The annual event recognised an array of artists, projects, and organisations for their “significant contributions to preserving and advancing Scotland’s rich cultural heritage” through music.
The awards came one week on from Gaelic and Scots being recognised as official languages of Scotland, and the night honoured musicians and creatives working to promote Scotland’s indigenous music, culture and tongues.
Organisers said “tens of thousands of votes were cast” by the public to decide the 24 winners alongside a panel of judges from the list of more than 100 nominees.
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The Scots Trad Music Awards 2025 winners are:
Album of the Year: araon by Sian
Citty Finlayson Scots Singer of the Year: Ellie Beaton
Club of the Year: North East Accordion and Fiddle Club
Community Project of the Year: The Royal National Mòd
Composer of the Year: Findlay Napier
Event of the Year: BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of Year – 25th Anniversary
Folk Band of the Year: Blazin’ Fiddles
Gaelic Singer of the Year : Kim Carnie
Industry Person of the Year: Donald Shaw
Live Act of the Yea: Skerryvore
Musician of the Year: Siobhan Miller
Music Tutor of the Year Award: Innes Watson
Original Work of the Year: The Great Herdsman of Etive by RURA
Scottish Dance Band of the Year: The Ceilidh Collective
Scottish Pipe Band of the Year: Glasgow Skye Association Pipe Band
Up and Coming Artist of the Year: Dàna
Venue of the Year: Park Bar, Glasgow
Services to Gaelic Award: Boyd Robertson
The Hamish Henderson Services to Traditional Music Award: David Francis
The Janet Paisley Services to Scots Language Award: Gerda Stevenson
Photographer of the Year: Magnus Graham
Recording Studio of the Year: Wee Studio, Stornoway
Record Producer of the Year: Rory Matheson
Trad Music in the Media: BBC Radio Scotland – Take the Floor
This year’s Na Trads see Scottish band Skerryvore take home the Live Act of the Year award for the fourth time, rounding off their 20th anniversary year, while Glasgow institution the Park Bar won the Venue of the Year prize for the first time in its 130-year history.
The world’s largest Gaelic festival, the Royal National Mòd, was crowned Community Project of the Year for its work in bringing Gaelic communities across Scotland together in celebration of the language, and Celtic Connections’ creative producer Donald Shaw was also honoured, having been named Industry Person of the Year for his work putting Scottish music on the world stage.
Skerryvore (Image: Scots Trad Music Awards)
New inductees into the Scottish Traditional Music Hall of Fame, sponsored by Fèisean nan Gàidheal, this year include former musician-in-residence at Sabhal Mòr Ostaig Iain Macdonald, instrumentalist Andrew Rankine, Scots singer Elspeth Cowie, and more.
Scots Trad Music Awards organiser Simon Thoumire said: “The Scottish trad scene continues to raise its game – the creativity and calibre of talent on display is inspiring. The musicians, composers, singers, and arts workers we celebrate represent the beating heart of Scotland’s cultural scene. In the face of AI and streaming, we continue to create. This is who we are – creators with original thoughts, with the power to imagine something from nothing and make it real.
“With the recent recognition of Gaelic and Scots as official languages of Scotland, we are witnessing a cultural renaissance that shows our traditions are not just surviving but thriving. Together, we celebrate that creativity, resilience and spirit that define us.
“It is always a joy to bring this community together to celebrate the immense contributions made to Scottish cultural life over the last 12 months. We are so grateful to all those who joined us, everyone who voted, our sponsors for believing in the work we do and making it possible, and the city of Aberdeen for welcoming us with open arms.”