The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards is returning in 2017 with singer songwriter Al Stewart due to be honoured with a lifetime achievement award.
Taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 5 April, the annual event is one of the highlights of the folk music calendar with some of the scene’s biggest names coming together to celebrate the music of the last year.
The 2016 event saw performances by Grammy Award and BRIT Award nominee Joan Armatrading, Mercury Award nominated Sam Lee as well as a special tribute to Sandy Denny by Rufus Wainwright.
This year folk music luminary Al Stewart will receive a lifetime achievement award for his contribution which began in London’s sixties folk scene. His career has seen him work with a whole host of artists including Peter White, Alan Parsons, Jimmy Page, Richard Thompson, Rick Wakeman, Francis Monkmann and Tori Amos.
Woody Guthrie will also be inducted into the Radio 2 Folk Awards Hall of Fame to mark 50 years since his death in 1967.
The awards will welcome an array of star guests including a headline performance from Billy Bragg with a tribute to folk icon Woody Guthrie.
Lewis Carnie, Radio 2 head, said: ‘We are very excited that the Radio 2 Folk Awards are making a return for 2017. The Folk Awards, now in their 18th year, are a wonderful occasion for us to celebrate the huge array of talent that exists in the thriving folk music industry. Specialist music is a key part of the Radio 2 schedule and folk continues to be very popular with our audience. We are very much looking forward to sharing the evening with everyone.'
Mark Radcliffe, Radio 2 Folk Show presenter, said: ‘I know people are always saying they’re thrilled about things in press quotes … but what can I tell you? Hosting the Folk Awards at The Royal Albert Hall is genuinely thrilling. Everyone and anyone in folk will be there and there is a real sense of a big night out and a gathering of the clans. So, predictable though this quote is, I’m thrilled to be doing it.’
Nominees for the Folk Award categories will be announced by Mark Radcliffe in the Radio 2 Folk Show this Wednesday (8 February).
The categories include:
Folk singer of the year
Best duo
Best group
Best album
Horizon award
Musician of the year
Best original track
Best traditional track
BBC Radio 2 young folk award.
The awards show will also include the presentation of lifetime achievement awards.
Tickets for this year’s event are available now from bbc.co.uk/radio2.
Taking place at the Royal Albert Hall on Wednesday 5 April, the annual event is one of the highlights of the folk music calendar with some of the scene’s biggest names coming together to celebrate the music of the last year.
The 2016 event saw performances by Grammy Award and BRIT Award nominee Joan Armatrading, Mercury Award nominated Sam Lee as well as a special tribute to Sandy Denny by Rufus Wainwright.
This year folk music luminary Al Stewart will receive a lifetime achievement award for his contribution which began in London’s sixties folk scene. His career has seen him work with a whole host of artists including Peter White, Alan Parsons, Jimmy Page, Richard Thompson, Rick Wakeman, Francis Monkmann and Tori Amos.
Woody Guthrie will also be inducted into the Radio 2 Folk Awards Hall of Fame to mark 50 years since his death in 1967.
The awards will welcome an array of star guests including a headline performance from Billy Bragg with a tribute to folk icon Woody Guthrie.
Lewis Carnie, Radio 2 head, said: ‘We are very excited that the Radio 2 Folk Awards are making a return for 2017. The Folk Awards, now in their 18th year, are a wonderful occasion for us to celebrate the huge array of talent that exists in the thriving folk music industry. Specialist music is a key part of the Radio 2 schedule and folk continues to be very popular with our audience. We are very much looking forward to sharing the evening with everyone.'
Mark Radcliffe, Radio 2 Folk Show presenter, said: ‘I know people are always saying they’re thrilled about things in press quotes … but what can I tell you? Hosting the Folk Awards at The Royal Albert Hall is genuinely thrilling. Everyone and anyone in folk will be there and there is a real sense of a big night out and a gathering of the clans. So, predictable though this quote is, I’m thrilled to be doing it.’
Nominees for the Folk Award categories will be announced by Mark Radcliffe in the Radio 2 Folk Show this Wednesday (8 February).
The categories include:
Folk singer of the year
Best duo
Best group
Best album
Horizon award
Musician of the year
Best original track
Best traditional track
BBC Radio 2 young folk award.
The awards show will also include the presentation of lifetime achievement awards.
Tickets for this year’s event are available now from bbc.co.uk/radio2.
