\n The winners of the awards, which are also known as Na Trads, are decided by public vote.\n<\/p>\n
\n Norrie MacIver (far right) performed with the trad band Skipinnish for nine years. (Image: Andrew King\/PA)\n<\/p>\n
\n Skipinnish faced an angry backlash from fans after dropping MacIver weeks after performing with the band at the Hydro, their biggest headline concert to date.\n<\/p>\n
\n Three of MacIver\u2019s bandmates later announced that they had decided to leave the group.\n<\/p>\n
\n Singer Norrie MacIver was dropped by the trad band Skipinnish last November. (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
\n Formed in Glasgow in 1999 by Angus MacPhail and Andrew Stevenson, Skipinnish went on to become one of Scotland\u2019s most successful trad music<\/a> bands, with headline appearances at festivals like Celtic<\/a> Connections, Hebcelt, Skye Live and The Gathering, and a 25th anniversary show at Edinburgh<\/a> Castle.\n<\/p>\n \n MacIver, who was previously in the band Manran and is a former winner of the Gaelic singer of the year prize, joined Skipinnish in 2016 after singer Robert Robertson left the group to form a new band, Tide Lines.\n<\/p>\n \n \n At the time he was dropped from Skipinnish, MacIver said: \u201cTo make it clear, this is not my decision. Skipinnish have decided they want to let me go and move forward without me.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \u201cI\u2019m sorry there wasn\u2019t a final gig to say goodbye to all the amazing fans, but that\u2019s how it goes. You\u2019ve all been brilliant. Thank you all so much for your support.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \n \n \u201cWill take some time to process all of this but I wanted to make it clear that this is not what I wanted.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n Skipinnish released a statement<\/a> suggesting the group had been hit by \u201cincreasingly difficult\u201d troubles behind the scenes which had been building for around a year.\n<\/p>\n \n \n It compared the internal strife and \u201cresulting separation\u201d to the break-up of a relationship or family rift, and said it was trying to navigate a difficult period with \u201ccare and sensitivity\u201d.\n<\/p>\n \n Recalling his final appearance with the band on his website, MacIver states: \u201cThis turned out to be Norrie’s final gig with the band after being let go a few months later as the band, Angus and Andrew, decided to go into 2026 without Norrie and change things around for Skipinnish.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \n \n The trad music awards will be returning to Paisley for the first time since 2017 when the ceremony is staged at the Lagoon Leisure Centre on December 5.\n<\/p>\n \n The event, which will be broadcast by BBC Alba, will feature appearances from Valtos, Sian, Spodo Komodo, F\u00e8is Ph\u00e0islig and Rachel Groves, the current BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year.\n<\/p>\n \n \n Scots singer of the year nominees include Allan Taylor, Amy Lord, Lainey Dempsey and Paddy Buchanan.\n<\/p>\n \n Event of the year contenders include the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, near Inverness<\/a>, the Edinburgh International Harp Festival, the North Atlantic Fiddle Convention in Aberdeen<\/a>, Speyfest in Fochabers, Piping Live in Glasgow and a celebration of the late accordion player Fergie MacDonald at Eden Court in Inverness.\n<\/p>\n \n \n Dl\u00f9, Mec L\u00ecr, the Jarad Rowan Band and Valtos are in the running to be named best live act, while nominees for best folk band include Beinn Lee, D\u00e0na, Hannah Rarity and Anna Massie, Rant and Trip.\n<\/p>\n \n Musician of the year nominees include Alec Dalglish, Amy Laurenson, Charlie Galloway, Innes White, Sam Mabbett and Su-a Lee.\n<\/p>\n \n Adam Sutherland, Colin Steele, Hamish Napier and Megan Henderson are all shortlisted for composer of the year.\n<\/p>\nThe MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards will be returning to the Lagoon Leisure Centre in Paisley in December. (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n
Valtos will be performing at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards ceremony in Paisley in December. (Image: Scott Goudie)\n<\/p>\n
Glasgow’s Piping Live festival is in the running to be named event of the year at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. (Image: John Slavin)\n<\/p>\n
The Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, near Inverness, is a contender for the event of the year honour at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. (Image: Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival)\n<\/p>\n
Mec Lir have been shortlisted in the best live act category at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. (Image: Paul Strange)\n<\/p>\n
Dl\u00f9 are in the running to be named best live band at the MG Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. (Image: Supplied)\n<\/p>\n