City of Edinburgh to honour Aly Bain with prestigious award
SHETLAND fiddler Aly Bain is to receive the prestigious Edinburgh Award in recognition of his positive impact on the city and beyond.
He has called Scotland’s capital city home for a number of decades and said he was “honoured” to accept the award from the City of Edinburgh Council.
As part of the award Bain will have his handprints set in stone at the Edinburgh City Chambers later this year.
The Edinburgh Award was established in 2007 to honour outstanding individuals who have made a positive impact on the city and gained national and international recognition for Edinburgh.
Nominations are invited annually from Edinburgh citizens and the recipient is selected by the civic awards committee.
Previous recipients include bestselling authors, human rights activists and world-famous sportspeople.
Born in Lerwick, Shetland, Bain began playing the fiddle at the age of 11, inspired by his neighbour the renowned fiddler and teacher Tom Anderson.
Under Anderson’s guidance, Bain developed an exceptional talent that would go on to shape traditional music in Scotland.
As Bain celebrates his 80th birthday this year, the Edinburgh council said his contribution to Scottish culture and music “remains unparalleled”.
The City of Edinburgh Council highlighted how the fiddler performed at the opening of the Scottish Parliament in 1999 and at the funeral of former first minster Donald Dewar in 2000.
In his early years he performed with The Humblebums which included two then-emerging talents, Gerry Rafferty and Billy Connolly.
Bain later became a founding member of the influential folk group Boys of the Lough, touring extensively across the world and recording more than 20 albums.
Alongside these achievements, he developed a distinguished solo career through collaborations, recordings and television projects including the creation of the internationally renowned Transatlantic Sessions.
Aly will be presented with an engraved Loving Cup from the Lord Provost later this year.
The Lord Provost of the City of Edinburgh and Chair of the Civic Award Committee Robert Aldridge said: “Aly Bain is a most deserved recipient of the Edinburgh Award, and I’m really pleased that he has accepted.
“Aly’s contribution to Scottish music and culture is simply immeasurable. For more than six decades, he has carried the traditions of Scotland to audiences around the world while remaining deeply connected to the communities and heritage that shaped him.
“Through his extraordinary musicianship, generosity of spirit, and commitment to nurturing traditional music, Aly has inspired generations of performers and music lovers alike.
“As he celebrates his 80th year, it is fitting that we recognise not only a remarkable artist, but a true cultural ambassador whose legacy will endure for many years to come.”
Bain said: “I’m honoured indeed to accept the Edinburgh Award. Edinburgh has been my home for the last sixty years.
“The city where I have raised my family and where my professional musical journey began.
“From small beginnings in places like Sandy Bells pub Scottish traditional music has spread and is now respected worldwide.
“My life has been spent performing in cities all over the world but after every tour I have been lucky enough to return home to the most beautiful city of them all. My heartfelt thanks to everyone who made this award possible.”
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