2009 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Results

ALBUM OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY BIRNAM CD

Fiddlers Bid - All Dressed in Yellow (Hairst Blinks Music)
The Shetland Band's latest release All Dressed in Yellow is an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary styles, both in melody and arrangement. Scotland on Sunday reviewer Norman Chalmers says of the CD,  "a tour-de force of rhythmic, melodic and harmonic imagination in but six tracks." Fiddlers Bid are: Andrew Gifford, Chris Stout, Maurice Henderson, Kevin Henderson (fiddles), Catriona McKay (harp, piano), Jonathan Ritch (bass) and Fionan De Barra (guitar).

CLUB OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY CODA MUSIC

Stonehaven Folk Club
This long-running folk club meets every Friday night from 8.30 pm at the Heugh Hotel, Westfield Road, Stonehaven. All welcome. Session nights and guests every few weeks..The associated Stonehaven Folk Festival celebrated its 21st Birthday in 2009. Stonehaven is just 15 miles south of Aberdeen on the A90 and is on the main East Cost rail line

COMPOSER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY PRS FOR MUSIC

Mairearad Green
Mairearad is a talented musician who is also forging a name for herself as a composer. Her tunes are rapidly becoming popular on the session scene and some have been recorded by other bands. "Dram Behind the Curtain' was recorded by Eddi Reader in 2009. Mairearad's Celtic Connections 'New Voices' commission 'Passing Places' -  a musical and filmic journey through the spectacular scenery and cultural riches of the Wester Ross Coigach peninsula -  was filled with memorable tunes which earned her a standing ovation from the audience and a five star review from The Scotsman.  In 2009 Mairearad published 'Passing Places' a book of her compositions. 

COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE SOCIETY

Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail
The Caledonian Canal Ceilidh Trail is a highly successful collaboration between the Highland Council’s traditional music programme and British Waterways Scotland. A group of highly talented young musicians and one or more established professionals make up the team performing traditional music, song and dance along the Caledonian Canal and around Loch Ness for the benefit of locals and visitors alike over a four week period in the summer. The programme is a varied mixture of ceilidhs and concerts, informal evening music session and afternoon outdoor events and most of the events are free of charge. This is a great idea to support traditional music.

EVENT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY VISITSCOTLAND

Hebridean Celtic Festival
The 'Hebridean Celtic' is an international  music festival, which takes place annually in Stornoway on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides . In the year of Homecoming the festival welcomed performers from Québec, Ireland, Australia and the USA plus an array of Scotland’s best known talent to play for festival-goers from over 80 countries. Now firmly established as one of Scotland’s great summer music events the population of Stornoway swells by half during July to accommodate the annual pilgrimage of festivalgoers.. Four days of fabulous music in one of the most unique settings in the world. Spectacular supershows, intimate concerts and a variety of events for all the family.

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY TEMPLE RECORDS

Lauren MacColl
Lauren MacColl learned fiddle through the thriving  Feisean movement in Ross-Shire and is an emotional and communicative performer of the music from her Highland tradition along with her trio 'The MacCollective'. She won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award in 2005 and two years on released her debut album 'When Leaves Fall', named 'Classic Album' of Celtic Connections festival 2008. Her second album 'Strewn with Ribbons' was released to critical acclaim in 2009, a recording of music researched from old Highland Collections married with her own tune writing. As well as with the MacCollective, Lauren plays in a duo with flute player Calum Stewart and in a new project Mackinnon | MacColl | MacPherson and is also fiddle tutor at RSAMD's Junior dept. "Her slow airs may well make you cry.....stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeousness" (The Herald)  

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY GREENTRAX RECORDINGS

Lau
One of the busiest bands on the scene, Lau have been described as a formidable union of three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music in Scotland today; Lau are Kris Drever (guitar and vocal), Martin Green (piano accordion) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle). In the last eighteen months Lau have become one of the most sought-after acts on the current Scottish scene, as well as again being voted 'Best Group' in the Radio 2 Folk Awards. They have take festivals by storm across Europe and North-American, released a highly their highly acclaimed album 'Arc Light' and in the Autumn of 2009 undertook a series of gigs in Japan. 

CITTY FINLAYSON SCOTS SINGER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND SONG ASSOCIATION

Shona Donaldson
Shona Donaldson is one of Scotland’s leading young tradition bearers. She grew up in Huntly surrounded by music and dancing in the heart of North-east Scotland’s bothy ballad country   Shona was a finalist in the Young Trad Musician of the Year in 2005 and the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, 2006.  In 2009 as part of the duo 'Pur' she recorded an album of Burns songs in Scots and Gaelic and in October it was a delight to find her on our television screens singing an unaccompanied traditional song in a programme about the North-east Clan Gordon. 

