The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music, with the aim of raising the profile of folk and acoustic music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2. It takes place in April.
Award recipients have included Joan Baez, Cat Stevens, John Martyn, Steve Earle, The Dubliners, Martin Carthy, Billy Bragg, Shirley Collins, Kate Rusby, Cara Dillon, Eliza Carthy, Bellowhead, June Tabor, Aly Bain, Richard Thompson, Nancy Kerr, Seth Lakeman, Show of Hands, Lau, Tom Paxton, Don McLean, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, Nic Jones, Bella Hardy, Rhiannon Giddens, Norma Waterson, The Chieftains, Joan Armatrading and James Taylor.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
History
The event has been staged at The Brewery in London, The Lowry theatre in Salford, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and in 2014, 2016 and 2017, the Royal Albert Hall. In 2015 the event was staged at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.
The Folk Awards was hosted by Mike Harding between 2000 and 2012, and broadcast on BBC Radio 2. Mark Radcliffe and Scottish Gaelic singer Julie Fowlis took over presenting the ceremony in 2013. In 2004 the awards were shown on television for the first time, on BBC Four. The event usually streams live in audio and video on the BBC Radio 2 website, the BBC iPlayer and/or the BBC Red Button TV service.
In 2016, Rhiannon Giddens became the first American (and first non-British) winner of the 'Folk Singer of the Year' award.
Bbc Radio 2 Iplayer Video
Voting
The nominees in most categories are chosen by a panel of 150 representatives from the British folk world, including broadcasters, journalists, record producers, festival organisers, venue bookers, record company directors, agents and promoters. The panelists can vary slightly from year to year, with new panelists being invited (or self-applying) each year. The final panel is selected by the Folk Awards committee, which includes staff from the BBC, the production company 7digital Creative, and representatives from outside those organisations.
The 'Best Original Track' and 'Best Traditional Track' categories are chosen by smaller specialist panels of judges, and the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award - presented as part of the Folk Awards - is decided by a standalone contest.
The 'Best Album' category is decided by a public vote, hosted on the BBC website.
Compilation album
A Folk Awards double-album, featuring music by most of the nominees, is released annually by the event's producers in collaboration with BBC Radio 2 and the record label and distribution company, Proper Music. The album is distributed physically and digitally.
Hall of Fame
In 2014, a posthumous award was introduced to celebrate the contribution of significant figures in folk music's past.
- 2017 inductee: Woody Guthrie (with tribute performance by Billy Bragg)
- 2016 inductee: Sandy Denny (with tribute performance by Rufus Wainwright and original members of Fairport Convention)
- 2015 inductee: Ewan MacColl (with tribute performance by Guy Garvey and the MacColl family)
- 2014 inductee: Cecil Sharp
Award winners
2017
- Folk Singer of the Year: Kris Drever
- Best Duo: Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton
- Best Group: The Furrow Collective
- Best Album: Songs of Separation - Songs of Separation
- Horizon Award: Daoirí Farrell
- Musician of the Year: Rachel Newton
- Young Folk Award: Josie Duncan & Pablo Lafuente
- Best Original Song: If Wishes Were Horses - Kris Drever
- Best Traditional Track: Van Diemen's Land - Daoirí Farrell
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Al Stewart and Ry Cooder
- Hall of Fame: Woody Guthrie
2016
- Folk Singer of the Year: Rhiannon Giddens
- Best Duo: Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman
- Best Group: The Young'uns
- Best Album: Mount the Air - The Unthanks
- Horizon Award: Sam Kelly
- Musician of the Year: Andy Cutting
- Young Folk Award: Brighde Chaimbeul
- Best Original Song: Mackerel - The Rheingans Sisters
- Best Traditional Track: Lovely Molly - Sam Lee
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Joan Armatrading and Norma Waterson
- Good Tradition Award: John McCusker
- Hall of Fame: Sandy Denny
2015
- Folk Singer of the Year: Nancy Kerr
- Best Duo: Josienne Clarke & Ben Walker
- Best Group: The Young'uns
- Best Album: Tincian - 9Bach
- Horizon Award: The Rails
- Musician of the Year: Sam Sweeney
- Young Folk Award: Talisk
- Best Original Song: Swim To The Star - Peggy Seeger/Calum MacColl
- Best Traditional Track: Samhradh Samhradh - The Gloaming
