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The Living Tradition |
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NEWS BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2005 - Results FOLK-SINGER OF THE YEAR - MARTIN CARTHY For four decades, Martin's work has immeasurably enriched British folk. One of the finest singers and interpreters of traditional music of the British Isles, his drive and enthusiasm are undiminished and he continues to be one of folk music's prime innovators. BEST DUO - ALY BAIN AND PHIL CUNNINGHAM Two superb Scottish musicians who have toured and recorded together since 1988. Both are accomplished composers, producers and presenters and have been awarded the MBE for services to Scottish music. BEST ALBUM - FAULTLINES: KARINE POLWART For six years the singer with Scottish band Malinky, Karine is about to go solo, concentrating on her own contemporary songwriting. An ex-worker in the field of domestic and child abuse, Karine utilises her broad range of musical and social influences in her strong lyrical output. She also won Best Original Song ('The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill'), and also the Horizon Award. BEST TRADITIONAL TRACK - Famous Flower of Serving Men, Martin Carthy. MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR - KATHRYN TICKELL Since coming to national attention in the mid-1980s as an amazingly good 17-year-old Northumbrian piper, Kathryn has played a key role in revitalising Northumbrian music. An outstanding composer, she fronts her own band and lectures part-time on the Folk and Traditional Music degree course at Newcastle University. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT One of the American folk scene's elder statesmen and one-time travelling companion of Woody Guthrie, Jack has used his self-made cowboy image to bring his love of folk music to every generation since the 1950s. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (SONGWRITING) - TOM PAXTON First coming to fame in the singer-songwriter folk boom in the early 1960s, Tom Paxton developed into one of his generation's most complete performers. Originally noted for his topical protest songs, he proved himself a superb communicator and writer of memorable love and comedy songs, songs for children and social commentaries, covered by a wide range of artists. BEST LIVE ACT - BELLOWHEAD During Bellowhead's final summer performance at Sidmouth Festival the audience managed to break the dance floor - a fair reflection of the band's attitude to folk music! The band is spearheaded by 2004 Folk Awards Best Duo John Spiers and Jon Boden. BEST DANCE BAND - WHAPWEASEL Propelled into the limelight in 2003 with their third album Relentless , this 8-piece band from England's North-East uses saxes and brass and elements of jazz and ska to riotous effect. (This category is new and was decided by a public vote). GOOD TRADITION AWARD - STEELEYE SPAN The great folk-rock pioneers of the early 1970s, Steeleye Span achieved unprecedented commercial appeal, attracting a new generation of fans to the music and giving traditional songs a modern relevance. The band's line-up has fluctuated through the years but Steeleye remains an institution. FOLK CLUB AWARD - HITCHIN FOLK CLUB The popular Sunday concert club held at the Sun Hotel, Hitchin, which welcomes folk fans with a great restaurant and special deals on accommodation. This award is voted for by artists who play the folk clubs regularly.
CEILIDH AID - Benefit for Tsunami Reconstruction Like most people shocked by the unfolding Indian Ocean tragedy after December 26th, the first reaction was "What can we do to help?" Well, what's going to be done is a sort of re-run of the massive 1987 giant ceilidh, 'English Roots Against Apartheid'. fRoots magazine, Sincere Management and the Mean Fiddler organisation have joined forces to repeat the 'Hottest Ceilidh In Town' with many of the original artists offering their services again. With English ceilidh having enjoyed a massive rebirth in the last few years among students, teenagers and the hip, one time ceilidh bandits Oysterband had already returned to their roots in summer 2004 with a brief Oyster Ceilidh Band tour, and 1980s all-star band Tiger Moth had similarly re-formed just to play 2004's Womad and Sidmouth festivals, but decided to stick together. Billy Bragg was immediately up for it again with an acoustic version of his famed Blokes (who include various ex-members of 3 Mustaphas 3 and the Mekons who participated in the famous '87 gig). And from the younger generation comes Eliza Carthy in action with DJs Max Reinhardt & Rita Ray's Shrine Synchro System, plus a great new young dance band trio The Gloworms. All these and many more surprise guests will come together at the end of the night in a giant all-star Oystermoth Ceilidh Band. The capacity of the Forum is being restricted to 1600 to allow free-flow from dance floor to balcony. MCs for the night will be Radio 3 presenters Andy Kershaw (who'll also DJ) and Verity Sharp (who'll no doubt join in on fiddle as well). Add to that spots from two of the best Morris dance sides around, the young Morris Offspring and the longer established Hammersmith Morris, some of the best dance callers in Gordon Potts and Cat Kelly plus a separate Acoustic Session Room, and it ought to be a night to remember! And, of course, raise a huge amount of much-needed cash for the continuing reconstruction work on the devastated Indian Ocean rim.
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