Nieuws

De Scots Trad Music Awards 2006 zijn gisteren uitgereikt. Album van het jaar werd Heart of America van Donnie Munro. Beste Gaelic Singer werd Kathleen MacInnes, beste instrumentalist violist Aidan O'Rourke, beste componist Donald Shaw (o.a. Capercaillie). Singer of the Year werd Sylvia Barnes (ooit Battlefield Band en Kentigern), beste band Anna Massie Band, grootste talent gaelic zangeres Jenna Cumming, beste live act The McCalmans.

Er waren nog veel meer prijzen voor ondermeer de beste club, de beste pipe-band, etc.

Album of the Year
In deze categorie werd het album Heart of America van Donnie Munro verkozen boven Black Water van Kris Drever, Og-mhadainn Shamhraidh van Kathleen MacInnes en Scribbled in Chalk van Karine Polwart. Het nominatierapport zegt over Munro's album: 'Heart Of America -Across The Great Divide' is a very powerful collection of songs, that tell of displacement, travel, hardship and opportunity and the very contradictory nature of the images America has presented throughout its history. A new studio album from the former Runrig frontman, Donnie Munro - his first for four years.

Composer of the Year
Donald Shaw haalde het voor Aidan O'Rourke, Eddie McGuire en Karine Polwart. Het nominatierapport zegt over winnaar Shaw: Throughout his musical life Donald has been involved in composing for film and TV. In 2000 his 70 minute score for the feature film 'Transition' was BAFTA nominated for best soundtrack and two years later he was rewarded with two Royal Television Society awards for Best Soundtrack and Best Theme in UK television. His composition ‘Harvest' was performed at the opening of Celtic Connections Festival in 2004. Donald is a founder member of world renowned folk band Capercaillie.

Gaelic Singer of the Year
Kathleen McInnes wint voor Calum Alex MacMillan, Fiona Mackenzie en Rachel Walker. Het nominatierapport zegt over Kathleen MacInnes: Kathleen was born and brought up on South Uist, Western Isles, in a Gaelic speaking home, and has enjoyed an interesting career in television, as an actress, presenter and singer. She sings a combination of traditional and contemporary material. Kathleen has been a regular guest on music programmes such as MacTV's 'Bard nan Orain', BBC's award-winning series 'Aig Cridhe ar Ciuil' and Mike Alexander's 'Columba Sessions'.

Instrumentalist of the Year
Violist Aidan O'Rourke wint van harpiste Catriona McKay, piper Iain MacDonald en pianiste Jennifer Wilson. Het nominatierapport zegt over O'Rourke: Top fiddler Aidan O'Rourke performs with the sensational Blazin' Fiddles. He is also a member of the exciting new trio ‘Lau' alongside Martin Green and Kris Drever. A sought after musician and composer, Aidan is currently musician-in-residence at the The Tolbooth, Stirling. His new commission, ‘Forward' was premiered as part of The Blend Festival in the Tolbooth in March 2006.

Scots Singer of the Year
Sylvia Barnes haalt het voor Joe Aitken, Steve Byrne (Malinky) en Tom Spiers (Shepheard, Spears & Watson en the Gaugers). Het nominatierapport zegt over de winnares: Sylvia Barnes was an early member of the Battlefield Band and the group Kentigern. She is the possessor of one of the most remarkable voices on the British Folk scene today and has been described as ‘a singer's singer‘.

Scottish Folk Band of the Year
De Anna Massie Band wint voor Angus Lyon & Ruraidh Campbell, Dochas en Shepheard, Spiers & Watson. Het nominatierapport zegt over De Anna Massie Band: An excellent trio headed by amazing multi instrumentalist Anna Massie who was a winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician Award in 2003. Anna, with Mairearad Green (accordion & pipes) and Jenn Butterworth (guitar & vocals) have originality in both writing and interpretation and a friendly, engaging and highly musical stage presence. The band has been invited to play at festivals throughout the UK and Canada and have recently been touring in Europe.

Up and Coming Artist of the Year
Zangeres Jenna Cumming is gekozen tot grootste talent voor Breabach (combinatie van doedelzakken violen, gitaar en stepdance), Sandy Meldrum (grensverleggend op piano en accordeon) en Stuart Cassells (deze piper/entertainer van ‘The Red Hot Chilli Pipers' won al de BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician 2006 Award). Het nominatierapport zegt over Jenna Cumming: Jenna has a rare singing talent, which has been evident since she was a very young girl. Encouraged by her mother, Gaelic singer Chrissie MacVicar, she has gone on to win no less than 3 Gold Medals at the National Mòd. In Jenna, you have a lovely, natural voice, and the clearest Gaelic you could wish for.

Live Act of the Year
The McCalmas verslaan oude bekenden Phil Cunningham & Aly Bain, Salsa Celtica en de hier minder bekende The Vatersay Boys (rauwe dansmuziek van duo op accordeon en drums van het Hibriden-eiland Vatersay). Het nominatierapport zegt over The McCalmans: The McCalmans are Scotland's foremost and best-loved Folk Song Trio. Formed in 1964, they have continued to record and tour without interruption. Their performance is based on searing three part harmony, humour and a respect for the tradition of song in Scotland. They have performed all over Europe, and in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Bermuda, Kenya, Belize and the Falkland Islands.

Zie ook www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards/stma2006_1.htm