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens and Loudon Wainwright III
- Good Tradition Award: Meredydd Evans
- Hall of Fame: Ewan MacColl
2014
- Folk Singer of the Year: Bella Hardy
- Best Duo: Phillip Henry & Hannah Martin
- Best Group: The Full English
- Best Album: The Full English - The Full English
- Horizon Award: Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar
- Musician of the Year: Aidan O'Rourke
- Young Folk Award: The Mischa Macpherson Trio
- Best Original Song: Two Ravens - Lisa Knapp
- Best Traditional Track: Willie of Winsbury - Anaïs Mitchell and Jefferson Hamer
- Lifetime Achievement Awards: Clannad and Martin Carthy
- Good Tradition Award: Cambridge Folk Festival
- Hall of Fame: Cecil Sharp
2013
- Folk singer of the year: Nic Jones
- Best Duo: Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman
- Best Group: Lau
- Best Album: Broadside - Bellowhead
- Horizon Award: Blair Dunlop
- Musician of the year: Kathryn Tickell
- Young Folk Award: Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar
- Best Original Song: Hatchlings - Emily Portman
- Best Traditional Track: Lord Douglas - Jim Moray
- Lifetime achievement awards: Aly Bain and Roy Harper
- Lifetime achievement award for contribution to songwriting: Dougie MacLean
- Roots Award: Billy Bragg
2012
- Folk Singer of the year: June Tabor
- Best Duo: Tim Edey & Brendan Power
- Best Traditional Track: Bonny Bunch of Roses - June Tabor & Oysterband
- Best Group: June Tabor & Oysterband
- Young Folk Award: Ioscaid
- Musician of the year: Tim Edey
- Best Original Song: The Herring Girl - Bella Hardy and The Reckoning - Steve Tilston
- Horizon Award: Lucy Ward
- Best Album: Ragged Kingdom - June Tabor & Oysterband
- Lifetime achievement awards: The Dubliners and Don McLean
- Best Live Act: The Home Service
- Good Tradition Award: Ian Campbell and Bill Leader
- Roots Award: Malcolm Taylor
2011
- Folk Singer of the year: Chris Wood
- Best Duo: Nancy Kerr & James Fagan
- Best Traditional Track: Poor Wayfaring Stranger - Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson
- Best Group: Bellowhead
- Young Folk Award: Moore Moss Rutter
- Musician of the year: Andy Cutting
- Best Original Song: Hollow Point - Chris Wood
- Horizon Award: Ewan McLennan
- Best Album: Gift - Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson
- Lifetime achievement award: Donovan
- Best Live Act: Bellowhead
- Good Tradition Award: Fisherman's Friends
- Roots Award: Levellers
2010
- Folk Singer of the Year: Jon Boden
- Best Duo: Show of Hands
- Best Group: Lau
- Best Album: Hill of Thieves by Cara Dillon
- Best Original Song: Arrogance Ignorance and Greed by Steve Knightley (performed by Show of Hands)
- Best Traditional Track: Sir Patrick Spens by Martin Simpson
- Horizon Award: Sam Carter
- Musician of the Year: John Kirkpatrick
- Best Live Act: Bellowhead
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Nanci Griffith
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dick Gaughan
- Folk Club Award: The Magpies Nest
- Good Tradition Award: Transatlantic Sessions
2009
- Folk Singer of the Year: Chris Wood
- Best Duo: Chris While and Julie Matthews
- Best Group: Lau
- Best Album: Trespasser by Chris Wood
- Best Original Song: All You Pretty Girls by Andy Partridge (performed by Jim Moray)
- Young Folk Award: Megan and Joe Henwood
- Best Traditional Track: The Lark in the Morning by Jackie Oates
- Horizon Award: Jackie Oates
- Musician of the Year: Tom McConville
- Best Live Act: The Demon Barbers
- Lifetime Achievement Award: James Taylor
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Judy Collins
- Folk Club Award: Black Swan Folk Club, York
2008
- Folk Singer of the Year: Julie Fowlis
- Best Duo: John Tams and Barry Coope
- Best Group: Lau
- Best Album: Prodigal Son by Martin Simpson
- Best Original Song: Never Any Good by Martin Simpson
- Best Traditional Track: Cold Haily Rainy Night by The Imagined Village
- Horizon Award: Rachel Unthank and the Winterset
- Musician of the Year: Andy Cutting
- Best Live Act: Bellowhead
- Lifetime Achievement Award: John Martyn
- Good Tradition Award: Shirley Collins
- Folk Club Award: Dartford Folk Club
2007
- Folk Singer of the Year: Seth Lakeman
- Best Duo: Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick
- Best Group: Bellowhead
- Best Album: Freedom Fields by Seth Lakeman
- Best Original Song: Daisy by Karine Polwart
- Best Traditional Track: Barleycorn (performed by Tim van Eyken)
- Musician of the Year: Chris Thile
- Horizon Award: Kris Drever
- Best Live Act: Bellowhead
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Pentangle
