Posts Tagged ‘bbc’
BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013 Nominees Announced
Posted on November 24th, 2012 in News, Recent Posts by Edward Craggs.
Voting is now open for the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2013 after the nominees were announced earlier this week.
This year’s event will be taking place for the first time in Glasgow, at The Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on January 30 2013, as part of the Celtic Connections festival. Fiddler Duncan Chisholm (whose album Affric was one of Songlines Best Albums of 2012), Mercury Music Prize nominated Sam Lee and trio Lau have all received two nominations each.
The full list of nominees are…
FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR
Nic Jones
Sam Lee
Jim Moray
Karine Polwart
BEST ALBUM [Public vote with five nominees]*
Broadside – Bellowhead
Ground of Its Own – Sam Lee
Race the Loser – Lau
Skulk – Jim Moray
Traces – Karine Polwart
BEST DUO
Katriona Gilmore & Jamie Roberts
Hannah James & Sam Sweeney
O’Hooley & Tidow
Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
BEST GROUP
Bellowhead
Lau
Treacherous Orchestra
The Unthanks
HORIZON AWARD
Blair Dunlop
Luke Jackson
Maz O’Connor
Rura
MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR
Ross Ainslie
Duncan Chisholm
Sam Sweeney
Kathryn Tickell
BBC RADIO 2 YOUNG FOLK AWARD
Luke Jackson
Graham Mackenzie & Ciorstaidh Beaton
Thalla
Grey Russell & Ciaran Algar
BEST TRADITIONAL TRACK
‘Lord Douglas’ – Jim Moray
‘Tha Sneachd‘ air Druim Uachdair’ – Kathleen MacInnes
‘Unknown Air’ – Duncan Chisholm
‘Wild Wood Amber’ – Sam Lee
BEST ORIGINAL SONG
‘Hatchlings’ – Emily Portman
‘King of Birds’ – Karine Polwart
‘Tailor’ – Anaïs Mitchell
‘The Ballad of Andy Jacobs’ – Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman
*Voting closes at 7pm on November 30 2012
BBC 6Music crowned UK station of the year
Posted on May 16th, 2012 in News, Recent Posts by Songlines Intern.
If one were to document the trials and tribulations of the radio industry into a carefully crafted fairy tale, BBC 6Music would star in the leading role. Frequently characterised as the digital underdog of the BBC radio family; a fledging younger sibling to the manic wake up call of Moyles or the dulcet tones of Wogan, the station has finally made its mark.
On Monday evening the annual Sony Radio Academy Awards took place at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, with 6Music triumphantly claiming the event’s most prestigious award – UK Station of the year. Few could have predicted such success two years ago when the BBC decided to discard the station when it was viewed as excess to requirements in a period of necessary cost cutting. With outrage rife, musicians, politicians and the public issued support for BBC Radio’s youngest son and thankfully kept its eclectic and vast array of musical styles and programming on the airwaves – a breath of fresh air.
Perhaps the most defining conclusion to take away from the events of Monday evening is the fact 6Music is the first digital station to ever receive the award. Indeed the availability of digital radio is more accessible than ever before, even in 2010 when the station was on the verge of closure.
Yet the triumph of 6Music is not simply via a path of natural technological progression. The station has earned its listeners with consistent, enjoyable programming that varies even during daytime hours. Where more established radio networks hide those who do not fit the mould of an unremitting, bi-hourly daytime loop away in the 1am slot for those fortunate (or equally unfortunate) enough to be awake – 6Music confidently bounces between beats and poetry with Cerys Matthews on a Sunday morning, Giles Peterson’s groove on a Saturday and Steve Lamacq’s showcasing of unsigned artists on weekday afternoons. To name but a few. Each DJ demonstrates both a passion for the music they play and a respect for those who will listen.
On winning, Songlines columnist and 6Music presenter Cerys Matthews commented on the station’s success: “We would like to say thanks to all those listeners who saved the station in the first place and the listeners who keep supporting those of us with eclectic and varied programmes.”
There is much to be taken from the night, not least the recognition of a station whose sole purpose relies entertaining its audience with music from all corners of the globe. Cerys concluded her sentiments perfectly: “Please keep being vocal to the BBC – it is ours after all.”
John Peel’s Record Collection as an Online Archive
Posted on May 9th, 2012 in News, Recent Posts by Alexandra Petropoulos.
Ever wondered what musical gems you could find if you were allowed to root through John Peel’s impressive record collection? Wonder no more – the online museum project The Space has turned the late radio DJ’s collection into an online archive that allows you to browse his catalogue aurally and visually.
John Peel, famed for uncovering new music during his nearly 40 years as a radio DJ, died in 2004 at the age of 65. His widow, Sheila Ravenscroft told the BBC, ‘We’re very happy that we’ve finally found a way to make John’s amazing collection available to his fans, as he would have wanted.’
The online archive will due to include roughly 25,000 of his vinyl LPs. Peel’s catalogue also feature singles and CDs, though The Space project will focus on the vinyl first.
The project has currently secured funding in order to upload 100 records a week between May and October 2012, though there is talk of the long-term with the hope to eventually upload Peel’s collection in its entirety.
The archive has already included cover art and some audio samples of records catalogued under the letter A, and the Bs were uploaded yesterday.
Visit the online archive here: http://thespace.org/items/e000006a
Happy Birthday BBC 6Music!
Posted on March 13th, 2012 in News, Recent Posts by Alexandra Petropoulos.
Two years ago, BBC 6Music was on the chopping block. Low listener numbers had the BBC re-evaluating the station, deciding that it was time to switch off the passionate presenters.
They will be celebrating their anniversary in style with special events all week. For details on what’s happening, be sure to check out the BBC 6Music website.
Happy Birthday, here’s to another ten years!
Be sure to check out next issue (#83 on sale March 16), which features two 6 Music greats – Huey Morgan’s playlist and Cerys Matthews’ regular column.
