The SAY Award has revealed full details of its ceremony, including this year’s shortlist, the finalists for this year's Sound Of Young Scotland Award, and the recipient of the Modern Scottish Classic Award. Taking place at Dundee’s Caird Hall on Thursday 6 November, the ceremony itself will feature live performances from major Scottish acts and crown this year’s SAY Award winner, who’ll receive a £20,000 prize. 

Perhaps the most high-profile contender for the prize is Jacob Alon, a Fife-born singer-songwriter whose debut In Limerence has already gained widespread critical plaudits and received an entry on the Mercury Music Prize shortlist. Brooke Combe, meanwhile, has gained mainstream traction for Dancing At The Edge Of The World, while shortlist veterans Cloth, Hamish Hawk and Kathryn Joseph (who won the award in 2015) have released strong albums that embellish and deepen their firmly established styles. 

Also on the list is Zoe Graham, whose debut TENT merges synth-pop and lyrical wit; The Joy Hotel for their alt-rock collection Ceremony; hip-hop and jazz party-starters Kai Reesu for Kompromat Vol I; ambient dance collection Gramarye by Taahliah; and Matt Carmichael for his instrumental album Dancing With Embers.

Here’s the shortlist in full: 

Brooke Combe – Dancing At The Edge Of The World
Cloth – Pink Silence
Hamish Hawk – A Firmer Hand
Jacob Alon – In Limerence
Kai Reesu – Kompromat Vol I
Kathryn Joseph – We Were Made Prey
Matt Carmichael – Dancing With Embers
Taahliah – Gramarye
The Joy Hotel – Ceremony
Zoe Graham – Tent

For the Modern Scottish Classic Award, KT Tunstall will be celebrated for Eye To The Telescope, which catapulted her to fame when it released in 2004 thanks to the hit singles ‘Black Horse And The Cherry Tree’ and the ubiquitous ‘Suddenly I See’.

Tunstall said: ‘I am so grateful these deeply personal songs that I recorded and shaped with Steve Osborne in such a stripped back, blues-inspired way still resonate with people 20 years later. Scotland’s incredible musical output continues to inspire me, and I am very proud to see my debut album join the phenomenal lineage of Scottish music recognised by the Modern Scottish Classic Award and the Scottish Music Industry Association.’

The winner of the Sound Of Young Scotland Award will also be revealed on the night, with winners receiving cash grants totalling £6,000 to cover studio and production costs, a performance slot at 2026’s SAY Award Ceremony, up to 250 vinyl pressings of their debut album from Seabass Vinyl, a bespoke art prize from The SAY Award Design Commission, and more. This year's contenders are Aleena, Alice Faye, GAÏA, Rahul.mp3 and Tarran.

Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and creative director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said: ‘Congratulations to the incredible albums on 2025’s SAY Award shortlist, as well as to our five Sound Of Young Scotland Award finalists and this year’s Modern Scottish Classic Award winner – KT Tunstall’s iconic and much-loved debut record, Eye To The Telescope. 

‘As we now quickly approach next month’s ceremony at Dundee’s Caird Hall, we’re looking forward to celebrating Scottish music’s bright future, rich past and invaluable present. We couldn’t be more delighted to have KT Tunstall join a stellar bill of performing artists, including 2024 SAY Award winners Redolent, plus Brooke Combe, corto.alto and Dillon Barrie. 

‘Scottish music truly is the soundtrack and stories of our lives. We hope you can join us to celebrate it on Thursday 6 November, and we couldn’t be more excited for The SAY Award to make its debut in our new home of Dundee.’

Last year’s ceremony, which took place in Stirling, awarded Redolent the top prize for their infectious indie album Dinny Greet, batting off competition from Arab Strap, Becky Sikasa, Barry Can’t Swim, corto.alto, Dead Pony, Lucia & The Best Boys, Rachel Sermanni, Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand, and Theo Bleak.

SAY Award Ceremony 2025, Caird Hall, Dundee, Thursday 6 November.