Sam Lee & Mike Harding (photo © BBC Radio 2)
Last night saw the launch of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards 2013 – “Radio 2′s annual search for the UK’s most talented young performers of folk, roots or acoustic music from any culture” – via Mike Harding’s Radio 2 show, in which Mike also chatted to London singer, teacher, song collector and promoter Sam Lee, recently in session on the Propermusic.com podcast.
Mike Harding’s show – featuring music from Sam Lee, Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman, John Jones, Spiers & Boden, Julie Fowlis, Jackie Oates and a track by Steve Tilston from the new Harbour Of Songs project – is available to listen again for the next 6 days via the BBC iPlayer.
The BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award is open to soloists, duos and groups aged between 15-20 and resident in the UK. Previous competitors and winners include Tim van Eyken, Jackie Oates, Megan & Joe Henwood, Jim Moray, Bella Hardy, Uiscedwr, Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller, Moore Moss Rutter and Jarlath Henderson.
To enter the 2013 competition, download the entry form HERE, complete and return to the address supplied, along with a demo recording.
The closing date for entries is Friday 7 September 2012. Ten successful entrants will be invited to attend the Young Folk Award Weekend in Kendal in October 2012, where they’ll take part in workshops led by John Spiers and Jackie Oates, receive expert advice about making a career in music and perform in a public concert.
A panel of judges will attend the concert and select four nominees for the 2013 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award. The eventual winner will be announced at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ceremony early next year.
The prizes for the winner of the Young Folk Award include the opportunity to record a session for Radio 2 and to perform at top UK festivals in 2013, including the prestigious Cambridge Folk Festival.
