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Radio 2
2009
I
n his liner notes for this year’s CD and universal truths, songs and stories
set compiling all of the nominees for learned and re-learned that will survive
the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Smooth centuries more.
Operations’ John Leonard sets up the
10th annual event with, “By their very
Amongst the list of nominees there is
nature, awards can be subjective and
a healthy proportion of new blood and
occasionally controversial and over the
artists who are still in the early stages of
years the Folk Awards have certainly
developing careers. Jon Boden expands
been both but in the main, it’s fair to say
on this, “I think the most important thing
that they’ve assisted in what has turned
about the Folk Awards is the role they play
out to be a rich decade of creativity in
in bringing new and up-and-coming acts
folk music.” Amen to that.
to wider attention. Being nominated for
the Horizon Award was one of the most
With the profile of the genre still rising
important breaks for me and John.”
and an amazingly vibrant live scene
this CD contains arguably the strongest
But one stage further on from the Horizon
selection of music yet and is certainly a very accessible
category are the Young Folk Award finalists, who make up
collection. Many of the artists and their respective albums
the bonus disc of the CD set. This had special resonance
have featured strongly in the critics recommendations
for your scribe this year, as the daughter of a friend of thirty
throughout the year. Bellowhead even headlined BBC 4’s
years standing took the stage as part of Tyde. While last
coverage of this year’s Folk Prom, whilst Eliza Carthy featured
year’s winners Jeana Leslie and Siobahn Miller have moved
on Later... With Jools. Eliza was also on hand to present
on to the main event, the standard at this year’s event was
this year’s lifetime achievement winner, Judy Collins, with a
astonishing. Each act in turn demonstrated both great talent,
similar Mojo Award in 2008.
but also that connection with the source of their inspiration.
There’s a great selection of tracks across three CDs, covering
For the last word, it seems fitting to turn to John Leonard
the UK from the English common man’s common sense
again whose work with the BBC does so much to promote
of Chris Wood, to John McCusker’s ever inventive Scottish
this music. He points out, “A tenth anniversary is a time
themes; the cleverly chosen cover versions of pop songs
for reflection as well as celebration.” And on reflection,
put into traditional context by Julie Fowlis and Jim Moray;
“I’m delighted that for the past five years we have had a
Seth Lakeman’s scene stealing grasp of his local history
CD compilation featuring tracks by all of the nominees to
matched by Karine Polwart’s emotive, plangent reference to
showcase the music and focus attention on the great artists
the horrors of Flodden Field and Megson’s recasting of their
we have among us. Looking back at the first CD edition in
Teeside roots. Age is no distinction as young and old sit side
2005 it’s nice to recall that my introduction talked about
by side to marry music and history, paradoxically creating
the rich diversity of folk music on offer to be celebrated
something that taps the zeitgeist and offers a future built
and explored. It seems to me this is as relevant today, and
on substance rather than fickle fame. This is a heritage that perhaps more so, than ever.”
has survived centuries with its roots in shared experience
Simon Holland
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