Scots Trad Music Awards 2005 Nominations page 3 of 3

WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Voting is open to everyone and we would like you to make one choice for each of the 16 categories below by ticking or circling 1 nominee in each category. You do not have to complete every category if you feel unqualified. You can also complete this form online at the BBC’s Celtic Roots website (www.bbc.co.uk/celticroots).

More categories page 1, 2, 3

Scottish Dance Band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs
Graham Geddes and his Scottish Dance Band From Aberdeen's Beach Ballroom to the St. Andrew's Ball, Bangkok, Graham Geddes and his Scottish Dance Band have played for dancers all round the world. Twenty-one years' experience, twelve of those as resident band at the Beach Ballroom, have given the band a professional polish which shines through their music, ne it Scottish Country, Golden Oldies or contemporary beat. Now working freelance, this leading band makes many radio, television and live appearances. So great is the band's popularity in Shetland that they have twice been invited to play with the Jarl Squad at the Up Helly Aa, a great accolade. In the willage hall, or at the Royal Albert Hall, the pithy pizzazz of Graham Geddes and his Scottish Dance Band ensures an excellent evening's entertainment.
Gordon Shand and his Scottish Dance Band (winner) From Fife a well respected 4 piece dance band, whose recordings include Dancing Forth, RSCDS Book 23 and In Top Gear.
Robert Whitehead and the Danelaw Scottish Dance Band Northumbrian-born Robert Whitehead is a specialist at playing strict tempo Scottish dance music, and has played and recorded in this genre for more than thirty years. In 1968, he won an All-Scotland title in Perth, and is to date the only Englishman to achieve this feat. Hc has appeared in accordion clubs north and south of the border, both with his Danelaw Country Dance Band and as a solo artiste, and has taken his music abroad several times, most notably to the Chartres Accordion Festival in 1990 as the British representative. Selected discography: The Whitehead Brothers Vol. — made with brother Jon on drums & vocals (1979); Strictly Scottish (1997).
Skipinnish Angus MacPhail (accordion), Andrew Stevenson (bapipe, smallpipes, flute). The band Skipinnish" was formed in early 1999 when accordionist Angus MacPhail from Tiree and piper Andrew Stevenson from Achnacarry joined musical forces. At the time, they were both studying in their first year at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and having played together at various impromptu sessions, they realized that both their musical styles and their outlook on Traditional Music were very similar.

Scottish Folk Band of the Year sponsored by Foot Stompin' Records
Back of the Moon (winner) Back of the Moon are one of the greatest bands to emerge in the Scottish trad music scene in the last five years…’Best Up and Coming Act’ at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2003 and ‘Best Celtic Group’ at Lorient Inter-Celtic Festival 2003. Since forming in 2000, the band have been rapidly gaining a reputation for their dynamic live performances. The tightly woven pipes and fiddle, the intimate pairing of whistle and flute, the distinctive rhythmic force of the guitar/ pioano combo, the awesome three-part vocal harmonies in their Scottish songs – in which each unique singer takes turn at the lead – all contribute to Back of the Moon’s giant acoustic sound.
Cliar Cliar (pronounced "Clear") are a six-piece band based in the Highlands, instrumentally and vocally equally formidable. In their four years together they have developed a unique close harmony vocal sound backed up by a fiddle-led powerhouse that has been described as "one of the most beautiful sounds in 21st Century Scotland". The songs are from the tradition, many of them unusual or until-now forgotten, but sung with a fresh, contemporary approach which sets them firmly and relevantly in the present day. The tunes are a mix of traditional and new compositions from the band. All of it comes as the complete package, with the story ­ the humour and the heart-break ­ built in, the band's trademark ease and banter on stage crossing all cultural divides.
Daimh Dàimh (da-eve) offer a fresh, up to date approach to traditional music. An exciting combination of musicians hailing from Cape Breton Island, Ireland, the West Highlands of Scotland and the ever-innovative Irish/American scene, the band effortlessly blends music from their native traditions with a few more tunes picked up en-route. Their music is a very high energy, fast-flowing mixture of tunes and songs from the traditions of their countries represented Fusing together their individual styles on bagpipes, fiddle, banjo, guitar, bodhran and mandola to create a unique and compelling sound, their music knows no boundaries.
Karine Polwart Band Scottish Borders based singer-songwriter Karine Polwart has established herself at the forefront of the UK folk-roots scene after scooping three prizes at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in February 2005, and Scots Singer at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2003. Polwart’s edgy and evocative writing and vocal poise have been steadily winning her respect and affection in the UK and internationally over the past six years as a member of traditional groups Malinky and Battlefield Band.

