Scots Trad Music Awards
Encyclopedia
The Scots Trad Music Awards celebrate Scotland
's traditional music
in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media and public attention.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
's traditional music
Music of Scotland
Scotland is internationally known for its traditional music, which has remained vibrant throughout the 20th century, when many traditional forms worldwide lost popularity to pop music...
in all its forms and create a high profile opportunity to bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media and public attention.
2010
- Album of the Year: UamUamUam is the third music album by Scottish musician Julie Fowlis. It was released on 26 October 2009 in Europe and in March 2010 in Canada and the United States. The album features contributions from Eddi Reader, Phil Cunningham and Sharon Shannon among others...
by Julie FowlisJulie FowlisJulie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.-Musical career:Fowlis grew up in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.She is a... - Club of the Year: Highland Club (InvernessInvernessInverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
) - Composer of the Year: Iain Morrison
- Community Project of the Year: Orkney Traditional Music Project
- Event of the Year: Shetland Folk Festival
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Martin O'Neill
- Live Act of the Year: Red Hot Chilli PipersRed Hot Chilli PipersThe Red Hot Chilli Pipers are an ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers formed in Scotland in 2004. They entered and won the BBC talent show When Will I Be Famous? They are named after American rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers....
- Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year: Joe Aitken
- Gaelic Singer of the Year: Eilidh MacKenzie
- Scottish Folk Band of the Year: MalinkyMalinkyMalinky is a Scottish folk band specialising in Scots song.Formed in autumn 1998, the original members were Karine Polwart from Banknock, Stirlingshire , Steve Byrne from Arbroath , Mark Dunlop from Garryduff, Co...
- Scottish Pipe Band of the Year: Oban High School Pipe Band
- Scottish Dance Band of the Year: Ian Muir Scottish Dance Band
- Trad Music in the Media Award: Travelling Folk (BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
) - Music Tutor of the Year: Gordon Connell
- Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Matheu Watson
- Venue of the Year: Skipinnish Ceilidh House, ObanObanOban Oban Oban ( is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. It has a total resident population of 8,120. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William and during the tourist season the town can be crowded by up to 25,000 people. Oban...
2009
- Album of the Year: All Dressed in Yellow by Fiddlers' BidFiddlers' BidFiddlers' Bid are a Shetland based instrumental group known for playing contemporary arrangements of traditional Shetland fiddle tunes. The seven piece line-up consists of four fiddles, acoustic guitar, bass guitar and piano/Clàrsach....
- Club of the Year: StonehavenStonehavenStonehaven is a town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It lies on Scotland's northeast coast and had a population of 9,577 in 2001 census.Stonehaven, county town of Kincardineshire, grew around an Iron Age fishing village, now the "Auld Toon" , and expanded inland from the seaside...
Folk Club - Composer of the Year: Mairearad Green
- Community of the Year: Caledonian CanalCaledonian CanalThe Caledonian Canal is a canal in Scotland that connects the Scottish east coast at Inverness with the west coast at Corpach near Fort William. It was constructed in the early nineteenth century by engineer Thomas Telford, and is a sister canal of the Göta Canal in Sweden, also constructed by...
Ceilidh TrailCeilidh TrailThe Ceilidh Trail is a scenic roadway in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia.This coastal route along the Gulf of St. Lawrence is located on the west coast of Cape Breton Island in Inverness County and runs from the Canso Causeway in Port Hastings to Margaree Harbor where it intersects with the... - Event of the Year: Hebridean Celtic FestivalHebridean Celtic FestivalThe Hebridean Celtic Festival is an international Celtic music festival, which takes place annually in Stornoway on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The biggest headliners to date have been Runrig, The Waterboys, Proclaimers and Van Morrison...
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Lauren MacColl
- Live Act of the Year: Lau - see also Lau (band)Lau (band)Lau is a contemporary folk three-piece from Scotland, named after an Orcadian word meaning "natural light." The band is composed of Kris Drever , Martin Green and Aidan O’Rourke . To date, the band has released two studio albums and a live album.Their debut album, Lightweights and Gentlemen, was...
- Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year: Shona Donaldson
- Gaelic Singer of the Year: Christine Primrose
- Scottish Folk Band of the Year: Bodega - see also Bodega (band)Bodega (band)Bodega is a Scottish band based in Glasgow, formed in March 2005. Its members met while they were studying together at the National Centre of Excellence in Traditional Music in Plockton, Scotland, from which they all graduated...
- Scottish Pipe Band of the Year: Haddington Pipe Band
- Scottish Dance Band of the Year: Tom Orr Scottish Dance Band
- Trad Music in the Media Award: The Reel Blend (BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
) - Music Tutor of the Year: Ian Duncan
- Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Paul McKenna BandPaul McKenna BandThe Paul McKenna Band are a five piece folk/traditional Music band from Glasgow, Scotland.-Biography: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.Their debut album 'Between...
- Venue of the Year: The Old Fruit Market Glasgow
2008
- Album of the Year: Farrar by Duncan ChisholmDuncan ChisholmDuncan Chisholm is a Scottish fiddler and founder member of folk rock group Wolfstone. As well as Wolfstone, he often tours with Scottish Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis' band and Wolfstone's previous lead singer Ivan Drever. He is a former member of ensemble Blazin' Fiddles...
- Composer of the Year: Blair Douglas
- Live Act of the Year: Peatbog FaeriesPeatbog FaeriesThe Peatbog Faeries are a largely instrumental Celtic fusion band. Formed in 1991, they are based in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.Their music embodies many styles and influences, including folk, electronica, rock and jazz, - but their main influence is traditional celtic music...
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Kris DreverKris DreverKris Drever is a Scottish contemporary folk musician and songwriter, who came to prominence in 2006 with the release of his debut solo album, Black Water...
- Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller
- Gaelic Singer of the Year: Margaret Stewart
- Club of the Year: The Wee Folk Club, Edinburgh
- Community Project of the Year: Ceolas
- Event of the Year: Piping Live! - Glasgow International Piping Festival
- Services to Industry Award: Arthur CormackArthur CormackArthur Cormack is a Scots Gaelic singer and musician from Portree, Isle of Skye.-Music:Cormack started competing in Gaelic singing competitions when he was 8 and competing at Mods when he was 11...
- Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year: Emily SmithEmily Smith (singer)Emily Smith is a Scottish folk singer from Dumfries and Galloway. She went to school at Wallace Hall Academy and has a degree in Scottish music from The Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. She is married to New Zealand-born fiddle player Jamie McClennan.Dumfries & Galloway's EMILY SMITH is...
- Scottish Dance Band of the Year: Skipinnish
- Scottish Folk Band of the Year: The Chair
- Scottish Pipe Band of the Year: Scottish Power Pipe BandScottish Power Pipe BandThe ScottishPower Pipe Band, or SPPB, is a grade one pipe band sponsored by the international energy company ScottishPower. Considered one of the world's leading grade one pipe bands, the SPPB has been featured as a regular prizewinner in all major competitions over the previous several decades...
- Strathspey and Reel Society of the Year: Scottish Fiddle Orchestra
- Venue of the Year: Perth Concert Hall (PerthPerth, ScotlandPerth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
)
2007
- Album of the Year: Cuilidh by Julie FowlisJulie FowlisJulie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.-Musical career:Fowlis grew up in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.She is a...
- Composer of the Year: Phil CunninghamPhil Cunningham (folk musician)Phil Cunningham, MBE, born 1960 in Edinburgh, Scotland is a Scottish folk musician and composer.-Biography:Phil played accordion and violin from a very young age. He attended school in Portobello, and was raised Mormon, attending church regularly and playing organ...
- Live Act of the Year:The Red Hot Chilli PipersRed Hot Chilli PipersThe Red Hot Chilli Pipers are an ensemble consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboards, and drummers formed in Scotland in 2004. They entered and won the BBC talent show When Will I Be Famous? They are named after American rock band the Red Hot Chili Peppers....
