Derbyshire teen in running for Young Folk Musician of the Year

He is in the running for a BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award, the results of which will be broadcast from the Royal Albert Hall in London on April 27.

Benammi, 16, from Somercotes is one of four contestants to be nominated for Young Folk Musician of the Year and the youngest nominee in this year’s annual awards.

The self-taught melodeon player inherited his father’s diatonic accordion and started to play two years ago.

He said: “I love to do nothing more than play folk music and keep the old folk tradition alive.

“I’m inspired by John Spiers, Tim Edey, my dad, his old playing partner John Kirkpatrick and the great Saul Rose, as well as other players such as Frank Lee who make me rethink how I play the melodeon.

Benammi also plays the guitar and violin. He said: “I dance and play in the Ripley Morris Men. This has helped widen my knowledge of both folk music, its traditions and its folklore. I’m proud of my achievements so far and look forward to what the year might hold for me.

“The folk tradition should be kept alive.”