GAELIC SINGER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY MACMEANMNA

Christine Primrose
Since the release of her first recording, Àite mo Ghaoil (“Place of my Heart”) in 1982, Lewis singer Christine Primrose has played a pivotal role in a revival of interest in Gaelic song that has swept far beyond Scotland.  With a voice that is clear, pure and dignified, she has blazed a path that many singers have followed, from Arthur Cormack to Karen Matheson of Capercaillie and Cape Breton’s Mary Jane Lamond to another fine Lewis singer Catriona Watt . Christine delivers all the emotions of the songs through two very simple things, the voice and the word.

SCOTTISH FOLK BAND OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY FOOT STOMPIN' SCOTTISH MUSIC

Bodega
Bodega met at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music, Plockton, Scotland, in 2004, got together as a band in 2005 and won the  BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards in 2006! They have worked hard and are gathering fans across the globe. Jack Evans described Bodega thus "".. highly talented and versatile, and together their music has a kind of fierce energy, imagination, and joie de vivre, that  you just don’t hear  very often.”  Bodega are Gillian Chalmers (pipes, whistle and fiddle); Ross Couper (fiddle); Tia Files (guitar, bass guitar and percussion); Norrie MacIver (lead vocals, accordion and guitar) and June Naylor (clarsach). .

SCOTTISH PIPE BAND OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL PIPING CENTRE

Haddington Pipe Band
Formed in 1981, Haddington Pipe Band is a community band and provides entertainment at local events such as Gala Days and Farmers' Markets. One of the main functions of the band is to promote piping and drumming throughout East Lothian. The band runs classes for beginners and tuition for the more advanced players. There is a full range of ages and abilities within the band and encouragement is given at all levels. In September this year the band took the award for organising the Best Medium (ie medium-sized) Event in Scotland in 2009.

SCOTTISH DANCE BAND OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUBS

Tom Orr Scottish Dance Band
Although a very young band, they hold a wealth of experience and musical maturity well beyond their years. The band brings a fresh, exciting take to Scottish Dance Music, but equally they do not sacrifice the necessary credentials for dancing. Tom and the Band recently recorded their debut album titled ‘Tomorrow's World’.

TRAD MUSIC IN THE MEDIA AWARD SPONSORED BY HEGRI MUSIC

The Reel Blend – BBC Radio Scotland
A long-running and much-loved programme on BBC Radio Scotland featuring the very best traditional music and song, from classic 78s to brand new releases, as well as fascinating features on Scottish life. The programme  was  presented almost continuously by veteran broadcaster Robbie Shepherd, In August 2009 BBC Radio Scotland announced that The Reel Blend radio programme would no longer be broadcast. The Reel Blend had been running for over 25 years.

MUSIC TUTOR OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL'S YOUTH MUSIC INITIATIVE

Ian Duncan
Ian Duncan of Perthshire has taught hundreds of bairns in Dundee, as a teacher with Dundee City Council since 1979. As Pipe Major of the Vale of Atholl Pipe Band from 1974 to 2000, he took the band from Grade 4 to the top of Grade 1 as well as creating a Juvenile and Novice Juvenile Band on the way. Ian's expertise was also to the fore as Pipe Major of Drambuie Kirkliston Pipe Band before helping with the "tuning" of Scottish Power and Spirit of Scotland and most recently resuming the Pipe Major role with Lothian & Borders Police Pipe Band.

UP AND COMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND DRAMA

Paul McKenna Band
Combining their love for traditional and folk music as well as original songs and tunes the Paul McKenna Band have been playing to audiences throughout the UK since 2006. With a contemporary approach to songs, although not straying too far from their roots, their arrangements are both fresh and innovative. Their exciting sound is created through outstanding vocals, driving Guitar and Bouzouki, intense Fiddle playing, a warm pairing of Flute and Whistles and dynamic Bodhrán and percussion.

VENUE OF THE YEAR AWARD SPONSORED BY SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL

The Old Fruit Market Glasgow
Hidden from view in the city's cultural Merchant City next to the City Halls, the Old Fruit Market forms part of Glasgow's Centre for Music. Thi            s lovely venue has kept all of its period charm, including its lofty vaulted roof, cast iron columns and balcony. The Old Fruitmarket is a popular venue for the Celtic Connections festival but it also stages folk concerts throughout the year and in 2008 was home to the Scots Trad Music Awards.

Scots Traditional Music Hall of Fame sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal

Performers
Awarded to musicians who have been in the industry over 30 years who have altered our musical landscape for the better including musicians, now no longer with us.

Bill Black
Dick Gaughan
Rona Lightfoot
Jim Kilpatrick MBE
Phil Cunningham MBE
Sheena Wellington

Services to Gaelic Music sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig
We are honouring Na h-Òganaich this year for their services to Gaelic music. The band have influenced so many Gaelic acts and have recently reformed and have a new CD coming out soon.

Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award
This award was introduced in 2003 to celebrate those special people whom Scottish traditional music couldn't do without. It was posthumously awarded to Hamish Henderson and thereafter known as "The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award." In 2005 when the Hall of Fame was born we decided to bring the two awards together and insert recipients of both into the Hall of Fame.

Dr John Barrow

We have a dedicated website to the special awards. You can find it at http://www.tradmusichall.com/

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