An Tobar: Venue Of The Year Winner

29 Dec 2019

Gordon Maclean:

‘Saturday 7th December I headed off through driving rain on the long journey to Aberdeen and the wipers stayed on the whole way. Quick bite to eat and a change into smart clothes and we were in the Music Halls which has recently been given a major renovation and looks fabulous. An Tobar is about 140 years old now and, although it doesn’t have the impressive pillars at the front that the Music Halls have, the high gables looking over Tobermory Bay look pretty cool I think.

The reason I was in Aberdeen was the Scottish Traditional Music Awards, Na Trads. It’s always an amazing night with the buzz and excitement of expectation, lots of hugs and hullos with old friends and some fantastic entertainment.

An Tobar was nominated for Venue of the Year, the fourth time we’d been up for this particular award. Incredible to hear presenter Kim Carnie announce that we had won! It was the second award of the night and the first one, Video of the Year, was won by the massively popular Tide Lines (shout out to Mull boy Ross Wilson who was also up for Musician of the Year). You’ll be pleased to know I kept my speech short! Thanks to the crew back in Tobermory and a dedication to all the wonderful musicians who have played for us over the years.

It’s been lovely back home on Mull with so many people stopping in the street to give us their good wishes. It’s the kind of award that is easy to share with our amazing local community.

Special thanks to the incredible Simon Thoumire and his organisation Hands Up For Trad who have been behind this brilliant night since it began in 2005.

Here’s to many more gigs of all kinds in the Venue of the Year! Hope to see you there.’

Photo: Nick Ray

Full winners list is as follows:

Album of the Year sponsored by Birnam CD

Frenzy of the Meeting by Breabach

The Belhaven Bursary for Innovation in Scottish Music in association with Showcase Scotland Expo

Kinnaris Quintet

Club of the Year sponsored by Traditional Arts and Culture Scotland

Sutherland Sessions

Composer of the Year sponsored by PRS for Music

Jenna Reid

Community Project of the Year sponsored by SKIPINNISH

SEALL Festival of Small Halls

Event of the Year sponsored by VisitScotland

Tiree Music Festival

Gaelic Singer of the Year sponsored by The Highland Society of London

Mary Ann Kennedy

Musician of the Year sponsored by The University of the Highlands and Islands

Jenn Butterworth

Live Act of the Year sponsored by Greentrax Recordings

Peat and Diesel

Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year sponsored by Traditional Music and Song Association

Steve Byrne

Scottish Dance Band of the Year sponsored by National Association of Accordion and Fiddle Clubs

The Cruickshank Family Band

Scottish Folk Band of the Year sponsored by Threads of Sound

Blazin’ Fiddles

Scottish Pipe Band of the Year sponsored by Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust

Inverary and District Pipe Band

Trad Video of the Year Sponsored by Ceòlas Uibhist

Heroes by Tide Lines

Music Tutor of the Year sponsored by Creative Scotland’s Youth Music Initiative

Iain Ruari Finlayson, Skye Schools

Up and Coming Artist of the Year sponsored by Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Man of the Minch

Venue of the Year Award sponsored by Musicians’ Union

An Tobar (Mull)

The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award Sponsored by Edinburgh Folk Club

Dr. Peter Cooke

Services to Gaelic Sponsored by Bòrd na Gàidhlig

Anne Souter

The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Sponsored by Scots Radio

Sheena Blackhall