Lifetime achievement accolade for Aly in Radio 2 folk awards

Shetland fiddler Aly Bain has been honoured with a lifetime achieve­ment award at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards this week.

The event, held at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall as part of the Celtic Connections Festival, cele­brates the best folk and roots music across the UK. It was broadcast live on BBC2 on Wednesday night, in a programme presented by Julie Fowlis and Mark Radcliffe.

Singer Martha Wainright presen­ted the award to Aly Bain towards the end of the evening, with a speech that not only praised his incredible musicianship but also spoke of the friendship between her own musical family – brother Rufus, father Loudon and mother Kate McGarrigle – and Bain.

Three more lifetime achievement awards were presented at the event – to Roy Harper, Dougie Maclean (for his contribution to songwriting) and singer Billy Bragg. Shetland favourites Lau were honoured with the Best Band Award.