feature BBc Radio 2 FoLk awaRds 2011

the nominations for Folk Singer of the Year are: phwaaawhgh … BBC Radio 2 Chris Wood! [cue Wood track] … Jon Boden! [cue Boden track]… Heidi Talbot! (cue Talbot track)… Folk Awards 2011 Kris Drever! (cue Drever track)… phwaaawhgh.’ Yet in a perverse way, it’s Another evening of awards for the same old faces? Noel these slow, creeping, relentless leanings to affectation and glitz Harvey reports on the 2011 BBC Folk Awards. that make the whole package so gloriously entertaining. And t’s easy enough to be cynical “the presenters’ speeches occasionally then, of course, there’s the live about the Radio 2 Folk music, the free wine and the Awards. The idea that a deliver a more spectacular line in dive- ridiculous speeches. Not so Iself-appointed body of ‘folk bombing than a squadron of Stukas” much the winners’ speeches, I professionals’ should determine hasten to add, which tend, for not only what constitutes the most part, to be modest, the genre, but who is most the awarding body seems to have the glittery, logoed backdrop unaffected little affairs. Whereas accomplished at writing and shot itself in the foot. They’ve and the interjected sound the presenters’ speeches, on the performing it, is profoundly, singled out Donovan for a career effects, approximating to a cross other hand, will occasionally copiously and irredeemably honour. There is talk of a boycott, between a Sid James letch and deliver a more spectacular line in daft. Folk has always been the threats of a stage invasion, a turbolift door sliding open on dive-bombing than a squadron people’s music, and that’s what mutterings among the audience the Starship Enterprise. ‘And of Stukas. makes it folk, folks. When they that whoever came up with start setting up elitist bodies to this little stunt wouldn’t know a become the gatekeepers, you lifetime achievement from a hole have to ask yourself , aren’t these in the ground. guys missing the point? But such is the capriciousness Yet having said that, the of the music business. As events majority of people who’d consider transpire, the threatened stage themselves folk enthusiasts invasion fails to materialise, Roger would most likely agree (up until Daltrey gives Donovan a standing this year’s event at least) that the ovation, and the only howls of Folk Awards give recognition to anger heard throughout the entire many performers that is, more evening come, not from irate often than not, well deserved. dissenters, but from Nancy Kerr’s And in any case, the awards nine-month-old baby, Hamish, are no more silly than, say, clog seething at having been kept up dancing, morris men, or believing so long past his bedtime. that a hurdy-gurdy can be made And that aside, it was business to stay in tune. This year, though, as usual. Apart from, that is,

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BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Winners BEST DUO Nancy Kerr & James Fagan BEST TRADITIONAL TRACK ‘Poor Wayfaring Stranger’ – Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson BEST GROUP Bellowhead YOUNG FOLK AWARD Moore, Moss and Rutter MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR Andy Cutting BEST ORIGINAL SONG ‘Hollow Point’ – Chris Wood HORIZON AWARD Ewan McLennan BEST ALBUM Gift – Eliza Carthy & Norma Waterson LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Donovan BEST LIVE ACT Bellowhead GOOD TRADITION AWARD Fisherman’s Friends ROOTS AWARD Levellers FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR Chris Wood

And now Frank Skinner’s up on the podium, excavating jokes from the Palaeolithic era. It’s his turn this year. Last year it was Steve Harley’s. ‘Do you fancy the human voice and adversity a smoothie? Charles Dance is to the music, which echoes and over there. I love coming to the enhances the voice and the words, Folk Awards. It’s not often that I and then you add this rather feel fashionable. In this context ethereal quality … which you can I’m a sort of Gok Wan figure … only describe as spiritual.’ Ah! Google it … it’s an Internet thing. Charles Hazlewood, presenting him great pleasure to present the So that’s what the ‘The Cuckoo’s You don’t go to many places Best Duo award to Nancy Kerr award for Musician of the Year Nest’ is all about! Well now, didn’t where people point admiringly at and James Fagan, quotes the to ‘someone who I’ve had the you always wonder? crocs … I do love live folk music Glaswegian poet, Ivor Cutler: pleasure of playing with …’ Not a Mark Radcliffe invites us … Other gigs are so often about ‘Don’t walk through a tree. wholly unreasonable statement to consider how ‘John and dry ice and 25 costume changes. Walk round it …’ Sound counsel for a musician. That’s what they Paul’s music would have gone It’s not like that at a folk gig. indeed. Is this something one do, isn’t it? They play with each if Donovan hadn’t taught There’s only so much you can do needs to be told, or is there some other. What’s so odd about that? them how to fingerpick’. That’s with corduroy. I ’ave to do some profound hidden meaning here, Yet the words are barely out of Lennon and McCartney, we’re of this stuff. I ’ave to,’ he pleads, apparent only to Glaswegians? his mouth and he’s faltering like talking here, in case you were sensing a growing restlessness A gushing and giggling Tamsin he’s just had a moment more wondering. The best-known, in the audience. Can’t a close Greig is more transparent. ‘I naughty than Naughtie’s. ‘Er … most successful, most influential, friend tell him? Can’t somebody? do love a horn section …’ she yes … of being accompanied by most brilliantly creative musical Actually, you don’t, Frank. Really, announces proudly ‘… my …’ Joanna Trollope is altogether collaboration in the history you don’t. It’s just husband can vouch for that,’ more eloquent. ‘Folk music’, she of popular music. Mark, you so passé. before awarding Bellowhead with pronounces, sounding not unlike wouldn’t, by any chance, be Award ceremonies … Don’t the gong for Best Group. Roger HRH, ‘is the narrative of human interested in buying Tower you just adore them? Daltrey proclaims that it gives feeling and suffering … harnessing Bridge after the ceremony? Noel Harvey

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