Scottish Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by The National Piping Centre
George Watson's School Pipe Band George Watson's College Pipes and Drums compete at various competitions annually in the United Kingdom. The School has three bands competing regularly in the Novice Juvenile and Juvenile grades under the guidance of Pipe Major Iain Simpson and Drum Major Michael O'Neill and there are currently over 170 pupils being taught Piping and Drumming. In season 2003 George Watson's College became one of the most successful pipe band organisations in the world, having won over 60 trophies which included two World Championship and three Champion of Champions titles.
House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band (winner) The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe Band won the World Pipe Band Championships for the 15th time in August, 2005. They were formed in 1910 under the leadership of Pipe Major Dugald MacFarlane, under very humble circumstances indeed in that the band practiced in the kitchen of his home, a room and kitchen in a miner’s row known as a ‘But and Ben’. The name of Shotts & Dykehead Caledonia Pipe Band is synonymous with pipe band excellency and treated with the greatest respect by all in the piping fraternity throughout the world. They have competed and performed in Canada, U.S.A., Sweden, Germany, France, Belgium and even the U.S.S.R. all with distinction and pride as ambassadors for Shotts, Scotland and the United Kingdom and are classed as one of the finest combinations of pipes and drums in the world.
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.
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. They aim to bring the sometimes disparate strands of the highland piping world closer together and also to bring the art form to a wider non-piping audience. 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.

Services to Industry Award sponsored by Scottish Arts Council An award for the retailer, distribution company, PA/sound company, tour manager, agent etc whose services to the traditional music industry are indispensable.
Arthur Cormack Arthur Cormack has been at the forefront of raising the profile of gaelic language and culture for many years, he has worked for Feisean nan Gaidheal, as an adviser to the Scottish Arts Council, been invited to speak on the subject numerous times. He is one of the finest Gaelic singers of his generation, he has sung world-wide with fellow Skye musician and former Cliar member Blair Douglas and with the highly-acclaimed MacTalla and Cliar. He runs the Macmeanmna record label and is known as the busiest man in Skye, also running the youth tuition festivals organisation, Feisean nan Gaidheal and The Aros Experience, a tourist centre, theatre and restaurant in Portree.
MusicScotland (winner) 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.
Sound Sense are a PA company based in Lanarkshire, Scotland, run by John Weatherby and Kris Koren who have been providing sound to Scotland’s top traditional musician’s and festivals.
Stoneyport Agency Premier Celtic and roots music agency based in Edinburgh, Scotland and working internationally, their roster includes Dick Gaughan

The McEwan’s Sessions Venue of the Year 2005 You can also vote seperately for this award (as well as the BBC) on VisitScotland's website.
Hootananny, Inverness (winner) ÒranMór, Glasgow Sandy Bells, Edinburgh The Drovers Inn, Inverarnan The Lismore, Glasgow The Lounge, Lerwick The Mishnish, Tobermory The Royal Oak, Edinburgh

Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by Wellington Consultancy This is open to individual artists that are emerging onto the scene. Nominations can be for people of any age as long as they are up and coming.
Darren Maclean Darren has been singing since he was 3 years old and won his first competition at his local mod when he was 5. He went on to build on this success when he won the 2003 Mod Gold Medal in Oban and the Traditional and Contemporary competitions at 'Seo Seinn' in Stornoway during the years of 2003 and 2004 respectively. He comes from a family of well-known Gaelic singers that include Kristine Kennedy and more famously Calum Kennedy. Darren has also toured the Borders of Scotland, Denmark and Germany. He has also recently reached the final of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award.
Gary Innes Gary is from a small village in the north west highlands called Spean Bridge, just north of Fort William. He started playing the accordion at the age of 9 with his dad getting him started on a small 8 bass accordion that he had learnt from himself. Things took off from there and as he started to get lessons Gary’s enthusiasm grew for the accordion “if only he knew then what a horrible life this would bring him”. During high school, He joined Alban and Cach Mhor allowing him to tour Scotland, England, Ireland and a wee trip to France, also performing on a television drama programme with them. He moved to Thurso for a year to do an HNC in music and engineering, eventually moving to Glasgow to pursue his musical career. Gary has since played for film stars, royalty, and has more recently been away to far and distant lands playing his accordion and was also on the Hogmanay Live this year on BBC1. He has recently released his debut album ‘How’s The Craic?’
Hamish Napier Hamish, from Strathspey, comes from a family steeped in traditional music. He received excellent tuition in many instruments at the renowned music department at Grantown Grammar School and his local Gaelic Arts Festival Feis Spe. Hamish plays piano, flute and sings with award winning band Back of the Moon (winners of the 'Best Newcomer Artist/Band' at the 2003 Scots Trad Awards, and the Lorient Interceltic Festival band competiton 2003), appearing numerous times at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, the Millenium Dome and the Highland Festival, and has toured in the US, Canada, France, Italy and Switzerland. He has recently reached the finals of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year Award.
Jenna Reid (winner) Hailing from Shetland, Jenna grew up immersed in the islands rich fiddle tradition. She is one of Scotland’s most vibrant young musicians showing her talents on fiddle, voice, piano and accordion. Since graduating from Royal Academy of Music and Drama, Jenna has been working as a full time musician with great bands such as Dochas, Filska, Deaf Shepherd, Kevin Henderson Band and released her own debute CD ‘Silver & All’.

NOT FOR VOTING:

Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame sponsored by BBC Radio Shetland

For this new intiative we have inducted 5 Scots and one international artist. Each inductee has to have been in the traditional music business for more than 20 years and be a performer. The list was chosen by our steering group and I think you will agree it is a great list of musicians who have benefited our traditional music scene over the last 50 years or so. Following on from the Battlefield Band's International Presentation last year, we decided to incorporate this idea into the Hall of Fame and recognise a musician outwith Scotland who has been an important influence in traditional music. This year the recipient is Paddy Moloney. The Battlefield Band will write a tune for Paddy as part of the award.

We have commissioned portraits by photographer Louis De Carlo and music writer Sue Wilson is compiling a short history of each inductee. The Hall of Fame will be exhibited in the Queen's Hall, Edinburgh during the month of December and we are currently looking for places to host the exhibition the rest of the year round. Check out our dedicated website (www.tradmusichall.com).

Inductees 2005
PM John D. Burgess MBE
Archie Fisher
Peerie Willie Johnson
Jim Johnstone
Flora MacNeil MBE
International Presentation: Paddy Moloney (with specially commissioned tune written by the Battlefield Band)

Hamish Henderson Award for Services to Traditional Music
Ian Green, Greentrax Records.

Please support all our sponsors, without them this event would not happen: Birnam CD, BBC Scotland, BBC Radio Shetland, Foot Stompin’ Records, Greentrax, Living Tradition Magazine, Macmeanmna, McEwan’s Sessions, Scottish Arts Council, National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs, The National Piping Centre, Royal Scottish Country Dance Society, The Scotsman, Temple Records, Traditional Music and Song Association, VisitScotland, Wellington Consultancy.

More categories page 1, 2, 3

Back to Scots Trad Music Awards 2005