News > 2008

MG ALBA SCOTS TRAD MUSIC AWARDS 2008 – THIS WEEKEND

This weekend sees the return of the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards which take place on Saturday 6th December. Co-presenter of this year’s awards, Tony Kearney star of River City, and some of the nominees, were in Glasgow to celebrate the final countdown.

Tony Kearney and nominees

The announcement of a new partnership with MG ALBA will see the awards broadcast for the first time on BBC ALBA on Monday December 8th.

Nominations for the awards were made by the public in October and following a shortlisting process by members of the industry, the vote went back to the public to make the final decisions. The winners will be announced on Saturday night in a spectacular event which takes place at the Old Fruitmarket in Glasgow.

The nominations celebrate a huge variety of Scottish musical talent, from 2007’s Best Album winner Julie Fowlis to Novice World Pipe Band Champions Bucksburn and District; composer Sandy Wright who’s worked with the likes of ITV and Channel 4 to pioneers of Celtic fusion, The Peatbog Faeries.

A new Award this year, Services to Gaelic Music sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig, is being presented to Capercaillie. Their amazing achievements over 25 years have brought Gaelic music and Scottish traditional music in general to a new level of public awareness.

The programme for the 2008 Gala concert held after the award ceremony includes world renowned folk band Capercaillie, multi-award winning singer songwriter Karine Polwart, the current folk band of the year Lau, all-star group Session A9, ‘The Cast’, whose version of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ has recently become the hit of the Hollywood movie ‘Sex and the City’.

To celebrate the awards, Hands Up for Trad have also put together a weekend programme of events which includes the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Spectacular Ceilidh Dance on Friday at the Old Fruitmarket. And those without tickets for the awards on Saturday can still celebrate with the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Satellite Party featuring past winners and nominees of the award at Lauries bar [for full details see the end of this release].

Simon Thoumire of Hands up for Trad said ‘ We’re really looking forward to what promises to be a fantastic weekend celebrating the Scottish Traditional Music scene and we are delighted to have MG ALBA on board as a partner, the programme on BBC ALBA on Monday 8th December will be fantastic for the profile of traditional music. We’d also like to thank the Scottish Arts Council for their long standing support of the awards.’

Tony Kearney, star of River City and co-presenter for the awards said: “I’m a big fan of traditional music. This year’s MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards has a fantastic line up of finalists and with my own background in singing, I’m very much looking forward to being a part of this prestigious event.”

Alasdair Morrison, Chairman of MG ALBA said: “The awards are a fantastic opportunity to recognise current and up and coming talent in the Scottish traditional music scene and I’m delighted that MG ALBA is part of this year’s event. There is a huge amount of talent in Scotland and the Gaelic community. With only one week to go, I’m sure it is a very exciting time for all the finalists and I wish them all the best of luck.”

Tony Kearne and girls

Pictures cover:
• Tony Kearney – co-presenter
• Patsy Reid – Fiddle player in Breabach - up for ‘Scottish Folk Band of the year’
• Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller – up for ‘Up and Coming Artists of the Year’
• Catriona Watt – singer up for ‘Up and Coming Artist of the Year’
• Maeve McKinnon – singer up for ‘Gaelic singer of the year’

WEEKEND PROGRAMME
5 December | Scots Trad Music Awards Spectacular Ceilidh | Old Fruitmarket | £8 (£6 conc)
Tickets are available for the ceilidh from Old Fruitmarket box office +44 [0] 141 353 8000

6 December | MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards | Old Fruitmarket
Tickets are sold out

6 December | MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards Satellite Party
Lauries Acoustic Music Bar, 34 King Street, Glasgow 0141 552 7123 (free entry)
A great night of music and song featuring performances from past winners and nominees of the Scots Trad Music Awards. The compere for the evening is Darren MacLean.