Radio 2 folk music awards 2005


FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR - MARTIN CARTHY

Buy martin Carthy music
Official website

 BEST DUO - ALY BAIN AND PHIL CUNNINGHAM

Two superb Scottish musicians who have toured and recorded together since 1988, to date releasing four duo albums on Aly's own label, Whirlie Records. Both are accomplished composers, producers and presenters and have been awarded the MBE for services to Scottish music.

Aly Bain CD's
Phil cunningham CD's

Official website

 BEST GROUP - OYSTERBAND THE BIG SESSION

Orchestrated by venerable folk-rockers Oysterband, The Big Session is a movable feast of collaborating musicans aiming to bringing the spontaneity of the informal session to the big stage. It's both a touring and recording project and the Folk Awards lineup includes vocal diva June Tabor and the hugely popular duo Show Of Hands (aka Steve Knightley and Phil Beer), all previous Folk Award winners.
Oysterband website

BEST ALBUM - FAULTLINES: KARINE POLWART

For six years the singer with Scottish band Malinky, Karine is about to pursue a solo career concentrating on her own contemporary songwriting. An ex-worker in the field of domestic and child abuse and onetime member of Battlefield Band, Karine utilises her broad range of musical and social influences in her strong lyrical output.
Official website

BEST ORIGINAL SONG (in association with Sold On Song) -
THE SUN'S COMIN' OVER THE HILL: KARINE POLWART

BEST TRADITIONAL TRACK -
FAMOUS FLOWER OF SERVING MEN: MARTIN CARTHY

HORIZON AWARD - KARINE POLWART

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR - KATHRYN TICKELL

Since coming to national attention in the mid-1980s as a 17-year-old Northumbrian pipe star, Kathryn has played a key role in revitalising Northumbrian music while developing into an outstanding composer. A superb collaborator and realiser of projects, Kathryn fronts her own band and lectures part-time on the Folk and Traditional Music degree course at Newcastle University.
Official website

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - RAMBLIN' JACK ELLIOTT

One of the American folk scene's elder statesmen and onetime travelling companion of Woody Guthrie, Elliott has used his self-made cowboy image to bring his love of folk music to every generation since the 1950s. According to folk songstress Odetta, it was her mother who gave Elliott his nickname when she remarked, "Oh, that Jack Elliott, he sure can ramble."
Official website

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (SONGWRITING) - TOM PAXTON

First coming to fame in the singer-songwriter folk boom initiated by Bob Dylan in the early 1960s, Tom Paxton developed into one of his generation’s most complete performers. Originally noted for his topical protest songs, Paxton proved himself a superb communicator and writer of memorable love and comedy songs, songs for children and social commentaries, covered by a wide range of artists. They remain an integral ingredient of the folk scene.
Official website

BEST LIVE ACT - BELLOWHEAD

During Bellowhead's final summer performance at Sidmouth Festival the audience managed to break the dance floor - a fair reflection of the band's attitude to folk music! The band features some of the most talented players from the younger generation of the English tradition and world music scene and is spearheaded by 2004 Folk Awards Best Duo John Spiers and Jon Boden.
Official website

BEST DANCE BAND - WHAPWEASEL

Propelled into the limelight in 2003 when their third album Relentless took the dance world by storm, this 8-piece band from England's north-east uses saxes and brass and elements of jazz and ska to riotous effect. This category is new this year and was decided by a public vote.
Official Website

GOOD TRADITION AWARD - STEELEYE SPAN

As the great folk-rock pioneers of the early 1970s, Steeleye Span achieved unprecedented commercial appeal, attracting a new generation of fans to the music and giving traditional songs a modern relevance. Originally the vision of bass player Ashley Hutchings, the band's line-up has fluctuated through the years but Steeleye remains an institution and is once again fronted by the great Maddy Prior.
Unofficial website

FOLK CLUB AWARD - HITCHIN FOLK CLUB

The popular Sunday concert club held at the Sun Hotel, Hitchin, which welcomes folk fans with a great restaurant and special deals on accommodation. This award is voted for by artists who play the folk clubs regularly.
Official website