Top talent recognised at MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2024

The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards, the most prestigious night in Scotland’s traditional music calendar, crowned this year’s winners at an impressive ceremony in Inverness last night.

Held on St. Andrew’s Day, the awards showcased the exceptional talent and achievements within the trad music scene over the past year as Inverness Leisure was transformed into a glittering hub of celebration bursting with talent from across Scotland.

Attended by more than 1,000 musicians and industry supporters and hundreds of trad fans, and watched live on BBC ALBA by thousands more, the 22^nd edition of the awards saw 116 nominees whittled down to 26 winners, selected by 25,000 members of the public and a panel of expert judges.

Organised by Hands Up For Trad and launched in 2003, The Trad Awards, or ‘Na Trads’, celebrate musicians, bands, and industry professionals who have made significant contributions to Scotland’s cultural heritage.

The first time in a decade it has been held in Inverness, the event represents the ambition, passion and determination of all those who have enriched Scotland’s vibrant musical landscape over the last year.

The 2024 winners are:

Album of the Year, sponsored by Birnam CD

The Waiting Room by Eamonn Nugent

Event of the Year, sponsored by VisitScotland

Skipinnish at Edinburgh Castle

Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year, sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association of Scotland

Beth Malcolm

Club of the Year, sponsored by Wills Bros Civil Engineering Ltd

Ardersier International Folk Club, Moray

Community Project of the Year, sponsored by Isle of Barra Distillers

Fèis air an Oir

Composer of the Year, sponsored by PRS for Music

Alec Dalglish

Gaelic Singer of the Year, sponsored by Highland Society of London

Emma MacLeod

Live Act of the Year sponsored by Shure

Niteworks

Music Tutor of the Year, sponsored by Creative Scotland Youth Music Initiative

Douglas Montgomery

Musician of the Year, sponsored by University of the Highlands and Islands

Ciorstaidh Beaton

Original Work of the Year, sponsored by Musicians’ Union

Ar Cànan ‘s ar Ceòl by Trail West

Scottish Dance Band of the Year, sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs

Pure Scotch Ceilidh Band

Scottish Folk Band of the Year, sponsored by Threads of Sound

The Paul McKenna Band

Scottish Pipe Band of the Year, sponsored by National Piping Centre

Skye Youth Pipe Band

Trad Music in the Media, sponsored by Glasgow Caledonian University

Crùnluath / Piping Sounds with Michael Steele & Ewen Henderson

Up and Coming Artist of the Year, sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Falasgair

Venue of the Year sponsored by MacGregor’s Bars

Eden Court, Inverness

This year’s event saw the introduction of a new award:

Gaisgich na Gàidhlig (Hero of the Highlands)

Cultarlann Inbhir Nis

This new honour seeks to recognise a notable voluntary organisation based in Inverness which is making an invaluable contribution to Gaelic and Highland cultural life. Cherished local Gaelic cultural centre Cultarlan Inbhir Nis was selected as a worthy recipient of the inaugural title. The award is supported by The Highland Council.

Album of the Year was this year awarded posthumously and collected on behalf of Eamonn Nugent by his friends and family who paid tribute to his incredible creativity and love of music in what was a moving moment for all in attendance.

Other notable awards include Live Act of the Year which, following a series of spectacular final shows saw Skye legends Niteworks take the title for the first time.

Skipinnish’s epic Edinburgh Castle show earned them Event of the Year, while Beth Malcolm picked up Scots Singer of the Year for the second time in her blossoming career and Royal National Mòd double gold medallist Emma MacLeod of Scalpay was crowned Gaelic Singer of the Year.

A number of special prizes were also awarded on the night, selected by a panel of esteemed industry judges, for services to traditional music and culture. These are:

Services to Gaelic Award, sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig

Niteworks

The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award, sponsored by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland

Christine Martin

The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Award, supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland

Rab Wilson

A number of stalwarts of the scene who have dedicated their lives to the development of music in Scotland are each year added to the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal.

Among this year’s inductees are distinguished Field Marshal Montgomery Pipe Band leader Richard Parkes MBE, Skye Gaelic singer Anne Martin and influential traditional singer Sylvia Barnes.

