The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards celebrate outstanding achievement during the previous year within the field of folk music. The awards have been given annually since 2000 by British radio station BBC Radio 2.

The award winners are chosen by a panel of 120 experts in the field of folk music, including broadcasters, journalists, festival organisers, agents and promoters.

The award ceremony, which takes place early in February, has been presented since its inception by Mike Harding, and broadcast on BBC Radio 2. In 2004 the awards were shown on television for the first time, on BBC Four.

Contents

1 Award Winners 1.1 2000 1.2 2001 1.3 2002 1.4 2003 1.5 2004 1.6 2005 2 External links

Award Winners

2000

• Folk Singer of the Year: Kate Rusby
• Best Album: Sleepless by Kate Rusby
• Best Original Song: A Place Called England performed by Maggie Holland
• Best Traditional Track: Raggle Taggle Gypsy performed by Waterson:Carthy
• Best Group: Waterson:Carthy
• Horizon Award: Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
• Instrumentalist of the Year: Martin Hayes
• Radio 2 Special Award: Joan Baez
• Radio 2 Special Roots Award: Youssou N'Dour
• Andy Kershaw Roots Award: Joe Boyd and Lucy Duran
• Good Tradition Award: Topic Records
• Folk Club Award: Westhoughton
• Best Live Act: La Bottine Souriante

2001

• Folk Singer of the Year: Norma Waterson
• Best Album: Unity by John Tams
• Best Original Song: Harry Stone (Hearts of Coal) by John Tams
• Best Group: Danú
• Horizon Award: Bill Jones
• Instrumentalist of the Year: Michael McGoldrick
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Bert Jansch
• Radio 2 Special Roots Award: Taj Mahal
• Good Tradition Award: Bob Copper
• Folk Club Award: The Davy Lamp
• Best Live Act: Vin Garbutt

2002

• Folk Singer of the Year: Martin Carthy
• Best Album: The Bramble Briar by Martin Simpson
• Best Original Song: Lullabye by Kate Rusby
• Best Traditional Track: Black is the Colour performed by Cara Dillon
• Best Group: Cherish the Ladies
• Horizon Award: Cara Dillon
• Instrumentalist of the Year: Martin Simpson
• Lifetime Achievement Award: The Chieftains
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): Ralph McTell
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Fairport Convention
• Folk Club Award: Nettlebed
• Best Live Act: Rory McLeod

2003

• Folk Singer of the Year: Eliza Carthy
• Best Duo: Nancy Kerr and James Fagan
• Best Group: Altan
• Best Album: Anglicana by Eliza Carthy
• Best Original Song: No Telling performed by Linda Thompson
• Best Traditional Track: Worcester City performed by Eliza Carthy
• Horizon Award: John Spiers and Jon Boden
• Instrumentalist of the Year: John McCusker
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Christy Moore
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): John Prine
• Best Live Act: Roy Bailey and Tony Benn
• Good Tradition Award: Oysterband
• Folk Club Award: Edinburgh

2004

• Folk Singer of the Year: June Tabor
• Best Duo: John Spiers and Jon Boden
• Best Group: Danú
• Best Album: Sweet England by Jim Moray
• Best Original Song: Co. Down by Tommy Sands (performed by Danú )
• Best Traditional Track: Hughie Graeme (performed by June Tabor)
• Horizon Award: Jim Moray
• Musician of the Year: Martin Simpson
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Dave Swarbrick
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): Steve Earle
• Best Live Act: Show Of Hands
• Good Tradition Award: Celtic Connections
• Folk Club Award: Rockingham Arms, Wentworth

2005

• Folk Singer of the Year: Martin Carthy
• Best Duo: Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham
• Best Group: Oysterband The Big Session
• Best Album: Faultlines by Karine Polwart
• Best Original Song: The Sun's Comin' Over The Hill by Karine Polwart
• Best Traditional Track: Famous Flower Of Serving Men (performed by Martin Carthy)
• Horizon Award: Karine Polwart
• Musician of the Year: Kathryn Tickell
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Ramblin' Jack Elliott
• Lifetime Achievement Award (Songwriting): Tom Paxton
• Best Live Act: Bellowhead
• Best Dance Band: Whapweasel
• Good Tradition Award: Steeleye Span
• Folk Club Award: Hitchin Folk Club

External links

The BBC's Folk Awards site