The nominees have been announced for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
This year’s ceremony, presented by Mark Radcliffe and Julie Fowlis, will take place at the Belfast Waterfront on Wednesday, April 4. Now in its 19th year, it will mark the first time the event has been held in Northern Ireland.
Lewis Carnie, head of Radio 2 said: “We’re very excited that for the first time the Folk Awards are heading to Belfast this year, and as ever, we're looking forward to a varied and vibrant mix of artist performances, as well as the opportunity to celebrate many brilliant acts from the folk music scene.
"From folk to jazz, soul to blues, specialist music is a key part of the Radio 2 schedule and we are proud to support both established and emerging folk musicians at this very special event in Belfast.”
The show will be produced by 7digital Creative and accolades will be awarded in the following categories: Folk Singer of the Year, Best Duo, Best Group, Best Album, Horizon Award, Musician of the Year, Best Original Track, Best Traditional Track and BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award. The show will also include the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award, which will be announced at a later date.
The evening will welcome an array of special guests and will see performances from Cara Dillon, Paul Brady, Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band and Lankum. Other acts will be confirmed at a later date.
Mark Radcliffe said: “I’m genuinely thrilled to be making my first ever visit to Belfast for the Folk Awards. I plan to spend a good few days absorbing the history and the culture and then what an honour it will be to take to the stage with home-grown legends Paul Brady and Cara Dillon - it promises to be a very special night.”
The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards will be simulcast live on Radio 2 and BBC Radio Ulster from 7pm to 9.30pm, and after the show selected highlights will be available to watch online.
The full list of nominations is below:
Folk Singer of the Year
Cara Dillon
Julie Fowlis
Karine Polwart
Siobhan Miller
Best Duo
Chris Stout & Catriona McKay
Edgelarks
O’Hooley & Tidow
Ross Ainslie & Ali Hutton
Best Group
Elephant Sessions
Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band
Lankum
Sam Kelly & The Lost Boys
Best Album
Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band – Big Machine
Karine Polwart with Pippa Murphy – A Pocket of Wind Resistance
Lankum – Between the Earth and Sky
The Young’uns – Strangers
Horizon Award
Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne
Georgia Lewis
Ímar
Ryan Young
Musician of the Year
Martin Simpson
Mohsen Amini
Ross Ainslie
Tim Edey
Best Original Track
Be The Man - The Young’uns
Cân y c?n - Gwyneth Glyn
The Granite Gaze – Lankum
The Great Saint Lawrence River - Declan O’Rourke
Best Traditional Track
Banks of Newfoundland - Siobhan Miller
Lisa Lân - Alaw
Lowlands of Holland - Ye Vagabonds
The Life of a Man / Greensleeves - Chris Foster
BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award
Jack Warnock
Josiah & Ludwig
Mera Royle
The Drystones
