07/02/2011

On Monday 7th February Mike Harding and Barbara Dickson co-hosted the 2011 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. Now in their 12th year, the awards celebrate the UK's vibrant folk scene, and achievements from the past 12 months, and honour outstanding lifetime contributions.
Live from The Brewery in London on 7th February Simon Mayo previewed the awards, including live performances from duo nominees Chris While and Julie Matthews and a capella trio Coope, Boyes and Simpson. At 7.45 nominees Bellowhead opened the awards ceremony with a live performance of New York Girls.
Other nominees this year included singer-songwriter Chris Wood who was shortlisted for Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album and Best Original Song for the affecting ballad Hollow Point. A debut duo album for mother and daughter Eliza Carthy and Norma Waterson helped them to win three nominations this year - Best Duo, Best Album for Gift and Best Traditional Track for Wayfaring Stranger.
And there were several artists this year receiving their first Folk Award nominations: Irish singer Heidi Talbot, twice Mercury-nominated talent Laura Marling, and Cornish shanty choir Fisherman's Friends - who made history in 2010 with the first ever album of traditional folk music to enter the top 10 of the network album charts.
Donovan, an artist who has influenced generations of musicians and music fans alike, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award and there were also live performances from folk superstar Kate Rusby and festival favourites The Levellers. Guest presenters included actress Tamsin Greig, BBC Radio 2 presenter Mark Radcliffe and best-selling novelist Joanna Trollope.