2013 Youth Folk Awards
Photographs used with the kind permission of Steve Coles
The 2013 winners are:
The Mae Trio
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The Contestants
This year’s showcase concert was again, a highlight of the National Folk Festival in Canberra. The concert was held on Easter Sunday in the Majestic, and for over two hours the almost packed house was treated to folk music at its best. This year’s line up of young musicians, ranging in age from 15 – 25 years from across Australia received high praise from the audience and judges. The diversity of style and the very high standard of ability, skill and appeal of all of the performers who were showcased at this year’s concert made the task of selecting two acts to receive FAA support this year almost impossible for the judging panel. The final decision resulted in The Mae Trio receiving the major award with additional awards this year given to The Raglins and Andie Skinner.
All participants in this year’s showcase concert will be profiled on the FAA web site.Please see the web site for contact details and up to date bio information. Across the year the FAA seeks to support these young artists and we encourage the folk industry to do the same, as they are the future of the Australian Folk Scene.
The line up for this year’s Folk Alliance Youth Showcase/ Awards were Astro Cobalt ( SA ), Anna Armstrong ( QLD ), The Melways ( Tas/Melb ), Cemeron Mather ( NSW), Andie Skinner ( NSW ), The Mae Trio ( VIC ), The Raglins ( Vic ) , Oh Pep ( Vic).
Una McAlinden
President
Folk Alliance Australia
2012 Youth Folk Awards
Congratulations to the 2012 contestants and winners!
"Every time I go to the National, the concert that I enjoy the most is always the Youth Folk Awards. To see the musicianship and maturity of these young people is inspirational. I do not envy the task of the judges."
Martin Goreing
FAA Board Member
Congratulations to Rhiannon and Monique,
the winners of the 2012 Folk Alliance Youth Award.
An excellent collection of young artists took part in the 2012 Awards concert at the National Festival in April. They came from all over Australia to give their all in what was a highly entertaining concert which was held in The Bohemia Bar at 10am on Sunday morning. There was a nice combination of both traditional and contemporary acts on show and the judging panel of Kristina Olsen, Al Ward and Marcus Holden had a tough time coming to final decision.
The award in the end went to two young women from Brisbane, Rhiannon and Monique who have been playing together as a violin-cello duet since 2010, when Rhiannon first introduced Monique to Celtic music. Both come from a classical background and since then they have expanded their repertoire to include a range of folk genres including Scottish, Irish, Canadian, and traditional folk.
The runner up was Jack Gramski a gutsy young singer songwriter from Melbourne, who with guitar and harp (Dylan style) delivered a powerful performance of original material.
The 2012 National Youth Folk Award contestants
In all 8 acts took the stage, they were, Daniel Watkins; Anita and Rob Hillman; Jen Rowna and Lockie Moir; Maggie Rutjens; Samuel De Santi, Miles Rooney and Hugh McClure; Hannah Pelka-Caven; Jack Gramski and Rhiannon & Monique.
Una McAlinden
The concert was topped and tailed by past winners, George Jackson and The Simpson Three, with whole show co-ordinated by Una McAlinden who also did a marvelous job of stage managing and comparing on the day.
John McAuslan
FAA President
