SSE Scottish Music Awards celebrate 20 years of championing music in Scotland
The event includes performances from Snow Patrol, Amy MacDonald, Susan Boyle and Tom Grennan, as well as a brand new venue
The SSE Scottish Music Awards return on Saturday 1 December to mark 20 years of championing and celebrating the music industry in Scotland. The annual glittering award ceremony, and star-studded event, will bring 800 music industry insiders and guests together for a night of live performances and nods to artists, all hosted by Sanjeev Kohli AKA Navid from Still Game. The awards ceremony is the main fundraising event for music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins Scotland.
This year's nominees include electronic DJ Eclair Fifi, who is up for the Electronic Music Award; Kyle Falconer (Best Album); Mark Knopfler (Living Legend Award); Snow Patrol (SSE Artist of the Year); The Snuts (Breakthrough Artist) and Tom Grennan (Best UK Artist Award). Other nominations include The Script tipped for the Best International Artist award, Gary Clark for Music Business Award and Frightened Rabbit for the Songwriting Award. The minds behind innovative arts venue BAaD, Ricky Scoular, Brian Traynor, Natalie Traynor and Norrie Innes, are also nominated for the Evolution Award.
As a special anniversary addition to the ceremony, the event will include an award which sees the inception of two Scottish music icons into the Scottish Music Hall of Fame. Both Annie Lennox and Susan Boyle will receive a Scottish Music Hall of Fame Award, sponsored by the Royal Highland Centre, for their contribution to Scottish music throughout their careers.
To complement the award-giving, guests will also be treated to performances by Mark Knopfler, Snow Patrol, Susan Boyle, Amy Macdonald, Tom Grennan, Kyle Falconer and The Snuts. Scottish legend Susan Boyle, who will open the show, commented, 'I am thrilled to be performing at this year's SSE Scottish Music Awards and to be opening the show is fantastic. The Scots are one of the best audiences in the world, so being in my home country on the SEC stage will be wonderful. I'm also incredibly honoured and speechless that I will be inducted into the Scottish Music Hall of Fame'.
As well as celebrating 20 years in existence, the awards are also celebrating a venue change, after its long-term residency at the Old Fruitmarket. It will move to the SEC, the home of many of Scotland's past iconic music performances, which offers more space for the festivities.
Aside from the music, the main focus of the night is the charity behind the awards. Nordoff Robbins Scotland started life in 1996 with the aim to use music to help break down the barriers caused to those with illness or disability. The charity currently has music therapists working with 1,000 people across the country in schools, hospitals, day, residential centres and hospices.
Donald MacLeod, Chairman of the Fundraising Committee for Nordoff Robbins Scotland, said: 'This year's SSE Scottish Music Awards is shaping up to be the best yet; we can't wait to celebrate in a new location with one of the biggest line-ups we've ever had. From Snow Patrol to Susan Boyle to Tom Grennan, we're sure everyone in the room will enjoy a night to remember from start to finish!'
SSE Scottish Music Awards, Sat 1 Dec, SEC, Glasgow. To buy tickets, visit nordoff-robbins.org.uk/scotland