Hands up for Trad will be hosting the 5th Scots Trad Music Awards weekend at the Nevis Centre in Fort William from Thursday 29th November to Saturday 1st December 2007.

The aim of these Awards is to highlight and celebrate Scotland's rich traditional music in all its forms.

STAGE 2 open: ONLY 5 DAYS LEFT TO VOTE! VOTING MUST CLOSE ON FRIDAY 23RD NOVEMBER 2007

Log on towww.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards/index.htm <http://www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards/index.htm> and vote for your favourite of the top four nominations in each category. The nomination with the most votes will win the 2007 category to be announced at the Scots Trad Music Awards weekend.


2007 NOMINATIONS

ALBUM OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY BIRNAM CD

* Devils Advocate (Chris Stout Quintet)
* Lightweights & Gentlemen (Lau)
* Cuilidh (Julie Fowlis)
* Just for Gordon (Gordon Duncan)

CLUB OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY LIVING TRADITION MAGAZINE

* Acoustic Music Club, Kirkcaldy
* The String Jam, Galashiels
* Ceol s Craic, Glasgow
* The Haddington Accordian & Fiddle Club

COMMUNITY PROJECT OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY BBC RADIO SHETLAND

* Scots Music Group
* Scottish Traditional Boat Festival Ballads and Bairns Project
* Glasgow Irish Minstrels (St Rochs)
* Taransay Fiddle Camp

COMPOSER OF THE YEAR- SPONSORED BY DISTIL

* Jim Sutherland
* Phil Cunningham
* John McCusker
* Michael Marra

EVENT OF THE YEAR- SPONSORED BY VISITSCOTLAND

* Edinburgh International Harp Festival
* The Royal National Mod
* Cullerllie Singing Weekend
* Fest n' Furious

GAELIC SINGER OF THE YEA R - SPONSORED BY MACMEANMNA

* Julie Fowlis
* James Graham
* Calum Alex MacMillan
* Mary Smith

SERVICES TO INDUSTRY AWARD - SPONSORED BY SCOTTISH ARTS COUNCIL

* Coda Music
* John Purser for Scotland's Music A Radio History
* Taigh na Teud
* Thane Multi Media

INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY TEMPLE RECORDS

* Alasdair White
* Jenna Reid
* Catriona McKay

LIVE ACT OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY GREENTRAX

* Runrig
* Red Hot Chilli Pipers
* Shooglenifty
* Lau

CITTY FINLAYSON SCOTS SINGER OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY TRADITIONAL MUSIC AND SONG ASSOCIATION

* Scott Gardiner
* Gordeanna McCulloch
* John Morran
* Mairi Campbell

SCOTTISH DANCE BAND OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ACCORDION AND FIDDLE CLUBS

* Colin Dewar Scottish Dance Band
* Cullivoe Dance band
* Ian Cruikshanks and his Dance Band
* Tom Orr Scottish Dance Band

SCOTTISH FOLK BAND OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY FOOT STOMPIN' CELTIC MUSIC

* Dimh
* Old Blind Dogs
* Breabach
* Fiddlers' Bid

SCOTTISH PIPE BAND OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL PIPING CENTRE

* The Mid Argyll Pipe Band
* Strathclyde Police Pipe Band
* The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland
* Inverurie Pipe Band

UP AND COMING ARTIST OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY ROYAL SCOTTISH ACADEMY OF MUSIC AND DRAMA

* Shona Mooney
* Maeve MacKinnon
* Ross Ainslie and Jarlath Henderson
* Mike and Ali Vass

STRATHSPEY AND REEL SOCIETY OF THE YEAR - SPONSORED BY ROYAL SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCE SOCIETY

* Fochabers Fiddlers
* Aberdeen Strathspey and Reel Society
* Lothian Schools Strathspey and Reel Society
* The Border Strathspey and Reel Society

VENUE OF THE YEAR

* An Tobar (Tobermory)
* St Andrew's in the Square (Glasgow)
* An Lanntair (Stornoway)
* Tolbooth (Stirling)

SCOTS TRAD MUSIC AWARDS 2007 WEEKEND

Make a weekend of it in Fort William. As well as the awards, some of Scotlands top traditional bands will perform as part of the celebratory weekend.

These include:

Thursday 29th November 2007 at 8pm

Peatbog Faeries

Nevis Centre. Tickets 8/6

Box Office:01397 700707

Back by popular demand, the Peatbog Faeries return to Fort William after their outstanding opening at last years Scots Trad Music Awards.

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Friday 30th November 2007 at 8pm

St Andrew's Night Ceilidh

Nevis Centre. Tickets 8/6

Box Office:01397 700707

Come along and dance the night away! Celebrate St Andrew's Day in style with The Occasionals, Marian Anderson SDB, Meantime, Ceilidh Mor and the Tigerstyle Dhol Drummers.

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Saturday 1st December 2007 at 7pm

Scots Trad Music Awards and Gala Concert (Hosts:Mary Ann Kennedy and Stuart Cassells)

Nevis Centre. Tickets 15

Box Office:01397 700707

The Awards, which give recognition to excellence within Scotland's thriving musical culture, encompass all aspects of traditional music from Gaelic Song, Folk, Scottish Dance music, to Pipe Bands and a host of others in between.Another important part of the evening is the induction of this years nominees into the Scottish Traditional Music - Hall of Fame.

Acts performing at the 2007 Scots Trad Music Awards Ceremony will include:

* The Unusual Suspects
* Shooglenifty
* The Red Hot Chilli Pipers
* Sylvia Barnes
* Kathleen MacInnes
* The Marian Anderson Scottish Dance Band
* Kintyre Youth Pipe Band
* Feis Rois
* Catriona Watt and the Anna Massie Band.

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Thurs 29th November - Saturday 1st December

Trad Music Awards Late Night Club. Start time 10.30pm

Stay out late and enjoy the atmosphere and sessions in our late night club at the Alexandria Hotel, Fort William. Tickets 2 (available at the door)