2018

The 19th annual celebration of folk and acoustic music, live from the Belfast Waterfront.

Mark Radcliffe and Scottish singer Julie Fowlis introduce a special night of sublime live music and special guests.

It is the first time the Folk Awards have taken place in Northern Ireland, and among the performers are Paul Brady and Cara Dillon, two homegrown stars of folk music.

Irish folk legend Donal Lunny, co-founder of great bands including Planxty and Moving Hearts, receives a Lifetime Achievement Award and performs live with friends from his past and present career.

Lunny is also highly regarded as a producer, having worked for Elvis Costello, Kate Bush and Sinead O'Connor.

In the 70th year since his birth, singer-songwriter Nick Drake is inducted into the Folk Awards Hall of Fame. A special tribute performance will celebrate Drake's unique talent and lasting influence.

Drake died, aged just 26, in 1974, having recorded just three studio albums: Five Leaves Left, Bryter Layter and Pink Moon.

Famous fans include The Cure's Robert Smith and Hollywood actor Brad Pitt. There will be another chance to hear Pitt's Radio 2 documentary about Nick Drake, 'Lost Boy', later this evening.

One of English folk's greatest voices, Eliza Carthy, and her rambunctious group The Wayward Band play live, as do the vital Dublin trad-folk band Lankum (formerly known as Lynched).

A Northern Irish institution, the Armagh Pipers Club, receives a Good Tradition Award after more than 50 years of preserving and promoting traditional music. There's a special performance by the club's talented alumni, who include some of the area's finest musicians.

Other prizes handed out to celebrate the cream of folk and acoustic music include Folk Singer of the Year, Best Group, Best Traditional Track, Bes

Mark Radcliffe and Julie Fowlis host the 19th Folk Awards live from the Belfast Waterfront

Celebrating folk music and the people who make it.