Martin scoops top award – and meets his neighbour
WHEN acoustic guitarist Martin Simpson was successful in this week's BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, the prize was presented by one of his neighbours in Sheffield…
He had never met fellow musician Richard Hawley until the ceremony in London on Monday night – even though they both live in the High Storrs/Greystones area.
The evening was further confirmation of Sheffield's place in the folk music firmament, with another resident, Jon Boden, scooping an award.
He was named Folk Singer Of The Year, which he received from actress Zoe Wannamaker.
For Martin Simpson, internationally renowned for his style of guitar playing, it was yet another prize – this time for Best Traditional Song.
He has received 23 nominations for the BBC Folk Awards over nine years and now won six times, twice as Musician of the Year and twice for Album of the Year. His latest success was with his interpretation of the song Sir Patrick Spens from his True Stories album.
He performed the song at the ceremony at The Brewery in London with a band that included Andy Seward, who lives in Penistone, and Keith Angel, who lives in Doncaster.
Martin described the ceremony as "great, really good fun". He said: "One of the real treats was Richard Hawley presenting me with the award on the evening. He lives about 300 yards away from me as the crow flies and we had never met before.
"There are people in the world who enthuse about the guitar – I'm one and so is Richard. It was difficult for us to stop talking about the guitar…
"He's a delightful person. I've no doubt we'll work together."
As well as receiving his individual award, singer and fiddle player Jon Boden, who lives near Bradfield, shared the honours as a member of the band Bellowhead, which was Best Live Act. Their award was presented by actor Kevin Whately.
Martin Simpson and Jon Boden are teaming up to organise a series of folk nights at The Boardwalk in Snig Hill, starting Monday, February 15.
Other BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards: Best Duo, Show of Hands; Best Group, Lau; Best Album, Hill of Thieves – Cara Dillon; Best Original Song, Arrogance Ignorance and Greed – Steve Knightley (performed by Show of Hands); Horizon Award, Sam Carter; Musician Of The Year, John Kirkpatrick; Lifetime Achievement Award, Nanci Griffith; Lifetime Achievement Award, Dick Gaughan; Good Tradition Award, The Transatlantic Sessions; Folk Club Of The Year, The Magpie's Nest, London.
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Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 09 February 2012
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