Presented by Mike Harding and Julie Fowlis, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards took place at The Lowry Theatre, Salford on Wednesday 8 February at 7.30pm.

The ceremony, which included live music from The Dubliners, Christy Moore, Don McLean (pictured above) and Seth Lakeman, celebrated the folk highlights of the last 12 months, including awards for Best album, group, musician, live act and Folk singer of the year. There were also be lifetime achievement presentations plus the announcement of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk award winner.

The Nominees (Winners are in bold)

FOLK SINGER OF THE YEAR

Jon Boden

Jackie Oates

Emily Smith

June Tabor

BEST DUO

Tim Edey & Brendan Power

Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell

Spiers & Boden

Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight

BEST GROUP

Bellowhead

The Home Service

June Tabor & Oysterband

The Unthanks

BEST ALBUM

Last – The Unthanks

Purpose & Grace – Martin Simpson

Ragged Kingdom – June Tabor & Oysterband

Saturnine – Jackie Oates

BEST ORIGINAL SONG

The Herring Girl – Bella Hardy

Last – Adrian McNally (performed by The Unthanks)

On Morecambe Bay – Kevin Littlewood (performed by Christy Moore)

The Reckoning – Steve Tilston

BEST TRADITIONAL TRACK

Bonny Bunch of Roses – June Tabor & Oysterband

Lakes of Ponchartrain – Martin Simpson

Maids When You’re Young – Lucy Ward

Sweet Lover of Mine – Emily Smith

HORIZON AWARD

Megan Henwood

Lady Maisery

Pilgrims’ Way

Lucy Ward

MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR

Andy Cutting

Tim Edey

Will Pound

Martin Simpson

BEST LIVE ACT

Bellowhead

The Home Service

Peatbog Faeries

The Unthanks

BBC RADIO 2 YOUNG FOLK AWARD

Sunjay Brayne

Blair Dunlop

Ioscaid

Graham Mackenzie

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Dubliners

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Don McLean

GOOD TRADITION AWARD

Ian Campbell

GOOD TRADITION AWARD

Bill Leader

ROOTS AWARD

Malcolm Taylor

About The Event

The Folk Awards have become a much anticipated annual event in the folk world with previous years featuring incredible performances from James Taylor, Nanci Griffith, Bellowhead, Laura Marling and Donovan who was honored at 2011's event with the Lifetime Achievement Award.