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Catriona McKay
- Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Maeve MackinnonMaeve MackinnonMaeve Mackinnon is a Scottish folk singer. Originally from Glasgow, she performs primarily in Scottish Gaelic, but also in English. She is also one of two Gaelic singers who share the same name.-Early life:...
- Gaelic Singer of the Year: Julie FowlisJulie FowlisJulie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.-Musical career:Fowlis grew up in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.She is a...
- Club of the Year: Ceol s Craic, Glasgow
- Community Project of the Year: Scots Music Group
- Event of the Year: The Royal National ModMod (Scotland)A mod is a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. Historically, the Gaelic word mòd refers to any kind of assembly. There are both local mods, and an annual national mod, the Royal National Mod...
- Services to Industry Award: John Purser for Scotland's Music – A Radio HistoryJohn PurserJohn Purser, born in 1942 in Glasgow, Scotland, is an eminent composer, musicologist, and music historian. He is also a playwright.He initiated the reconstruction which commenced in 1991 of the Iron Age Deskford Carnyx, producing a replica which was first played in 1993 by trombonist John Kenny.The...
- Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year: Mairi CampbellMairi CampbellMairi Campbell is a Scottish singer and musician, born and raised in Edinburgh. Together with partner Dave Francis she forms traditional music group The Cast. Mairi is also the musical director of Sangstream, a folk song choir based in Edinburgh. On top of this, she is taking part in several other...
- Scottish Dance Band of the Year: Cullivoe Dance Band
- Scottish Folk Band of the Year: Old Blind DogsOld Blind DogsOld Blind Dogs is a Scottish musical group which plays traditional Scottish folk music and Celtic music, with influences from rock, reggae, jazz, blues and Middle Eastern music rhythms...
- Scottish Pipe Band of the Year: The Mid Argyll Pipe Band
- Strathspey and Reel Society of the Year: Fochabers Fiddlers
- Venue of the Year: An LanntairAn LanntairAn Lanntair is an arts centre in the town of Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The centre is home to a cinema, and art gallery. Previously located in the Town Hall, in September 2005 An Lanntair moved to its current new building overlooking the harbour. This building features a 50-seater...
(StornowayStornowayStornoway is a burgh on the Isle of Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.The town's population is around 9,000, making it the largest settlement in the Western Isles and the third largest town in the Scottish Highlands after Inverness and Fort William...
)
2006
- Album of the Year: Heart of America by Donnie MunroDonnie MunroDonnie Munro is a Scottish musician, and former lead singer of the band Runrig.A native speaker of Scottish Gaelic, much of his work is in that language.-Early life:...
- Club of the Year: Wick Accordion and Fiddle Club
- Composer of the Year: Donald ShawDonald Shaw (musician)Donald Shaw is a Scottish musician, composer, producer, and one of the founding members of the group Capercaillie. His sister is fiddler Eilidh Shaw....
- Community Project of the Year: Fèisean nan Gàidheal
- Event of the Year: World Pipe Band ChampionshipsWorld Pipe Band ChampionshipsThe World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition currently held in Glasgow, Scotland every August. The event has been operating regularly since 1930, when the Scottish Pipe Band Association was formed...
- Gaelic Singer of the Year: Kathleen MacInnesKathleen MacInnesKathleen MacInnes is a Scottish singer, television presenter and actress, who performs primarily in Scottish Gaelic. She is a native of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, and lives in Glasgow with her partner and three sons...
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Aidan O’Rourke
- Live Act of the Year: The McCalmansThe McCalmansThe McCalmans were a folk song trio from Scotland. Formed in 1964, they recorded and toured without interruption up until they disbanded in December 2010....
- Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year: Sylvia Barnes
- Scottish Dance Band of the Year: Marian Anderson Scottish Dance Band
- Scottish Folk Band of the Year: Anna Massie Band
- Scottish Pipe Band of the Year: Kintyre Schools Pipe Band
- Services to Industry Award: Johnny Mowat
- Strathspey and Reel Society of the Year: Banchory Strathspey and Reel Society
- The McEwan’s Sessions Venue of the Year: The Lismore, Glasgow
- Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Jenna Cumming
2005
- Album of the Year: Magnificent Seven by Blazin' FiddlesBlazin' FiddlesBlazin' Fiddles are a contemporary Scottish fiddle band from the Highlands and Islands. They formed in 1998 to showcase the Highlands and Islands' distinct regional fiddle styles...
