James Findlay, a 20-year-old singer, guitarist and fiddle player from Dorset, has won BBC Radio 2′s Young Folk Award 2010.
James and five other finalists performed at an evening of music at the BBC Radio Theatre. He was presented with his trophy by musician and singer Jon Boden.
Highlights from the final, which includes performances by each of the six finalists and the announcement of James’ win, can be heard in an extended edition of Mike Harding’s Radio 2 show tonight (Wednesday 9 December) at 7.00pm.
James is a traditional singer, guitarist and fiddler based in Dorset. Coming from a family of traditional singers, his love lies in English folk music and ballads.
His presentation and musical style is inspired by guitarist and singer Nic Jones and singers such as the Watersons and Young Tradition.
Mike Harding, who hosted the final, says: “Last year a terrific young singer-songwriter, Megan Henwood, won the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award along with her brother Joe.
“As if to prove what a broad church the folk scene is, this year’s winner is James Findlay, a brilliant young traditional singer, guitarist and fiddle player who plays and sings with all the fire and dedication of masters like Nic Jones and the late Tony Rose.
“The standard, as ever, was extremely high and James was a deserved winner. I’m really looking forward to seeing what he does over the course of the next 12 months– winning the Radio 2 Young Folk Award often seems to spur the winners on to some quite amazing things.”
James’ prize includes a session for Mike’s Radio 2 show and slots on the bill at three of the UK’s most prestigious festivals – the Cambridge Folk Festival, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention and Towersey Village Festival.
James and the five other acts were selected by a panel of judges to go through to the final which took place at the BBC Radio Theatre on Friday 4 December.
The Radio 2 Young Folk Award is the network’s annual search for the most promising folk musicans in the UK.
Now in its 12th year, the initiative is open to anyone aged 15 to 20 who performs traditional and acoustic music with roots in any culture as a band, duo or soloist.
Last year’s winners were Megan & Joe Henwood, a brother and sister duo from Oxfordshire.