 | | RADIO 2 YOUNG FOLK AWARDS | | | THE SEMI-FINAL WEEKEND
The semi-final of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2003 took place at Newcastle Playhouse on Saturday 4th October. Thirty young musicians from as far afield as Shetland, Wales and Northern Ireland participated in a thrilling weekend of workshops, sessions and socializing centred around the Saturday evening competition concert.
 Saturday workshop
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The event began with social and musical mingling on Friday evening. Throughout Saturday, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan - current BBC Folk Awards Best Duo - led a workshop in the nearby King's Hall of the University of Newcastle, where an ensemble vocal/instrumental work was devised while participants departed periodically to sound check onstage. Stationed in the Playhouse foyer café, meanwhile, were radio producer John Leonard, Cambridge organiser Eddie Barcan and Folkworks facilitator David Oliver, available for informal chats and advice on their specialist knowledge areas. Making the event a weekend affair gives the contestants much valuable experience and the programme provides a welcome distraction from the inevitable onslaught of pre-contest nerves.
Thirteen acts took the stage for their eight minute slot, ranging from solo performers to full band line-ups. Fiddle/bass/drums combo Haris Playfair Appreciation (Rachel Cross, Carly Blain, Tamir Karp and Ross Horne), kickstarted proceedings with an eclectic globally-overtoned set. Arlen (David Newey and Lucy Rutherford) from Hampshire performed original and traditional songs with a fresh contemporary feel and strong guitar backing. Mancunian Emma Sweeney and Jarlath Henderson from Northern Ireland each delighted the audience with their solo performances on fiddle and uilleann pipes respectively and KTB, alias Oxfordshire girl Katy Bennett, overcame a bad cold to showcase her songwriting and guitar talents. Winding up the first half, Welsh four-piece Cyfoes (pronounced Kuh-voice and comprising Christine and Jo Cooper, Ian Underhill and Hayley Baldwin) ably promoted their national music, supplemented by some spirited clog dancing.
After a brief interval, Scottish trio Fiddlestix (Alison Menzies, Graeme Davidson and Stephen Wallace) gave a dynamic tune set on keyboards, fiddle and drums, followed by country-influenced Cross-Pickering (Eleanor and David), a duo featuring strong string arrangements. Tom Kitching from Macclesfield played a flurry of Welsh and Klezmer tunes on fiddle before Kathryn Davidson from Hexham gave three heartfelt unaccompanied songs including some intricate Gaelic mouth music. XYZ (Matthew, David and Sarah Jones), a twin brothers and sister trio, played fine traditional music with great sibling attunement, while Jackie Oates from Staffordshire essayed fiddle and vocals simultaneously - no mean feat! Trad Og (Mairead Ford, Sean O'Kane, Patrick O'Hare, Karen Mooney, Conor Lamb and Barry Mullan) brought the night to a foot-tapping climax with their six-piece traditional playing, honed at Belfast's prestigious Francis Peake School of Music.
 Post-contest session
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As always, the standard of entries was exemplary and the judges - Eddie Barcan, John Leonard, Nancy Kerr, James Fagan and Folkworks programme director Ros Rigby - had a difficult job on their hands. While they deliberated, the contestants let off steam in the foyer with a mighty session until the coach arrived to take them back to their hotel for supper and more music for as long as energy lasted!
The results aren't announced for a few days, thus enabling participants to fully enjoy this weekend geared to provide them with boosted confidence, useful information and new friendships; the level of mutual support and encouragement between the young musicians in a competitive situation was a noticeable highlight. On Sunday, the musical piece created over the weekend was performed for families and friends back at the Playhouse before final farewells were made. Whatever the outcome of the Young Folk Award semi-final, everyone gains.
THE FINAL
The final will take place at London's Union Chapel on Friday December 5th, starting at 7.30pm. For free tickets ring the Radio 2 ticket unit on 0208 576 1227 or email radio.ticket.unit@bbc.co.uk.
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Young Folk Award 2003
