Scots Trad Music Awards held in Perth

Dec 6 2011 by Alison Anderson, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

SCOTTISH traditional music stars were out in force at Perth Concert Hall on Saturday night for the 2011 MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards – ‘the Brits of the Trad scene.’

A record number of almost 100,000 votes were cast online by the public and winners were announced by hosts Mary Ann Kennedy and Tony Kearney at the glittering ceremony.

A huge cheer went out when Perthshire’s Ian Duncan stepped up to the podium to be inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall Of Fame.

It was a unique occasion in the history of the Trad Awards when Ian entered this hall of fame – he was the third member of the Duncan family to do so, following his father Jock and late brother Gordon.

The accolade marked Ian’s role as one of the leading figures in the modern pipe band movement, from his early days with the Pitlochry-based Vale of Atholl Pipe Band through to his recent successful time as pipe major to the Lothian and Borders Police Pipe Band.

Ian’s teaching work was recognised in 2009 when he was named the Scots Trad Music Awards’ music teacher of the year.

Of his latest accolade, Ian told PA Arts yesterday: “It was just great and I am very proud. It was also humbling because there are so many famous names on the Roll of Honour, and what made it so special was being the third member of the family to be on it.”

Ian’s wife, Chris, herself a noted figure in pipe band circles, and their children, Alex and Christina, were in Perth Concert Hall to add their cheers to the enthusiastic reception Ian received.

And 17-year-old twins Alex and Christina showed they are continuing in the traditional music groove by playing in the National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.

The band was one of the many top quality acts performing on the night between the handing out of the 18 awards.

Winners included: Skerryvore (Best Live Act), Field Marshall Montgomery Pipe Band (Best Pipe Band), Battlefield Band (Folk Band Of The Year), Manran (Album Of The Year), Aidan O’ Rourke (Composer of the Year) and Siobhan Miller (Singer of The Year).

Among the performances, Perthshire accordionist Duncan Black arranged a brilliant set in which he blended his Scottish Dance Band with chamber musicians, Barbara Dickson returned to her folk roots to enchant and entertain, and top fiddler Alasdair Fraser and ‘groove-meister’ cellist Natalie Haas delivered another highlight of the evening.

Alongside Ian Duncan, seven other artists were inducted into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall Of Fame: John Watt, Billy Thom, Alasdair Fraser, Bert Jansch, Donald MacLeod (Islay), Tannahill Weavers and Bobby MacLeod; and Arthur Cormack was presented with the Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award.

The awards recorded for BBC Alba were broadcast last night and will be repeated on Friday at 9pm.