In June 1998 he was made an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours. He was named "Folk Singer of the Year" at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2002 and again in 2005. In 2005 he also won the award for "Best Traditional Track" for 'Famous Flower of Serving Men'. In the 2007 Folk Awards Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick won "Best duo".