This year´s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards are to be held at The Bridgewater Hall, Manchester

The BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, hosted by Mark Radcliffe, is one of the jewels in the network’s musical calendar and is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The show will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 2.

Alongside the announcement of the winners by an array of guest presenters, there will be live performances from new and established artists including legendary Irish group Dervish, Welsh-Senegalese duo Catrin Finch and Seckou Keita and Edward II, Anglo-Caribbean fusioneers from Manchester.

There will also be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award and one act will join Nick Drake, Sandy Denny, Woody Guthrie and Ewan MacColl via induction in to the Folk Awards Hall of Fame.

Previous ceremonies have featured live performances from artists including James Taylor, Joan Baez, Guy Garvey, Laura Marling, Bellowhead, Yusuf Cat Stevens, The Unthanks, Rufus Wainwright and Christy Moore.

Expect very special collaborations, and magical musical moments, from some of the most exciting artists in the folk world.

Nominees have just been announced for the various categories:

Folk Singer of the Year
Gwilym Bowen Rhys
Lisa O´Neill
Olivia Chaney
Ríoghnach Connolly
 
Best Duo/Group
Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita
Stick in the Wheel
The Breath
The Rheingans Sisters

Horizon Award
Brìghde Chaimbeul
Kinnaris Quintet
Kitty Macfarlane
The Trials Of Cato

Best Traditional Track
Factory Girl by Lisa O´Neill ft. Radie Peat
Ffoles Llantrisant by VRï
The Foggy Dew by Ye Vagabonds
The Reedcutter´s Daughter by Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith

Best Original Track
Blackbird by Lisa O´Neill
I Burn But I Am Not Consumed by Karine Polwart (written by Karine and Steven Polwart)
O-U-T Spells Out by Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening
Scapa Flow 1919 by Kris Drever