The awards also highlighted the accomplishments of those working behind the scenes and throughout the industry’s creative pipeline. Those winners were:

Industry Person of the Year

Gary Innes

Production Company of the Year

Pro Sound

Recording Studio of the Year

Castlesound

Sound Engineer of the Year

Carla Feuerstein

Stage Technician of the Year

John McFarlane

Scots Trad Music Awards organiser Simon Thoumire said: “When you look around the Trad Awards, what you see is resilience in action. Despite not knowing what tomorrow brings, our sector continues to innovate, to create, to find new ways forward. This spirit of determination is supported by crucial partnerships. We are incredibly grateful to our hosts in Inverness for their warm hospitality and all those who made coming back to the capital of the Highlands possible.

“To our audiences, artists, nominees and sponsors: thank you. Your support for these awards allows us to promote the strength, creativity and ingenuity of our traditional music and highlight the positive impact it has on the lives of so many.

“Just now our musicians, venues, festivals, and organisations face unprecedented uncertainty. This year, more than ever, we celebrate not just excellence, but resilience. Not just tradition, but innovation. Not just where we’ve been, but where we’re going – together.”

Catriona Hawksworth, Traditional Arts Officer at Creative Scotland said: “Na Trads is always a vibrant celebration of the ongoing innovation and diversity within Scotland’s traditional music scene. This year is no exception, showcasing an exciting lineup of award winners and performers that highlight the dynamism of our thriving community. The Trad Awards are a fantastic opportunity to come together and honour the dedication and hard work of individuals across all roles within the sector throughout the year.”

Leader of The Highland Council Cllr Raymond Bremner said: “It is a great honour to host the MG ALBA Scots Traditional  Music Awards in the Highland Capital. It was last held in Inverness in 2014, and has since grown exponentially over the last ten years. Na Trads returning to the ‘home’ of Gaelic and traditional music is important to Highland Council as its ethos supports our fourth Gaelic Language Plan which has now been approved by Bòrd na Gàidhlig.

“As the first Highland Council Leader who is fluent in Gaelic it’s important to state that our language and culture is not only hugely significant but it is an intrinsic part of our education, environment, economy and our health and wellbeing. I would like to thank Highland Council, Inverness Common Good, the UK Prosperity Fund, High Life Highland, Scottish Government and many other organisations for their support. The Na Trads really does provide a focus for awarding and acknowledging our Gaelic language and traditional music which spans many generations. Suas Leis a’ Ghàidhlig!”

Margaret Cameron, Director of Content at MG ALBA, said: “The MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards are a highlight of Scotland’s cultural calendar and it was wonderful to see them return to Inverness for the first time in a decade. As headline sponsor, MG ALBA is proud to support this celebration of the remarkable talent and hard work that drives Scotland’s traditional music scene. Congratulations to Hands Up For Trad on organising such a fantastic event, and to all the nominees and winners, whose achievements were rightly recognised and celebrated. Broadcasting the ceremony on BBC ALBA, including a world-wide stream, iPlayer catch-up and short form digital content, ensures these incredible moments reach a wide audience, showcasing the richness of our culture at home and internationally.”

Craig Collin, Senior Manager at Shure UK, said: “We are proud to be sponsoring Live Act of the Year and are privileged to be involved in the wider Na Trads movement. Being here in Inverness with all the nominees, winners and supporters has been amazing and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. It’s been great to meet and chat with so many talented musicians and dedicated followers of the Trad Scots Music scene. Congratulations to all the winners of tonight’s awards and we are already looking forward to next year!”

An outstanding lineup delighted Inverness audiences including the Hebridean-born and Highland-based singer and musician Julie Fowlis, whose award-winning talent is recognised the world over; Skipinnish who rounded off their 25th anniversary year in a fitting fashion and BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2024 Calum McIlroy.

The inimitable duo of Laura Wilkie and Ian Carr also took to the stage, while Aberdeenshire folk star Ellie Beaton and Scott Gardiner performed a stunning tribute to bothy ballad legend Joe Aitken. Young local talent in the form of Highland Young Musicians and Arc Fiddlers put on a fantastic display and party-starters An Dannsa Dub had everyone on their feet as they closed out the night.

As well as all category sponsors and the event’s headline sponsor, event’s return to the Highlands was made possible with funding and support from Creative Scotland, Inverness Common Good Fund, Highland Council via the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Scottish Government.

 

Presented by Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the awards were broadcast live on BBC ALBA and can be watched back on BBC iPlayer or via bbc.co.uk/alba. For more information visit www.scotstradmusicawards.com