The SAY Award has unveiled the shortlist for its £20,000 cash prize, alongside nominees for The Sound Of Young Scotland Award and this year’s recipient of the Modern Scottish Classic award. Winners will be announced at a ceremony at Stirling's Albert Halls on Thursday 24 October, for which tickets are available now. 

Featuring a mixture of post-rock, indie pop, jazz, folk and dance music, a few highlights from the shortlist include Arab Strap’s wittily titled I'm totally fine with it 👍don't give a fuck anymore 👍, singer-songwriter Becky Sikasa’s soulful EP The Writings And The Pictures And The Song, Rachel Sermanni’s serene folk epic Dreamer Awake, and up-and-coming indie rock act Theo Bleak’s EP Pain. 

Here are the SAY Award nominations in full: 

Arab Strap – I'm totally fine with it 👍don't give a fuck anymore 👍
Barry Can't Swim – When Will We Land?
Becky Sikasa – The Writings And The Pictures And The Song
corto.alto – Bad With Names
Dead Pony – IGNORE THIS
Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand – Willson Williams
Lucia & The Best Boys – Burning Castles
Rachel Sermanni – Dreamer Awake
rEDOLENT – dinny greet
Theo Bleak – Pain

Also announced today are the finalists for The Sound Of Young Scotland Award. The winner of the award will receive a funding package worth up to £10,000 for a young and emerging Scottish artist to assist them in creating their debut album. Finalists are Alice Faye, Dillon Barrie, Goliath, Pippa Blundell and Spyres.

This year’s Modern Scottish Classic award will go to Martyn Bennett (who passed away in 2005) for his 2003 album Grit, which fused folk, dance and traditional singers to invigorating effect. BJ Stewart, one of the founding members of the Martyn Bennett Trust and Martyn’s close friend and photographer, said, ‘The Martyn Bennett Trust is deeply honoured that Grit has been awarded the 2024 Modern Scottish Classic Award. This recognition is especially meaningful coming from fellow artists across Scotland's diverse music scene, reflecting the enduring impact of Martyn’s work.’

Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said, ‘Congratulations to the ten incredible albums that have made The SAY Award Shortlist, as well as to our Sound Of Young Scotland Award finalists and this year’s Modern Scottish Classic Award winner; Martyn Bennett's outstanding, innovative and much-loved record Grit. This is a fantastic representation of the strength and diversity of Scottish music – past, present and future.

‘In what has been – and continues to be – an incredibly challenging time for Scotland's cultural sector, The SAY Award’s role in celebrating, promoting and rewarding artistic endeavour is more important than ever. Culture is our identity; it’s how we understand ourselves, our place in the world and how we connect with each other. It tells the stories of life in Scotland and is essential to our collective and individual well-being. By championing the incredible musical output of our nation, we share our stories with the rest of the world and find new ways to connect.

‘Scottish music not only enriches who we are but also contributes significantly to our economy, generating £195 million in 2018 alone, with music tourism adding £406 million. These figures show the profound impact of music, not just culturally, but in creating jobs, driving growth and funding vital public services. Without sustained and increased investment, however, the future for many of our artists and cultural organisations remains uncertain. It’s therefore essential that we continue to advocate for the long-term commitment that Scottish culture both needs and deserves.

‘The SMIA is proud of its ongoing commitment to the continued value of music and the arts in Scotland, and The SAY Award is a vital part of this work. A huge thank you to our partners for their invaluable support, and we look forward to an unforgettable celebration at Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday 24 October.’

Established in 2012 as a way to highlight the diversity of Scotland’s musical talent, the SAY Awards have previously handed gongs to Bill Wells & Aidan Moffat, Kathryn Joseph, Anna Meredith and Auntie Flo. Young Fathers won the main award last year for Heavy Heavy, making them the first band to win the award three times (Tape Two in 2012 and Cocoa Sugar in 2018). Meanwhile, Paolo Nutini picked up the Modern Scottish Classic award for his 2007 debut, These Streets, and No Windows nabbed The Sound Of Young Scotland Award.

Tickets for SAY Award's public ceremony are on sale now.