Scots Trad Music Awards 2025: Complete list of winners explored

The 23rd annual MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards took place in Aberdeen. The ceremony was mainly dedicated to Scotland's traditional music culture. Notably, the awards ceremony was held one week after Gaelic and Scots were officially recognised as national languages.

The Scots Trad Music Awards began in 2003. The awards are organised by Hands Up For Trad. It operates through a public nomination and voting system. The event is often considered one of Scotland's most recognized cultural award platforms. Moreover, the Scots Trad Music Awards are also often referred to as the "Oscars" of traditional music.

Scots Trad Music Awards' television coverage began in 2007, and MG ALBA's sponsorship started in 2008. The event was eventually broadcast live in 2012 and 2013.

Scots Trad Music Awards' Hands Up For Trad took to their official Instagram page to share that,

"What. A. Night! 🎉 A huge congratulations to every single one of our #NaTrads 2025 winners. 🪩 Our music, our languages, our culture are in the safest of hands. Mòran taing to our behind-the-scenes team, our sponsors, and to everyone who attended, voted and tuned in at home. Because of you, Scotland’s trad scene continues to THRIVE. 💙 Aberdeen, you shone. Thanks so much for having us!"

An official description on the Scots Trad Music Awards' official webpage reads:

"The Scots Trad Music Awards is an annual event that takes place every December. Held at different venues around the country, the aim of these Awards is to highlight Scotland’s wonderful traditional music in all its forms and to create a high profile opportunity which will bring the music and music industry into the spotlight of media & public attention.

It also adds:

"The Scots Trad Music Awards, which is organised by ‘Hands Up For Trad’ is seen as ‘The Oscars’ for traditional music. There are two stages, nominating and voting both involving the general public in the process. First started in 2003 the Awards attract over 100,000 votes from all over the world."

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Complete list of winners at the Scots Trad Music Awards 2025

Below is a complete breakdown of all categories announced during the ceremony. All nominees were selected from more than 100 submissions received earlier in the year. Winners were chosen through public votes and panel decisions.

Album of the Year

Winner: araon by Sian

Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year

Winner: Ellie Beaton

Club of the Year

Winner: North East Accordion and Fiddle Club

Community Project of the Year

Winner: The Royal National Mòd

Composer of the Year

Winner: Findlay Napier

Event of the Year

Winner: BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of Year

Celebrated for marking its 25th anniversary.

Folk Band of the Year

Winner: Blazin' Fiddles

Gaelic Singer of the Year

Winner: Kim Carnie

Industry Person of the Year

Winner: Donald Shaw

Live Act of the Year

Winner: Skerryvore

Notably, this year was the fourth time Skerryvore received this award.

Musician of the Year

Winner: Siobhan Miller

Music Tutor of the Year

Winner: Innes Watson

Original Work of the Year

Winner: The Great Herdsman of Etive by RURA

Scottish Dance Band of the Year

Winner: The Ceilidh Collective

Scottish Pipe Band of the Year

Winner: Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band

Up and Coming Artist of the Year

Winner: Dàna

Venue of the Year

Winner: Park Bar, Glasgow

This marked the first win for the Park Bar in its 130-year history.

Services to Gaelic Award

Winner: Boyd Robertson

The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award

Winner: David Francis

The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Award

Winner: Gerda Stevenson

Photographer of the Year

Winner: Magnus Graham

Recording Studio of the Year

Winner: Wee Studio, Stornoway

Record Producer of the Year

Winner: Rory Matheson

Trad Music in the Media Award

Winner: BBC Radio Scotland - Take the Floor

Congratulations to all the winners at the 2025 Scots Trad Music Awards!

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