HANDS UP FOR TRAD PRESS RELEASE

13/10/2004 for IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Young glittering stars of traditional music win through to prestigious final.

The road to Glasgow's celebrated Celtic Connections festival and the chance to become the 2005 winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award has been set for 6 young and talented traditional musicians.

• Stuart Cassells - bagpipes (Falkirk)
• Maeve Mackinnon - song (Glasgow)
• Darren MacLean - Gaelic song (Skye)
• Sarah Naylor - fiddle (Skye)
• Rachel Newton - clarsach, vocals (Edinburgh)
• Mike Vass - fiddle (Nairn)

Read more about them.

were chosen from the 12 fantastic young musicians who took part in the Award's semi-finals concert in Coulter, South Lanarkshire on Saturday 9th October. In an amazing night of music showcasing Scotland's strength of talent in up and coming young traditional musicians, the filled to capacity hall, which including 5 judges, were treated to an exhilarating and always entertaining exhibition of musicianship and stagecraft from the competitors.

This is the fifth year of the competition and the grand finals will take place on 23rd January 2005 in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of their Celtic Connections festival. The musicians will arrive on the 21st and will be accommodated, fed, have tickets to any event they want, industry workshops and perform for 15 minutes on the 23rd to another sell out crowd.

The winner will receive a trip to Falun festival (Sweden), Goderich festival (Canada), a chance to make a CD with Foot Stompin' Records, 1 years membership with the Musician's Union. All the finalists will get 1 years membership of the Traditional Music and Song Association, and a session on BBC Radio Scotland's Travelling Folk.

This is an Award that exists to encourage young musicians to keep their tradition alive and to maximise their musical potential by the pursuit of a career in traditional music.

Other events for Hands Up for Trad include Scots Trad Music Awards 2004 at the Edinburgh Queen's Hall on December 4th, 2004 and look out for our St Andrew's Celebrations (principle sponsor Visit Scotland) with over 110 traditional music events all over Scotland.

ENDS

For further information contact:

Simon Thoumire @ "Hands Up For Trad"
w: www.handsupfortrad.co.uk. e: info@handsupfortrad.co.uk t: 01899850658 m: 07775854572

Notes to the Editor

For more details check out www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/youngtrad
Sponsors are South Lanarkshire Council, Foot Stompin' Records, Celtic Connections festival, Musicians Union, British Council Scotland, Fèisean nan Gàidheal, Traditional Music and Song Association, Clydesdale Folk Club, www.stringmail.com.

Past winners: Gillian Frame (Arran), Emily Smith (Thornhill) and Anna Massie (Fortrose), James Graham (Lochinver)

Back to BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award