- Club of the Year: Glenfarg Folk Club
- Composer of the Year: Charlie McKerron
- Community Project of the Year: Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop
- Event of the Year: Blazin’ in Beauly
- Gaelic Singer of the Year: Julie FowlisJulie FowlisJulie Fowlis is a Scottish folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who sings primarily in Scottish Gaelic.-Musical career:Fowlis grew up in North Uist, an island in the Outer Hebrides, in a Gaelic-speaking community, and has been involved in singing, piping and dancing since she was a child.She is a...
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Aaron JonesAaron JonesAaron Jones was a professional football player who played in the NFL. He played as a defensive end and a linebacker and had played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins. His son Mike Jones plays linebacker for the University of Michigan football team.-References:...
- Live Act of the Year: Peatbog FaeriesPeatbog FaeriesThe Peatbog Faeries are a largely instrumental Celtic fusion band. Formed in 1991, they are based in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.Their music embodies many styles and influences, including folk, electronica, rock and jazz, - but their main influence is traditional celtic music...
- Media Award: Aig Cridhe Ar Ciuil (At the Heart of our Music is Song)
- Scots Singer of the Year: Jim ReidJim Reid (Folk Musician)Jim Reid was a Scottish folk musician who was born in Dundee. Many of his songs are about his home town of Dundee and the people and places of the surrounding county of Angus.-Biography:...
- Scottish Dance Band of the Year: Gordon Shand and his Scottish Dance Band
- Scottish Folk Band of the Year: Back of the MoonBack of the MoonBack of the Moon is a Scottish musical group which plays both new and Scottish traditional tunes and songs cast in modern sounding arrangements. Since forming in 2000, the band have toured annually throughout the UK, Canada, USA and eight different European Countries...
- Scottish Pipe Band of the Year: The House of Edgar Shotts & Dykehead Pipe BandShotts and Dykehead Pipe BandThe House of Edgar Shotts and Dykehead Pipe Band, also known as Shotts and Dykehead or simply "Shotts", is a grade one pipe band from Shotts, in the North Lanarkshire region of Scotland...
- Services to Industry Award: MusicScotland
- The McEwan’s Sessions Venue of the Year: Hootananny, Inverness
- Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Jenna Reid
2004
- Album of the Year: Fire & Grace by Alasdair FraserAlasdair FraserAlasdair Fraser is a Scottish fiddler.Fraser operates Culburnie Records, and is a leading artist on the label. He has founded three summer fiddling programs: the fiddle camp in California , a week-long course on the Isle of Skye and the more recent in California...
& Natalie Haas - BBC Radio Scotland Personality of the Year: Fiona MackenzieFiona MackenzieFiona J Mackenzie is a Gaelic singer from Dingwall in Scotland, and has toured and performed throughout Europe and North America. In 2005 she won the An Comunn Gàidhealach Gold Medal at the Royal National Mod in Stornoway.-Career:...
- Community Project of the Year: Feis Rois Traditional Music in Schools project
- Club of the Year: Hootananny, InvernessInvernessInverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
- Event of the Year: Hebridean Celtic FestivalHebridean Celtic FestivalThe Hebridean Celtic Festival is an international Celtic music festival, which takes place annually in Stornoway on Lewis, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. The biggest headliners to date have been Runrig, The Waterboys, Proclaimers and Van Morrison...
- Gaelic Singer of the Year: Maggie MacInnesMaggie MacInnesMaggie MacInnes is a Scottish folk singer and clàrsach player, who performs primarily in Scottish Gaelic...
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Fred Morrison
- Journalist of the Year: Sue Wilson
- Live Act of the Year: Blazin' FiddlesBlazin' FiddlesBlazin' Fiddles are a contemporary Scottish fiddle band from the Highlands and Islands. They formed in 1998 to showcase the Highlands and Islands' distinct regional fiddle styles...
