TalkAwhile - The Folk Corporation Forum

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Ladies and Gentlemen,

Talkawhile, the Folk Corporation Forum, is proud to commence The Hancocks 2009. With these polls we celebrate the best folk music that we have seen and heard over the course of the last year.

As you will know, The Hancock Awards are named in honour of our dearly loved and much missed friend and colleague Carey Hancock. Carey was long the life and soul of Talkawhile and a tremendous character of the folk scene. We are proud to commemorate his work through this board in these awards.

This year awards shall be given in the following categories:

• Folk Singer of the Year
• Musician of the Year
• Best Group or Ensemble
• Best Album
• Best Live Act
• Best Original Song
• Best Traditional Track
• Horizon Award - Best Newcomer
• All Round Good Egg Folkie

As before, some of the nominations for each category come from a 'certain other' set of awards. the remaining nominations will be chosen from those proposed and seconded by Talkawhile members.

Each award has its own thread in which we can view and discuss the nominations and propose our own candidates. Candidates need one person to propose and another to second. Most importantly they will be judged on the wit and wisdom with which they are discussed so please, if you put forward a candidate, you must tell us why!

As with last year, we will also consider proposals to remove existing nominations and replace them with Talkawhile-chosen alternatives. If you wish to see a nomination withdrawn you must give witty, eloquent and meaningful reasons why and you must be prepared to propose an alternative. All things will be considered but the judges decision will be final.

We will close the discussion on candidates at the end of December and set the nominations. Then in the New Year the voting will begin.

To ensure some variety in the awards process we shall have a rule that Hancocks winners from the two previous years will not be eligible for nomination in the same category this year. As a reminder the previous winners are mentioned in the topics for each award.

Once again, each winner will be presented a Hancock, the fine, much prized and sought-after stained-glass trophy that is the envy of other, lesser award ceremonies. These awards and these trophies reflect the collective opinion of the Talkawhile board members for 2009. They will demonstrate that we, as a community, like our Folk music and we honour those who perform and play and contribute.

Cheers!