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Fans of Perth Concert Hall can play a part in securing its status as the best traditional music venue in Scotland by voting in the Scots Trad Music Awards.
The Fair City favourite has been nominated in the Venue of the Year category at the 6th MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2008. The annual Gordon Duncan Memorial Concert held at Perth Concert Hall is in the running in the Event of the Year category, and completing a nominations hat trick for Perth, local singer songwriter Jim Malcolm is up for the Scots Singer of the Year Award.
Jim Malcolm has played several times at Perth Concert Hall both as a solo artist and as front man for the band the Old Blind Dogs; he has also taken part in Perthshire's sensational Hogmanay celebrations held at the venue and collaborated in community programmes.
Describing the nominations treble as "a great showing for Perth", Jim Malcolm said:
"Perth's new Concert Hall is a gem and if you get the chance to play there you should jump. The acoustics are wonderful, the audiences are warm, the staff are friendly and professional - and you can almost fish the River Tay from the dressing rooms. It is a wonderful addition to Scotland's cultural life."
Many top traditional acts from Scotland and abroad have performed at Perth Concert Hall since it opened in 2005 including Capercaillie, Eddi Reader, Blazin' Fiddles, Dougie MacLean, Salsa Celtica, Kate Rusby and Christy Moore. Events still to look forward to in 2008 are the Under One Sky collaboration on Friday 28 November featuring John McCusker, Norman Blake, Roddy Woomble and a line-up of exciting musicians; Runrig appear on Wednesday 3 December, the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra on Saturday 6 December and this year's Hogmanay event features Session A9.
Jane Spiers, chief executive of Horsecross, the creative enterprise behind Perth Concert Hall, the only venue with a capacity over 200 to be nominated, said:
"What's great about the Scots Trad Music Awards is that everyone can take part. It would be fantastic if local music lovers got behind this and voted for Perth Concert Hall. We get so much positive feedback from the acts that perform here and their fans. Being nominated for this Award recognises the reputation that the venue has built up as a must-visit venue on the traditional music circuit."
The Awards will be presented on Saturday 6 December in Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket.
Votes can be registered online at http://www.handsupfortrad.co.uk/tradmusicawards/ between 3 and 21 November.