By Bill Heaney
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.
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 22nd 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