Scotland's most remote village hall in running for live music honour

The village hall in the UK's most remote village is in the running to be named one of Scotland's best live music venues.
The Poozies in action at Knoydart Community Hall.The Poozies in action at Knoydart Community Hall.
The Poozies in action at Knoydart Community Hall.

Knoydart Community Hall, which is only accessible by boat or an 18-mile hike from the nearest road, has been shortlisted for one the biggest honours at next month's Scots Trad Music Awards in Paisley.

The social hub of the 70-strong community in the village of Inverie has become a growing magnet for musicians over the last few years and is renowned for its late-night shindigs.

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Blue Rose Code, Talisk, Dallahan, The Bevvy Sisters, Danny Thompson, Sharon King, Mystery Juice, Breabach and The Poozies are among the acts to stage recent gigs at the hall.

The venue, which is about to launch a crowdfunding campaign for a major renovation and extension, hosted a live streaming event to show last year's ceremony in Dundee.

Now it could follow in the footsteps of previous best venue winners like the Old Fruitmarket and National Piping Centre in Glasgow, Perth Concert Hall, Hootenanny in Inverness and the Skipinnish Ceilidh House in Oban.

Knoydart's venue will be up against Glassel Hall in Aberdeenshire, the Tolbooth in Stirling and An Lanntair, Stornoway's arts centre at the awards ceremony in Paisley.

David Newton, project manager at the Knoydart Community Hall,said: "Small communities can be socially isolated, but the music events we put on at the hall can help bring conviviality and culture to the heart of the community."

Committee member Jackie Robertson added: "Our hall is the heart of our community. It creaks and leaks, but it's where the magic happens."

Other nominees for awards include singer-songwriter Karine Polwart, whose acclaimed stage show Wind Resistance, which was premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival, is in the running for event of the year. It will be up against a tribute concert honouring Angus Grant, the former frontman of the band Shooglenifty, who died last year, the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, and Oban and Killin's annual music festivals.

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Elephant Sessions, Imar, Tide Lines and Skipinnish will battle it out for the coveted title of live band of the year, while the best folk band contenders are Fara, Josie Duncan and Pablo Fluente,

Blue Rose Code, Claire Hastings, Siobhan Miller, Iona Fyfe and Hannah Rarity will battle it out for the Scots singer of the year honour.

Awards founder Simon Thoumire said: A massive congratulations to all of our shortlisted nominees – we can’t wait to welcome them to Paisley for the ceremony.

"We want to say a huge thanks to everyone who has voted – with such a wealth of amazing Trad talent in Scotland, we’re sure it wasn’t an easy task.

"Hands Up for Trad are dedicated to showcasing the level of talent in this country, and the awards are a real highlight in the calendar each year."

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