Fiddlers’ Bid nominated as best live band in BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards

Fiddlers’ Bid have been nominated in the best live band category at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.

Presented annually since 2000, the awards are generally viewed as the top accolade in UK folk music and are held to celebrate what the BBC terms as “outstanding achievement during the previous year”.

A BBC spokesman said it was also a chance to showcase to the media just some of the artists and music that they had been particularly proud of during the past 12 months.

Fiddlers’ Bid member Andrew Gifford said the band was absolutely delighted to be nominated for the award.

He said: “We’ve had a great year of touring this year on the back of the success of our album All Dressed in Yellow and this is hopefully formal recognition of all the hard work we’ve put into that and the very positive responses we’ve had from audiences across the UK throughout the year – not to mention the fun we’ve had doing it.

“This is, I suppose, the icing on that particular cake and a great way to further celebrate our 20th anniversary as a band next year.”

The eventual winners are chosen by a panel of 120 experts in the field of folk and easy listening music, including broadcasters, journalists, festival organisers, agents and promoters. They will be announced at a ceremony in London on 7th February 2011, hosted by Radio 2 presenter Mike Harding and broadcast on BBC Radio 2.

Fiddlers’ Bid are also set to headline the first weekend of Glasgow’s Celtic Connections festival next year with a special concert in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Saturday 15th January to celebrate their 20th anniversary. The band will be joined by a number of special guests for the occasion.

The band will also feature on the BBC Radio 2 Aled Jones show on 5th December when TV wildlife presenter Simon King selects a track as one of his personal top five favourite tracks of all time.