- The Media Award: Take the FloorTake the Floor (Scottish radio programme)Take the Floor is the name of a radio programme airing on BBC Radio Scotland. It is the longest-running radio programme in Scotland, dating back to the 1930s when it was called Scottish Dance Music and broadcast by the Scottish Home Service. It features live sessions from top dance bands,...
(BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
) - Retailer of the Year: Foot Stompin Celtic Music
- Scots Singer of the Year: Dick GaughanDick GaughanRichard Peter Gaughan usually known as Dick Gaughan is a Scottish musician, singer, and songwriter, particularly of folk and social protest songs.-Early years:...
- Scottish Dance Band of the Year: Da Fustra
- Folk Band of the Year: Old Blind DogsOld Blind DogsOld Blind Dogs is a Scottish musical group which plays traditional Scottish folk music and Celtic music, with influences from rock, reggae, jazz, blues and Middle Eastern music rhythms...
- Pipe Band of the Year: Kirkwall City Pipe Band
- Songwriter of the Year: Jim MalcolmOld Blind DogsOld Blind Dogs is a Scottish musical group which plays traditional Scottish folk music and Celtic music, with influences from rock, reggae, jazz, blues and Middle Eastern music rhythms...
- Up and Coming Band of the Year: Dòchas
2003
- Best Album: Cliar by Cliar
- Best Scots Singer: Karine PolwartKarine PolwartKarine Polwart is a Scottish singer-songwriter. She writes and performs music with a strong folk and roots feel, her songs dealing with a variety of issues from alcoholism to genocide...
- Best Gaelic Singer: Karen MathesonKaren MathesonKaren Matheson OBE is a Scottish folk singer, who frequently sings in Scottish Gaelic. She is lead singer of the group Capercaillie and was a member of Dan Ar Braz's group L'Heritage des Celtes, with whom she often sang lead vocals, either alone or jointly with Elaine Morgan...
- Best Instrumentalist: Phil CunninghamPhil Cunningham (folk musician)Phil Cunningham, MBE, born 1960 in Edinburgh, Scotland is a Scottish folk musician and composer.-Biography:Phil played accordion and violin from a very young age. He attended school in Portobello, and was raised Mormon, attending church regularly and playing organ...
- Best Scottish Dance Band: Alasdair MacCuish and the Black Rose Ceilidh Band
- Best Pipeband: Scottish Power
- Best Folk Band: CapercaillieCapercaillie (band)Capercaillie is a Scottish folk band, founded in the 1980s by Donald Shaw and fronted by Karen Matheson. They have seen four of their albums placed in the UK Albums Chart, and continue to perform and record to the present day.-History:...
- Best Festival: Celtic ConnectionsCeltic ConnectionsThe Celtic Connections festival started in 1994 in Glasgow, Scotland, and has since been held every January. Featuring over 300 concerts, ceilidhs, talks, free events, late night sessions and workshops, the festival focuses on the roots of traditional Scottish music and also features international...
- Best Club: Shetland Accordion Club
- Best Live Act: Battlefield BandBattlefield BandBattlefield Band is a Scottish traditional music group. Founded in Glasgow in 1969, they have released over 30 albums and undergone many changes of lineup. As of 2010, there are no founder members in the band....
- Best Up and Coming Artist/Band: Back of the MoonBack of the MoonBack of the Moon is a Scottish musical group which plays both new and Scottish traditional tunes and songs cast in modern sounding arrangements. Since forming in 2000, the band have toured annually throughout the UK, Canada, USA and eight different European Countries...
- Radio/TV Show of the year: Travelling Folk (BBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio ScotlandBBC Radio Scotland is BBC Scotland's national English-language radio network. It broadcasts a wide variety of programming, including news, sport, light entertainment, music, the arts, comedy, drama, history and lifestyle...
) - Retailer of the year: Coda Music
- Media Award: Living Tradition
- Services to Traditional Music: Hamish HendersonHamish HendersonHamish Scott Henderson, was a Scottish poet, songwriter, soldier, and intellectual....