Lauren MacColl of Fortrose, Ross-shire is one of six acts in the Final of a UK-wide traditional music competition, the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award.  The competition, now in its seventh year, is hosted by the Mike Harding Show and organised by Folkworks.  It is open to instrumentalists and singers – soloists, duos and bands – aged from 15 to 20 years who perform acoustic music or song with roots in any culture.

Originally from the Black Isle and now studying fiddle and Scots/Gaelic song at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dance in Glasgow, Lauren, 19 has been playing the fiddle for eight years, having learned through the Gaelic Fèisean movement in Ross-shire. The highlights of her career so far have been playing gigs in Italy and Ireland and most recently playing for the British Ambassador in Norway for the RSAMD. Among her musical influences have been the leading exponents of Highland/Gaelic music such as Aonghas Grant and Iain MacFarlane along with players from Shetland, Ireland, Cape Breton and the thriving Irish music scene in Glasgow.  This hogmanany will see her perform alongside musicians such as Michael McGoldrick and Donald Shaw in a special scaled-down performance of his ‘Harvest’ commission for celtic connections, live on BBC1.

This year’s competition attracted around 50 extremely talented young acts from across the British Isles, with entries from as far apart as Devon and The Western Isles. 

The other finalists are: Chillum – trio from Newcastle & Leeds, Kathryn Davidson – solo singer from Northumberland, Carly Blain & Rachel Cross – fiddle duo from Kelso in the Borders, Kerfuffle – 4 piece ensemble from Derbyshire and Bella Hardy – solo singer also from  Derbyshire

The winning act will be invited to perform at the 2005 Cambridge Folk Festival, Towersey Village Festival and a showcase concert at The Association Of Festival Organisers conference, plus they will record a session to be broadcast on BBC Radio 2’s Mike Harding Show.  All six finalists will feature on a promotional CD.  The British Council, festival organisers, agents and traditional music record companies all take a keen interest in this prestigious Award.

Previous winners include Tim van Eyken – now in Waterson:Carthy and Dr. Faustus; and bands 422 and Uiscedwr who have established keen followings on the festival circuit –  the winner of the 2004/5 competition should receive a similar boost to their musical career.

The Final will be held at The Union Chapel in Islington on Friday 3 December, with excerpts from the concert broadcast on the Mike Harding Show on Wednesday 8 December, 8 – 9pm on BBC Radio 2, 88 – 91 FM.