James Taylor honoured at Radio 2 folk awards
American singer-songwriter James Taylor has been honoured with the lifetime achievement award at BBC Radio 2's folk music awards. Despite heavy snow, Taylor attended the event on Monday - 2 February - and performed his 1968 song Carolina In My Mind.
On accepting the award, 60-year-old Taylor said: "I'm happier to be an ageing folkie than an ageing pop matinee idol."
In an attempt to define folk music, Taylor also commented: "Sometimes it's hard to know what it is. The main difference between folk and country is to do with gun racks and Jesus."
American folk artist Judy Collins was also presented with a lifetime achievement award. In 2008, this honour went to John Martyn, who sadly passed away on 29 January.
Here is the full list of winners:
Folk Singer Of The Year
Chris Wood
Best Duo
Chris While & Julie Matthews
Best Group
Lau
Album Of The Year
Trespasser - Chris Wood
Best Original Song
All You Pretty Girls - Andy Partridge (performed by Jim Moray)
Best Traditional Track
The Lark in the Morning - Jackie Oates
Horizon Award
Jackie Oates
Musician Of The Year
Tom McConville
Best Live Act
The Demon Barbers
Lifetime Achievement
James Taylor
Judy Collins
Folk Club Of The Year
The Black Swan Folk Club, York, UK
Get the MusicRadar Newsletter
Want all the hottest music and gear news, reviews, deals, features and more, direct to your inbox? Sign up here.
Chris Vinnicombe worked with us here on the MusicRadar team from the site's initial launch way back in 2007, and also contributed to Guitarist magazine as Features Editor until 2014, as well as Total Guitar magazine, amongst others. These days he can be found at Gibson Guitars, where he is editor-in-chief.
“She didn't move from the sofa and she sang two takes of Rolling in the Deep and that's what we used”: Adele, Daft Punk and Taylor Swift are among our picks for the best recorded albums of the 21st century
“Chad Kroeger called me in the middle of the night and was cursing me because he couldn't get the song out of his head. I was like, ‘now you know everyone else felt with How You Remind Me!": We speak to the Lottery Winners