built up two significant partnerships. Firstly with the Golowan Festival in Penzance where they have performed five times since 1997 including this year, secondly with Poland's only pipe Band, the Czestochowa Pipes and Drums. Mid Argyll performed in Krakow in 2006 and hosted the Poles in Scotland in August this year.

September 2007 saw the launch of their new concert repertoire, Blackwood and Hickory. Produced by John Saich of Wild Biscuit Music and supported by James Mackintosh and Brian McAlpine this was an evening of footstompin, funky, grooving, and at times emotional pipe band music - traditional music with a twist - and the band is ambitious to build on the success of this project.

STRATHSPEY AND REEL SOCIETY OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE SOCIETY
WINNER: Fochabers Fiddlers
The village of Fochabers lies on the banks of the River Spey. Historically, it is home to the famous Scottish fiddler, William Marshall, and, at the present day, to fiddlers such as James Alexander. Led by Alexander, around forty local youngsters play in the group.

VENUE OF THE YEAR
WINNER: An Lanntair (Stornoway)
On the 1st October 2005, following a 10 year campaign, An Lanntair’s magnificent new arts centre opened on Stornoway sea front. Indeed, the facility has been an aspiration for the community since the Western Isles became a unitary authority in 1975. It is of key strategic importance to the arts and culture as well as being one of the largest-ever arts developments in the Highlands & Islands.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT WENDY NIBLOCK ON 07961 814834

SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
Atlantic Edge Music Services, BBC Radio Shetland, Birnam CD, Distil, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Foot Stompin’ Celtic Music, Greentrax, Highland 2007, Highland Council, Highland Spring, Living Tradition Magazine, Lochaber Enterprise, Macmeanmna, National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, Northlink Ferries, Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, Scottish Arts Council, Temple Records, The National Piping Centre, The Royal National Mod, Traditional Music and Song Association, VisitScotland.

Read about the nominees

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