BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2000-2011 Quiz

Answer: Martin Carthy

Martin Carthy won this award in 2002 and 2005. His daughter Eliza won it in 2003. The others listed have won the award once each before the 2011 ceremony, but not twice.

Answer: Lau

Lau are a trio of British singers who take their name from an Orcadian [a dialect from the Orkney Islands] word meaning light. Bellowhead and Danú have both won twice, whilst Cherish the Ladies only won once between 2000 and 2011.

Answer: Whapweasel

Whapweasel describe their music as 'electric celidih' and despite various changes in line up, at the time of winning the award included Rick Kemp, formerly base player with King Crimson, and a long time member of Steeleye Span in their line up (who also doubled as their producer).
The other bands listed are all real bands from the UK folk scene. The Oyster Ceilidih Band was an early version of the folk rock band which came to be known as the Oysterband (all one word).
Edward II and the Red Hot Polkas took their name from the alleged unpleasant end of a British monarch. Describing themselves as combining English dance music, reggae and 'love rock' the bands name evolved several times (e.g. EII, Edward II and E2K) and finally closed for business in 2009, probably.
The Etchingham Steam Band was another creation of bass player and veteran folkie, Ashley Hutchings. It was in existence for a few years in the 1970s.

Answer: Bellowhead

Bellowhead are best described as a 'folk orchestra', no duos or trios for them, but a line-up extending into double figures. Various members of Bellowhead have also won awards with others groups and individually. E.g. Jon Boden, folksinger of the year in 2011.
Show of Hands won in 2004, The Demon Barbers in 2009 and Kate Rusby in 2006. Bellowhead won in all other years from 2005 to 2011.

Answer: Steeleye Span

Fairport and the Chieftains were both recipients of this award in 2002, Pentangle in 2007. Steeleye Span on the other hand have won the 'Good Tradition' award, (in 2005).
Fairport Convention, Steeleye Span and Pentangle are all exponents of folk-rock, the former two sharing Ashley Hutchings as one of their founding members. The Chieftains are better known for playing traditional Irish music.

Answer: Fisherman's Friends

Unaccompanied sea shanties sung by a group of middle-aged men may not sound the most promising musical project, but Fisherman's Friends managed to sign an (alleged) million pound recording contract in 2010.
Fisherman's Friends are ten friends all living in and around the small town of Port Isaac on the North Cornish coast, most of whom work with or on the sea in some capacity.

Answer: Prodigal Son

Martin Simpson is a guitarist and a singer-songwriter of some renown. Nominated more than 20 times for various of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. His album 'Prodigal Son' won the 'best album' award in 2008, and in the same year he won the 'best original song' award with 'Never Any Good' from the same album.
The other options have all been winners of the 'best album award'; 'Freedom Fields' by Seth Lakeman in 2007, 'Hill of Thieves' by Cara Dillon in 2010 and 'The Reckoning' by John Tams in 2006.

Answer: Sandy Denny

All of the people listed have been members of Fairport Convention at some time, which puts them in a select group of over two dozen people. The song 'Who knows where the time goes' was first recorded as a solo work by Sandy Denny. Fairport recorded it on the album 'Unhalfbricking' in 1968, but it has since been covered by a variety of other artists.

Answer: Show of Hands

Steve Knightley and Phil Beer form Show of Hands. The winning song was "Arrogance, Ignorance and Greed" an up to date social comment on the bankers' and politicians' wrecking of the economy. This may reflect the feelings in other countries too.

Answer: Fairport Convention

Much has been written about folk-rock group Fairport Convention. A group founded in the late 1960's which is still going more than 40 years later, (although with an ever evolving line up) and hosts an annual festival in the village of Cropredy. However my favourite quote is lifted straight from the groups own website: "Fairport did for real ale what the Grateful Dead did for LSD".
Leige and Lief was the first album released following a serious accident on the motorway, which killed one band member, the girlfriend of another and injured most of the rest.