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Danny Thompson
- Good Tradition Award: Nic Jones
- Folk Club Award: The Ram Club
- Favourite Folk Track Award: Who Knows Where The Time Goes (performed by Sandy Denny / Fairport Convention (public vote))
2006
- Folk Singer of the Year: John Tams
- Best Duo: John Spiers and Jon Boden
- Best Group: Flook
- Best Album: The Reckoning by John Tams
- Best Original Song: One In A Million by Chris Wood and Hugh Lupton
- Best Traditional Track: Bitter Withy (performed by John Tams)
- Horizon Award: Julie Fowlis
- Musician of the Year: Michael McGoldrick
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Paul Brady
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Richard Thompson
- Best Live Act: Kate Rusby
- Good Tradition Award: Ashley Hutchings
- Folk Club Award: Red Lion, Birmingham
- Most Influential Folk Album Of All Time: Liege and Lief by Fairport Convention (public vote)
2005
- Folk Singer of the Year: Martin Carthy
- Best Duo: Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham
- Best Group: Oysterband The Big Session
- Best Album: Faultlines by Karine Polwart
- Best Original Song: The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill by Karine Polwart
- Best Traditional Track: Famous Flower Of Serving Men (performed by Martin Carthy)
- Horizon Award: Karine Polwart
- Musician of the Year: Kathryn Tickell
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Ramblin' Jack Elliott
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): Tom Paxton
- Best Live Act: Bellowhead
- Best Dance Band: Whapweasel
- Good Tradition Award: Steeleye Span
- Folk Club Award: Hitchin Folk Club
2004
- Folk Singer of the Year: June Tabor
- Best Duo: John Spiers and Jon Boden
- Best Group: Danú
- Best Album: Sweet England by Jim Moray
- Best Original Song: Co. Down by Tommy Sands (performed by Danú)
- Best Traditional Track: Hughie Graeme (performed by June Tabor)
- Horizon Award: Jim Moray
- Musician of the Year: Martin Simpson
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Dave Swarbrick
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): Steve Earle
- Best Live Act: Show of Hands
- Good Tradition Award: Celtic Connections
- Folk Club Award: Rockingham Arms, Wentworth
2003
- Folk Singer of the Year: Eliza Carthy
- Best Duo: Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
- Best Group: Altan
- Best Album: Anglicana by Eliza Carthy
- Best Original Song: No Telling performed by Linda Thompson
- Best Traditional Track: Worcester City performed by Eliza Carthy
- Horizon Award: John Spiers and Jon Boden
- Instrumentalist of the Year: John McCusker
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Christy Moore
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): John Prine
- Best Live Act: Roy Bailey and Tony Benn
- Good Tradition Award: Oysterband
- Folk Club Award: Edinburgh
2002
- Folk Singer of the Year: Martin Carthy
- Best Album: The Bramble Briar by Martin Simpson
- Best Original Song: Lullabye by Kate Rusby
- Best Traditional Track: Black is the Colour performed by Cara Dillon
- Best Group: Cherish the Ladies
- Horizon Award: Cara Dillon
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Martin Simpson
- Lifetime Achievement Award: The Chieftains
- Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): Ralph McTell
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Fairport Convention
- Folk Club Award: Nettlebed
- Best Live Act: Rory McLeod
2001
- Folk Singer of the Year: Norma Waterson
- Best Album: Unity by John Tams
- Best Original Song: Harry Stone (Hearts of Coal) by John Tams
- Best Group: Danú
- Horizon Award: Bill Jones
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Michael McGoldrick
- Lifetime Achievement Award: Bert Jansch
- Radio 2 Special Roots Award: Taj Mahal
- Good Tradition Award: Bob Copper
- Folk Club Award: The Davy Lamp
- Best Live Act: Vin Garbutt
2000
- Folk Singer of the Year: Kate Rusby
- Best Album: Sleepless by Kate Rusby
- Best Original Song: A Place Called England by Maggie Holland
- Best Traditional Track: Raggle Taggle Gypsy performed by Waterson-Carthy
- Best Group: Waterson-Carthy
- Horizon Award: Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
- Instrumentalist of the Year: Martin Hayes
- Radio 2 Special Award: Joan Baez
- Radio 2 Special Roots Award: Youssou N'Dour
- Andy Kershaw Roots Award: Joe Boyd and Lucy Durán
- Good Tradition Award: Topic Records
- Folk Club Award: Westhoughton
- Best Live Act: La Bottine Souriante
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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