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James Taylor and Judy Collins, two artists who have hugely influenced generations of musicians and music fans alike, will be presented with Lifetime Achievement Awards and perform at this year's ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 2 Folk Awards on Monday 2 February.

James Taylor virtually invented the singer-songwriter genre with a string of hits in the late Sixties including Sweet Baby James, Fire And Rain and Carolina In My Mind. Over the course of his prestigious career Taylor has been the recipient of numerous awards for his timeless catalogue of songs.

Judy Collins' distinctive voice and interpretations of folk songs and standards have brought acclaim and success during a distinguished career now entering its fifth decade. As well as hits Send In The Clowns and Both Sides Now she brought Leonard Cohen's songs to a wider audience. Musicians citing her as an influence include Joan Baez, Dolly Parton, Rufus Wainwright and Chrissie Hynde, who have recorded versions of Collins' songs.

The awards show also features performances by the current Folk Singer of the Year, Julie Fowlis, and by five times nominated singer-songwriter Chris Wood.

Jim Moray, nominated for Best Album and Best Original Song, performs his cover of Andy Partridge's All You Pretty Girls, while Best Live Act nominee Seth Lakeman opens the show.

The 10th annual Radio 2 Folk Awards take place at The Brewery in London and are hosted by Radio 2's weekly folk show presenter, Mike Harding.

Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie present their Radio 2 show live from backstage at the awards between 8.00 and 10.00pm.

Extended highlights of the awards are broadcast on Radio 2 on Wednesday 4 February from 7.00pm. Extensive online features and a photo gallery will be available at bbc.co.uk/radio2.

This year, singer-songwriter and musician Chris Wood leads the way with five nominations, following the release earlier this year of his album Trespasser. He is nominated in the categories Folk Singer of the Year, Best Album, Best Traditional Track and twice in the Best Original Song category.

Also high in the nominations is the winner of the 2004 Horizon Award and Best Album, Jim Moray, back in contention for Best Album for Low Culture and Best Traditional Track for his 21st century urban version of Lucy Wan. His treatment of Andy Partridge's All You Pretty Girls wins a nomination for the XTC frontman for Best Original Song.

Seth Lakeman contests Best Live Act with 2008's Best Group Lau, with the music and dance outfit The Demon Barbers and folk big band and twice category winners Bellowhead also in the running.

Promising traditional fiddle-singers Bella Hardy and Jackie Oates make the final four in the Horizon award for best emerging artist alongside the 2008 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 2 Young Folk Award winners Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller, and new all-girl group The Shee.

The award for Folk Club of the Year – voted for by professional folk musicians to honour the often-lifelong contribution of those who run the venues which provide folk's lifeblood – goes to The Black Swan Folk Club in York.

Notes to Editors

The 2009 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 2 Folk Awards nominations:

• Folk singer of the year
• Chris Wood
• Eliza Carthy
• Julie Fowlis
• Karine Polwart

• Best duo
• Bob Fox & Stu Luckley
• Chris While & Julie Matthews
• Megson
• Spiers & Boden

• Best group
• Bellowhead
• Faustus
• Lau
• Mawkin:Causley

• Best album
• Dreams Of Breathing Underwater – Eliza Carthy
• Low Culture – Jim Moray
• This Earthly Spell – Karine Polwart
• Trespasser – Chris Wood

• Best original song
• All You Pretty Girls – Andy Partridge (performed by Jim Moray)
• Come Down Jehovah – Chris Wood (performed by Chris Wood)
• Mr Magnifico – Eliza Carthy/Ben Ivitsky (performed by Eliza Carthy)
• The Cottager's Reply – Frank Mansell/Chris Wood (performed by Chris Wood)

• Best traditional track
• Fakenham Fair – Bellowhead
• Lucy Wan – Jim Moray
• The Lady Of York – Chris Wood
• The Lark In The Morning – Jackie Oates

• Horizon award
• Bella Hardy
• Jackie Oates
• Jeana Leslie & Siobhan Miller
• The Shee

• Musician of the year
• John McCusker
• Martin Simpson
• Phil Beer
• Tom McConville

• Best live act
• Bellowhead
• The Demon Barbers
• Lau
• Seth Lakeman

Radio 2 Publicity