Winners of Scots Trad Music Awards unveiled in Paisley

A coveted Scottish album of the year honour has been won by a Highland folk band days after they performed before First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
The 15th Scots Trad Music Awards were staged in Paisley for the first time.The 15th Scots Trad Music Awards were staged in Paisley for the first time.
The 15th Scots Trad Music Awards were staged in Paisley for the first time.

Inverness outfit Elephant Sessions, who played at a reception at Edinburgh Castle’s great hall on St Andrew’s Night, were one of the big winners at the Scots Trad Music Awards in Paisley.

Elephant Sessions, who won the album of the year honour three years after being named best up and coming act, also performed at the event, which was broadcast live on BBC Alba and was staged just days before Paisley finds out if it will become the UK’s next “capital of culture.”

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Talisk, who performed alongside Elephant Sessions at a major showcase of Scottish music at Europe’s biggest Celtic festival in Brittany in August, were named best folk band at the awards.

The event of the year title went to a gala concert at the Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow in honour of fiddler Angus Grant, who died just over a year ago.

Hebridean band Skipinnish lifted the live act of the year prize, while former frontman Robert Robertson, whose new band Tide Lines also performed at the ceremony, was crowed best Gaelic singer.

Accordion player Gary Innes, who took over as presenter of BBC Scotland's Take The Floor programmer from Robbie Shepherd in 2016 after 35 years at the helm, was crowned instrumentalist of the year.

Siobhan Miller was named best Scots singer, Adam Sutherland was honoured as composer of the year and Hò-rò were honoured as best up and coming act.

Awards founder Simon Thoumire said: “Every year we welcome some of the

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best talent in the world to these awards, and we are honoured to see our 15th year being one of the biggest and best yet.

"We’ve had an outstanding evening with immense talent being showcased and

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celebrated, so congratulations once again to all of tonight’s nominees and worthy winners."

Jean Cameron, director of Paisley's bid to become UK City of Culture in 2021, said: "“It’s been great to host the event for the first time. Paisley is proud of its great links with trad

through our annual arts festival the Spree and also through hosting the Royal National Mòd, which we will welcome back again in 2021 or 2022."

FULL LIST OF WINNERS

Album of the Year

All We Have Is Now by Elephant Sessions

Community Project of the Year

Tiree Songbook

Composer of the Year

Adam Sutherland

Live Act of the Year

Skipinnish

Scots Singer of the Year

Siobhan Miller

Up and Coming Artist Award

Hò-rò

Music Tutor of the Year

Emma Tomlinson

Gaelic Singer of the Year

Robert Robertson

Folk Band of the Year

Talisk

Dance Band of the Year

Duncan Black Band

Scottish Pipe Band of the Year

Inveraray & District Pipe Band

Club of the Year

Edinburgh Folk Club

Instrumentalist of the Year

Gary Innes

Event of the Year

A Night For Angus (Shooglenifty at Celtic Connections)

Trad Music in the Media

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards

Venue of the Year

Tolbooth (Stirling)

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