BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link

Subject: BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link
From: Alice
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 02:21 PM

Here is a link to BBC Radio 2 page with the awards, upcoming sound clips and photos to be added.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/folk/features/folk_results.shtml

Press Release:

Folk Singer of the Year: Martin Carthy, MBE - award presented by broadcaster Andy Kershaw Guitar stylist, benchmark singer, folk-rock star, songwriter and traditional song ambassador Martin Carthy takes the crown of Folk Singer of the Year from his wife Norma Waterston who won in 2001.

Horizon Award: Cara Dillon - award presented by singer Cerys Matthews Cara Dillon from Dungiven, Co.Derry has charmed many with her graceful singing and engaging personality. Her debut album with keyboardist, songwriter and arranger Sam Lakeman had the sort of impact on the scene she could only have dreamed about when she was singing in small clubs at home.

Best Album: The Bramble Briar by Martin Simpson - award presented by Rt. Hon. Tessa Jowell (Secretary Of State for Culture, Media and Sport) Revisiting the English tradition in The Bramble Briar has reaffirmed Simpson's place at the forefront of the folk revival after over a decade largely based in the US.

Best Group: Cherish The Ladies - award presented by singer and actress Barbara Dickson A richly deserved accolade for the all-female Irish-American band, led by Joanie Madden, originally formed for a one-off series of concerts showcasing American female Celtic musicians a decade ago.

Best Live Act: Rory McLeod - award presented by singer and songwriter Vin Garbutt Edinburgh based Rory McLeod has developed a stage act like no other with his 300mph rap folk delivery and his highly potent, original songs that fearlessly tackle everything from major social issues to the minutiae of everyday life.

Best Original Song: Who Will Sing Me Lullabies? By Kate Rusby - presented by film producer, musician and journalist Richard Jobson Kate Rusby has made huge strides since she was named the first Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year in 2002, notably developing her distinctive take on traditional song to encompass her own songs in a traditional style. This song is a poignant tribute to her friend, the late Davey Steele who died of cancer in 2001.

Best Traditional Track: Black Is The Colour performed by Cara Dillon - presented by Radio 2's Johnnie Walker Cara Dillon intimately and uniquely delivers this well travelled song which is one of the most potent tracks on her self-titled first album which instantly propelled her to media stardom and the front line of the folk world.

Instrumentalist of the Year: Martin Simpson - presented by TV actor Geoff Hughes A just reward for Simpson, the guitarist's guitarist, long acclaimed for his distinctive playing of anything from hard blues to delicate slow airs, with a particular gift for bottleneck style.

Folk Club of the Year: Nettlebed Folk Club - presented by Ashley Hutchings Voted for by musicians, the Nettlebed is a popular venue which has hosted just about everybody who is anybody in the world of folk and roots music.

Lifetime Achievement Award: The Chieftains - presented by James Moir, Controller of BBC Radio 2 Celebrating their 40th year together, Paddy Maloney's merry band are an international institution, taking Irish music literally all over the world. They've continually broken new ground, arranging traditional tunes in a semi-classical way, then going on to write their own material for a variety of films. They've worked with everyone from the Rolling Stones to Ziggy Marley.

Lifetime Achievement Award: Fairport Convention - presented by Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull Fairport's ground breaking album in 1969, Liege & Lief, was widely accepted to be the first real integration of folk music and electrical instruments and was recently voted best folk album ever by Radio 2 listeners. The many musical adventures they've had since keeps their music vibrant and they are celebrating their 35th anniversary in 2002.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Songwriting: Ralph McTell - award presented by playwright Willie Russell Ralph has been writing brilliant songs for over 30 years. His most famous song is Streets Of London - which first appeared on his Spiral Staircase album in 1969 and has been the subject of over 200 cover versions by everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Aretha Franklin.

Subject: RE: BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link
From: Bill D
Date: 13 Feb 02 - 07:43 PM

hmmm....the list is very like what I'd have expected. It is heavy on the famous and popular. (I know, sometimes the popular are also GOOD, but there are SO many talented folk who are largely ignored because they are not famous enough.)

Annual awards lists sort of demand names that everyone will recognize....and thus help keep many of the same names on top for years......but, *shrug*, it's like that in all fields.

Subject: RE: BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 02:59 AM

Good point Bill, I am not a fan of these things at all but this was only the 3rd?

They will soon run out of 'icons' (and their children) to reward, but as these 'icons' and their fine contributions have been largely ingored these many years, I am glad to see them rewarded now.

If it should carry on repeated awarding the same folk every year, which is a possibilty, I will be in far more agreement with you.

It might be a good time to ask people here if these awards are generally thought to be good for folk music. Or are they just a good thing for those (trying) to make a living out of folk music?

Thanks for the link Alice. I listened to the Chieftains session last night, sounded good.

Subject: RE: BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link
From: Nemesis
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 04:47 AM

Unfortunately, I didn't hear this as I was out listening to Phil Beer and Paul Downes live at the Willows in Arundel. I was hoping after last year when it was so predictable that things might have moved on this year (Good to see Cara Dillon acknowledged though) - but hopefully as you say they'll run out of icons soon! Although, there are lots more categories surely that could be encompassed - how about best folk-fusion (jazz/pyschedelic, etc)? That might liven things up and provide a degree of leavening to this same old diet of the same old people! Just a thought.....

Subject: RE: BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link
From: The Shambles
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 05:24 AM

Am I right? Was this the 3rd or only the 2nd?

The Cheiftain's section of the webcast that I listened to, was rather marred by the presenter going on and on about their achievements that were obviously news to him but not to to audience, who were patiently waiting to hear them play. I wonder if the other sections were the same?

Show of Hands dipped out, sadly...........

Subject: RE: BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link
From: Art Thieme
Date: 14 Feb 02 - 09:43 PM

To Michael Cooney,

M., why weren't we here??? ;-)

Art Thieme

Subject: RE: BBC Folk Music Awards 2002 results, link
From: GUEST,eliza
Date: 15 Feb 02 - 09:11 AM

It was good to see Rory Macleod get some notice this year,but I agree,it was a bit samey. Radio 2's playlist is so blinkered though-there is very little actual traditional music on that show,let alone interesting fusion and crossover stuff.That Mike Harding,he likes the pretty ladies...hmmm... :(