BBC ALBA PROGRAMMES NOMINATED IN PRESTIGIOUS TRADITIONAL MUSIC AWARDS

BBC ALBA is delighted that two of its programmes have received nominations in the forthcoming Traditional Music Awards.

The two programmes, A' Gharaids: The Garage, a music programme produced by Studio Alba and Bliadhna Mhath Ùr, BBC ALBA’s 2008 Hogmanay show, produced by Bees Nees Media have both received nominations in the ‘Trad Music in the Media’ category.

A' Gharaids is a music series which brings together young Gaelic singers and established artists from diverse genres to explore the artistic process of musical fusion; taking old songs from the Gaelic tradition and developing modern interpretations as well as creating new songs in diverse musical styles. Each show follows an intense two-day relationship-building and music-making process, from initial discussion through to final performance.

Bliadhna Mhath Ùr was BBC ALBA’s first live Hogmanay Show, broadcast simultaneously on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal from Studio Alba in Stornoway. Presented by Tony Kearney and Morag Dhòmhnallach, the show featured a range of top Gaelic performers including Julie Fowlis, Sineag Macintyre & Norrie MacIver, Na h-Òganaich, Norman MacLean, Margaret Stewart with Allan & Iain MacDonald, Seasaidh Lexy plus many guest artistes.

Two popular BBC Radio Scotland programmes, The Reel Blend and Pipeline are also nominated in this category.

Alan Esslemont, Head of Content for BBC ALBA, said: “We are delighted that two of the channel’s programmes have been nominated in this year’s awards. BBC ALBA provides a diverse range of high quality music programmes that are of interest to both the Gaelic and Scotland-wide audiences. Traditional music is hugely popular and is a key strand of our music programming highlighting the level of talent that Scotland’s traditional music scene has to offer.”

The awards ceremony will take place in front of a sell out crowd at DG One in Dumfries on Saturday 28 November, when the winners in each of the categories will be announced. The star studded line up features Barbara Dickson, The Treacherous Orchestra, Donnie Munro Band, Skippinish and Deaf Shepherd, along with many other highly acclaimed artistes of the traditional music scene.

BBC ALBA will be broadcasting highlights from the award ceremony on Monday 30 November at 10pm and repeated on Friday 4 December at 11.30p