BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2012 Winners Announced
Lifetime Achievement Awards for Don McLean and The Dubliners
Four Awards for June Tabor & Oysterband
Good Tradition Awards for Ian Campbell and Bill Leader
Broadcast from The Lowry in Salford for the first time
The influential careers of singer-songwriter Don McLean and Irish folk legends The Dubliners were celebrated last night(Wednesday 8th February) at the 13th BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Presented by Radio 2 Folk Show host Mike Harding and singer Julie Fowlis, this was the first year the awards were held outside London. The event was broadcast live on BBC Radio 2, online and on BBC Red Button from the Lowry in Salford.
Bob Shennan, Controller, Radio 2 and 6 Music said:
“Folk music is enjoying a fantastic resurgence in popularity in the UK with a vibrant and varied scene. Tonight’s event proves once again how important it is for Radio 2 to schedule our annual Folk Awards as well as our weekly folk show, and I’d like to congratulate all of the winners.”
Broadcaster Paul Gambaccini presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to Don McLean who commented:
“I thank the BBC for thinking of me and honouring me with this award. The UK audience has been among the most loyal for over 40 years and without them certainly I wouldn’t be considered for this honour, so I thank the BBC and I thank the British public”.
The Dubliners, who celebrate their 50th year of being together this year, had their achievements recognised when they received their Lifetime Achievement accolade from singer-songwriter Ralph McTell.
The night in part belonged to June Tabor and Oysterband who picked up four awards for each of the categories they were nominated in. Folk singer June was reunited with roots rebels Oysterband after 21 years and their much acclaimed reunion led them to receiving the prestigious Best Album Award for Ragged Kingdom, Best Traditional Track for Bonny Bunch of Roses and Best Group, while June was crowned Folk Singer of the Year.
The evening was also a successful one for Tim Edey who picked up two awards – Musician of the Year and with Brendan Power the gong for Best Duo.
For the first time the Best Original Song prize was given to two winners, with Bella Hardy’s The Herring Girl and Steve Tilston’s The Reckoning sharing the honours. 21 year-old Lucy Ward was a Young Folk Award Finalist in 2009 and now found herself picking up the Horizon Award, which recognises the achievements of newcomers, for her blend of modern and traditional folk.
The Home Service, whose Live 1986 album was released in 2011 following the discovery of a 25-year old tape, were named as Best Live Act. Special recognition went to Ian Campbell and Bill Leader who were honoured with the Good Tradition Award which pays tribute to those who keep traditional folk music alive. Malcolm Taylor OBE, Director of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library at the English Folk Dance and Song Society was recognised for his 30 years of service as the recipient of the Roots Award.
Ioscaid (pronounced iss-kidge), a six piece band from Northern Ireland picked up the accolade for Young Folk Award. The group, who are aged between 18 and 20, are made up of Dermot and Fintan Mulholland from Derry, Declan Magee and Niall McCrickard from Down, Niall Murphy from Armagh and Ciaran Hanna from Tyrone.
Celebrities who were on presenting duty on the night included singer-songwriter Ralph McTell, Billy Elliot playwright Lee Hall, Coronation Street’s Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow), comedians Ed Byrne and Jeremy Hardy and BBC broadcasters Stuart Maconie and Paul Gambaccini. Highlights of the Radio 2 Folk Awards will be available on the BBC Red Button for seven days after the award ceremony.
BBC RADIO 2 FOLK AWARDS 2012 – WINNERS
FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR
June Tabor
BEST DUO
Tim Edey & Brendan Power
BEST GROUP
June Tabor & Oysterband
BEST ALBUM
Ragged Kingdom – June Tabor & Oysterband
BEST ORIGINAL SONG (JOINT WINNERS)
The Herring Girl – Bella Hardy
The Reckoning – Steve Tilston
BEST TRADITIONAL TRACK
Bonny Bunch of Roses – June Tabor & Oysterband
HORIZON AWARD
Lucy Ward
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Tim Edey
BEST LIVE ACT
The Home Service
BBC RADIO 2 YOUNG FOLK AWARD
Ioscaid
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
The Dubliners
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Don McLean
GOOD TRADITION AWARD
Ian Campbell
GOOD TRADITION AWARD
Bill Leader
ROOTS AWARD
Malcolm Taylor
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As an ex folk club organiser and performer for over 30 years, I watched most of the programme and felt that the awards were perhaps dominated by radio 2 established luvvies.
I have now retired from playing and organising folk clubs but feel that a tremendous amount of talent went unrecognised. Furthermore, I may be wrong because I missed some of the show but I felt that some recognition should have been given to the passing away of Johnny Silvo in December. Johnny was an incredible performer for over 40 years in numerous folk clubs around England. He is a sad loss to grassroots folk clubs and deserved a mention.
Good to know that the awards have been put on the map – in the North.
Trevor Wasteney Cupola Folk Club. Old Horns Folk Club. Rockingham Arms Folk Club. Wortley Folk club.
Hi Trevor,
Mike gave a touching tribute to Johnny Silvo but it looks like it was not included in the “red button” coverage. I’ve not listened to the on-line recording yet but I’m hoping that the whole introduction Mike Harding gave to open the event has been recorded.
I’ve always been a fan of both June Tabor and the Oysterband, but together they’re superb.
As yet, I don’t possess Bonny Bunch of Roses, but it’s my birthday soon (just not soon enough!)
Surely not the first time the folk awards have been presented outside London – they took place at the Sage, Gateshead two or three years ago.
dulcimerbookbinder – That was the Young Folk Awards – This year was the first year the actual Folk Awards have moved from London.