Couper up for trad award

ONE OF Shetland’s leading fiddlers has been nominated in the best instrumentalist category in this year’s Scots Trad Music Awards.

Ross Couper, who plays regularly in a duo with guitarist Tom Oakes, described the nomination as a “great honour”.

He also plays with experimental six-piece folk band Peatbog Faeries, whose Blackhouse LP has earned an album of the year nomination.

Couper said: “The trad awards does a lot to promote and of course celebrate Scottish music. It’s really nice when you’re working away and playing gigs to know that someone has noticed and appreciated what you’re doing.”

2015 has been another busy year for Couper, who will be performing at the awards ceremony with Peatbog Faeries fresh from a couple of dates in Mexico.

He has still found time to make it back to Shetland to perform – including getting on stage with younger brother Ryan as a duo for the first time back in September.

Another Shetland fiddler, Jenna Reid, is also among the nominees as part of the band Blazin’ Fiddles, who are also up for album of the year for their release North. 

• Winners at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2015 will be announced at an event in Dundee’s Caird Hall on Sunday 5 December. You can vote for nominees via this link.