RTÉ has today announced the shortlist for the 6th RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards, celebrating the very best in folk music in Ireland from the past year.
Leading the field are Lankum, with a trio of nominations for Best Folk Group, Best Folk Album (False Lankum) and Best Traditional Folk Track (Go Dig My Grave). Lankum vocalist Radie Peat also landed an additional Best Folk Group nomination for her new project ØXN.
The records nominated for Best Folk Album are All Of This Is Chance by Lisa O'Neill, Bláth na hÓige by Bláth na hÓige, Double You by Aoife Ní Bhriain and Catrin Finch, False Lankum by Lankum and Look Over The Wall, See The Sky by John Francis Flynn.
In a strong year for Irish folk music, other shortlisted artists include Lisa O'Neill, The Mary Wallopers, Anna Mieke, Emma Langford, Daoirí Farrell, Aoife Ní Bhriain & Catrin Finch, Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Steo Wall, Rónán Ó Snodaigh & Myles O'Reilly, The Henry Girls & Ríoghnach Connolly, Diane Cannon, Sile Denvir, Piaras Ó Lorcáin & Bláth na hÓige, Aoife Ní Bhriain, Michael McGoldrick, Michelle Mulcahy, Bláth na hÓigem, Garadice and Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble.
Best Emerging Artist nominees include Cinder Well, Diarmuid Ó Meachair, Niamh Bury, Piaras Ó Lorcáin, Séamus & Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta and Sorcha Costello.
Uileann piper, singer and collector Séamus Ennis will also be inducted into the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards Hall of Fame on the night. His son Christopher Ennis will be among the guests of honour at Vicar Street on the night.
The Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2023 will be announced in early February, in advance of the awards. Previous winners include Mary Black (2022), Christy Moore (2021), Steve Cooney (2020), Moya Brennan (2019) and Andy Irvine (2018).
The winners will be announced at a special awards event at Vicar Street, Dublin on Tuesday 27th February, hosted by RTÉ's John Creedon; the event is open to the public and will feature live performances from Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin, Niamh Bury, Bláth na hÓige, Johnny McEvoy, Rhiannon Giddens and more. Tickets for the night are available here.
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards ceremony
The RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards will also be broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1 on Tuesday 27th February, with a television highlights programme on RTÉ One on Saturday 2nd March 2024. - listen to highlights from last year's show here.
RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards - the shortlist
BEST ORIGINAL FOLK TRACK
· Abigail (Tomhas Ghobnatan) - Emma Langford
· Anáil na hOíche - Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
· Glory Days - Steo Wall
· Níl Aon Easpa Orm - Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O'Reilly
· Not Your Fight - The Henry Girls and Ríoghnach Connolly
· Old Note - Lisa O'Neill
BEST TRADITIONAL FOLK TRACK
· Amhrán Pheadar Breathnach - Diane Cannon
· Eileanóir a Rún - Síle Denvir
· Eileanór na Rún - Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
· Go Dig My Grave – Lankum
· Seán Gabha - Piaras Ó Lorcáin and Bláth na hÓige
BEST FOLK SINGER
· Anna Mieke
· Daoirí Farrell
· Dianne Cannon
· Eoghan Ó Ceannabháin
· Lisa O'Neill
· Síle Denvir
BEST FOLK INSTRUMENTALIST
· Aoife Ní Bhriain
· Diarmuid Ó Meachair
· Michael McGoldrick
· Michelle Mulcahy
· Sorcha Costello
BEST FOLK GROUP
· Bláth na hÓige
· Garadice
· Lankum
· Martin Hayes and the Common Ground Ensemble
· The Mary Wallopers
· ØXN
BEST FOLK ALBUM
· All Of This Is Chance - Lisa O'Neill
· Bláth na hÓige - Bláth na hÓige
· Double You - Aoife Ní Bhriain and Catrin Finch
· False Lankum - Lankum
· Look Over The Wall, See The Sky - John Francis Flynn
BEST EMERGING ARTIST
· Cinder Well
· Diarmuid Ó Meachair
· Niamh Bury
· Piaras Ó Lorcáin
· Séamus and Caoimhe Uí Fhlatharta
· Sorcha Costello
Find out more about the RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Awards here.
