SCOTLAND’S top musicians took to the red carpet on Saturday as the annual Scottish Music Awards were held at Glasgow’s famed Barrowland Ballroom.
Paolo Nutini, Clare Grogan, Rod Stewart and Lewis Capaldi were among the stars nominated for top music prizes.
Altered Images singer Grogan said she can't believe she is up for the living legend award after releasing her first album in nearly four decades.
She told The National: “As you can imagine it’s a bit overwhelming and being a girl from Glasgow taking a big compliment is very tricky because we’re always batting them away but tonight I’m going to be doing my best to say thank you so much because I really feel very, very privileged to be part of this evening.
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“Honestly, I think the award should say ‘for the girl who just wouldn’t give up’. I think a big part of being in this business is about just keeping on keeping on because I love it.
“It’s sometimes not worked out for me but a lot of the time it has and to be back in the charts after never expecting to be again has been the most incredible lift that I wasn’t even looking for. That’s the weird thing. I made a record for myself and a lot of people have related to.”
Asked what makes a living legend Grogan laughed and said: “That’s too hard to answer,” before joking “some of us just have that natural ability".
Island rockers Peat and Diesel impressed crowds with their matching kilts. The band, up for the Sound of Scotland award, said they never expected to make it in the business, let alone be nominated.
The trio told The National: “We are still in shock. We don’t know what’s going on. We are just straight off the island and we’ve been thrown here.
“The band exploded, we were a week old and played our first festival, and it hasn’t stopped since.
“It’s been phenomenal being here [at the Barrowland’s]”
Dundee indie outfit The View were up for the special recognition award after regrouping following a five-year hiatus.
The band said it was great to be back and confirmed new music is on the way.
They told The National: “It's been eight years since we've done an album and it's good to be back with the boys.
"This award means a lot to us and to get it at The Barra's, this place is like a second home to us so it means a lot."
Up-and-coming musician Tamzene, nominated for the breakthrough artist award, said she hoped her family would be proud to see her name amongst the likes of Nutini and Stewart.
She told The National: “It’s a really special night for me. I feel honoured to even be spoken in the same sentences as some of these artists.
“It feels like the biggest ever honour and I feel really embraced by my Scottish community.
“My family, I really feel a lot of the time I’m doing this for myself but also for them. They’ve encouraged me over the years to be the best I can be so they’re as excited or more excited than I am and they’re just really proud I’ve got to this point in my career.”
After the red carpet, the artists went inside the famed Glasgow venue for performances. Behind closed doors, the results are set to be announced on Sunday.
The 24th edition of the Specsavers Scottish Music Awards saw funds raised for Nordoff Robbins through donations at the event and text, as well as through live auctions, to allow the charity to provide their services to those who need it most.
Donald C MacLeod MBE, Scottish Fundraising chair for Nordoff Robbins, said: “We are thrilled to be recognising some of the country’s finest musical talent at this year’s Specsavers Scottish Music Awards whilst raising crucial funds for Nordoff Robbins, providing wider access to music therapy that can offer real inclusion and belonging.
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"We are delighted to once again be working with Specsavers to curate deserving nominees and exclusive live performances with the hope that funds raised at this year’s ceremony, which we expect to be among our best yet, matches the incredible generosity of the Scottish music community in previous years.”
In alphabetical order, the full list of nominees for the 2022 Specsavers Scottish Music Awards are:
- Clare Grogan (Altered Images) - Sir Reo Stakis Foundation Living Legend Award
- Craig Logan - Go Radio Music Industry Award
- Dylan John Thomas - Dean Banks & Mond Vodka Breakthrough Artist Award
- Ewan McVicar - Ballantine’s / Sub Club Electronic Music Award
- Gerry Cinnamon - King Tut’s Songwriting Award
- Gun - Hard Rock Cafe Rock Legend Award
- Lewis Capaldi - Raymond Weil Global Artist of the Year Award
- Paolo Nutini - Guitar Guitar’s Best Album Award AND Ticketmaster’s Best Live Act Award
- Peat & Diesel - Royal Highland Centre Sound of Scotland Award
- Rianne Downey - Tennent’s Breakthrough Award
- Rod Stewart - Specsavers Outstanding Achievement in Music Award
- Tamzene - VEGA Rising Star Award
- The View - Rox ‘Diamonds & Thrills’ Special Recognition Award
- Wet Leg - SWG3’s Best UK Artist Award
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