National accolade for Concert Hall

Dec 9 2008 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

PERTH Concert Hall was voted ‘Venue of the Year’ in the sixth annual Scots Trad Music Awards which were announced at a glittering ceremony in Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket on Saturday.

And Perthshire’s Dougie MacLean was one of seven traditional music luminaries inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame this year.

Perth Concert Hall, run by creative enterprise Horsecross, has hosted numerous traditional music events since it opened in September 2005, including concerts by Dougie MacLean and the two hugely memorable Gordon Duncan Memorial Concerts, which was nominated in the Event of the Year category.

Another of the Hall of Fame inductees, Runrig, received a great welcome to Perth Concert Hall by a near capacity audience last week.

The other Hall of Fame inductees this year were Alasdair Gillies, the Alexander Brothers, Jean Redpath, John Carmichael and Pipe Major Iain McClellan.

Andy Shearer, creative director of contemporary music for Horsecross, who accepted the award, said: “We were delighted to be the first of the country's major concert halls to be nominated in this category and to win it is unbelievable.

“The award has been won by all the staff at Perth Concert Hall, as well as Perth Theatre – the technical, admin, marketing, catering and box office teams – whose professionalism and welcome helps artists to give their best in our venues.

“It is also very pleasing to be recognised for proving that an adventurous programme can be successfully staged without massive budgets and outwith the major cities.

“We want to thank all the brilliant artists who have performed at Perth Concert Hall and above all, the audiences who turn out to our concerts as they are the people who ultimately make it possible for us to do what we do.”

Jane Spiers, Horsecross chief executive, added: “We set out to showcase the best living music traditions at Perth Concert Hall and to attract visitors from all over the world to experience events that are uniquely Scottish. This award places Perth right at the heart of Scotland’s traditional music scene and it’s a fantastic feeling for all of us to get this national recognition for our traditional music programme, especially from a public vote. I’m really proud of everyone at Horsecross for bringing home this coveted award.”

The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra, which was performing in Perth Concert Hall as the awards were announced on Saturday, won the Strathspey and Reel Society of the Year Award.

And Live Act of the Year, The Peatbog Faeries, will be appearing at Perth Concert Hall on March 6 as part of the Polish Spring Festival.

Dougie MacLean’s induction comes during one of the best years ever for the Butterstone-based minstrel.

Dougie is one of Scotland’s leading singer-songwriters and an ambassador who has taken a piece of Scotland and its culture to admiring audiences around the world. In fact, straight after the awards in Glasgow, Dougie was packing his backs to head for a tour in Australia.

The former Tannahill Weavers and Silly Wizard member went solo in 1979. His songs have been covered by a host of artists, including Paolo Nutini, Amy MacDonald, Mary Black, and Grammy award-winning country singer Kathy Mattea, and his Caledonia has become an international anthem in homage to his homeland.

Among Dougie MacLean projects, his family-run studio produces recordings of a wide range of singers and bands, and through his highly-successful annual Perthshire Amber Festival based at venues throughout Highland Perthshire, he champions the traditional music he grew up with and continues to cherish through his own creative activities.

Also at Saturday’s trad music awards, Birnam CD sponsored the Album of the Year award, which went to popular fiddler Duncan Chisholm’s album Farrar.

MP for Perth and North Perthshire Pete Wishart congratulated all at Perth Concert Hall on winning Venue of the Year award: “Perth’s Concert Hall was up against a strong field of competition in this year’s Scottish Traditional Music Awards and I am delighted that it has come out triumphant. This is a particularly great achievement for the venue, as it the first of the country's major halls to ever be nominated in this category.

“When I was with Runrig and Big Country we had the opportunity to play all over Scotland and the world and I am keenly aware of the world-class venue facilities at Perth Concert Hall, and the high regard it is held in by performers.

“Perthshire’s arts and cultural calendar has gone from strength to strength in recent years and Perth Concert Hall's contribution to this growth cannot be underestimated. Artists, exhibitions and conferences that might have otherwise chosen to take their business to Edinburgh and Glasgow are now coming to Perth.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Perthshire’s Dougie MacLean, who received the lifetime achievement award, plus the other nominees from Perthshire which included Jim Malcolm, Ross Ainslie, Patsy Reid from Breabach and the Blackford Fiddlers..

“The awards were a great night to showcase Perthshire’s talent.”

http://www.horsecross.co.uk