Thurso producer named Composer of the Year at Na Trads
JIM Sutherland was the toast of the Gaelic cultural world when he was named as Composer of the Year at the Scots Trad Music Awards.
The Thurso born producer received the award for his role in creating Strulieag: Children of the Smoke, an outdoor concert which told the story of the Gaelic diaspora who left Scotland to travel the world.
The production which featured 25 performers, dancers, singers and musicians using 20 different stories and poems from around the world was performed to over 5000 people at Glasgow Green during the Commonwealth Games.
The awards which was broadcast live on BBC Alba on Saturday night saw an emotional Mr Sutherland (55) being presented with the award at Eden Court in Inverness.
He said was surprised to win the award and described it as a huge honour, saying composers are the driving force of traditional music in Scotland.
"The awards are a special place that composers hold in our world," he said.
"The industry needs players and musicians but it is the composers who are the ones who are driving it all forward.
"I think our music is in really good hands and i'm proud of the work that all the composers are doing, there is some amazing stuff which is coming out."