Huntly's Iona Fyfe named Scots Singer of the Year
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HUNTLY'S Iona Fyfe was named Scots Singer of the Year at a prestigious awards ceremony in Dundee on Saturday night.
Ms Fyfe thanked 'wonderfully-kind and generous' supporters for voting for her as she took home the Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year award at the 21st MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards.
In total, 22 awards were handed out at the Caird Hall after more than 110 nominees were named. The ceremony was broadcast live on BBC Alba.
More than 100,000 votes were cast by fans of the traditional music scene in Scotland before the winners were announced.
After winning the award, which she also took home in 2018, Iona Fyfe said: "Thank you to all of the wonderfully kind, generous people who took the time to vote for me. This award means so much to me."
Ms Fyfe used her acceptance speech to call for a ceasefire in Gaza – holding up a sign that read 'Ceasefire Now'.
She added: "We are all here having a great evening," she said. "I have been thinking about what it means to be a Scots singer and a folk singer.
"As Woody Guthrie said, it is a folk singer's job to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable – and for that reason, I want you to listen to me when I say that we are safe but other people are not."
Supported by Creative Scotland, the Trad Awards, or ‘Na Trads’, inaugurated in 2003, pay tribute to key figures in the Scottish traditional music scene.
Presented by Alistair Heather and Mary Ann Kennedy, the awards can be watched back on BBC iPlayer.
Simon Thoumire, the organiser of the awards, said: "I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to making the 2023 ‘Na Trads’ such a resounding success.
"From the passionate audience members and all of our incredibly talented performers to everyone who voted and our generous sponsors and supporters, we truly couldn’t hold these awards without you.
"Congratulations to all the deserving award winners; your dedication and artistry continue to elevate and inspire the scene as a whole.
“Our 21st year has felt like a coming of age and it’s been wonderful to celebrate this milestone with those across Scotland and beyond who share our love of Scottish traditional music and its profound cultural impact.
"The enduring appeal of our music is heartening to see, and I'm deeply grateful to be part of this vibrant community, celebrating the rich tapestry of our musical heritage while embracing new waves of creativity."
For more information and other award winners visit www.scotstradmusicawards.com
