The Scottish Music Awards are set to return as a virtual event next month to celebrate the biggest and best names in Scottish music while also raising vital funds for the music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins. Hosted by broadcaster Edith Bowman, the award ceremony will be streamed live from SWG3 in Glasgow's West End on Sat 28 Nov to celebrate St Andrew's Day. Award nominees and performers lined up for the virtual event include Amy Macdonald, kitti and Luke La Volpe.

The award ceremony is the key fundraising event for Nordoff Robbins, the UK charity which provides music therapy to the people who need it most, enriching the lives of people with life-limiting illnesses, disabilities and feelings of isolation. Nordoff Robbins has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and is expected to lose approximately 75% of its fundraising income this year. The virtual event will help bring people together to celebrate the constantly evolving Scottish music scene and support the important cause.

Over the past 21 years, the Scottish Music Awards have honoured stars from Annie Lennox to Susan Boyle, and more recently acts like Be Charlotte, Tom Walker and Lewis Capaldi. The 2019 event included Simple Minds, Joesef, Twin Atlantic and Tom Walker and raised a remarkable £70,000 for Nordoff Robbins. Although the event will look a little different this year in its online format, it will continue to bring Scottish music artists and fans together for a great cause. Staying in line with Scottish Government regulations, the performances at SWG3 will be filmed socially distanced and the event will also include exclusive footage from previous sets.

Luke La Volpe is nominated for the Best Breakthrough Award Award (Male) sponsored by Coors Light. The 24-year-old Bathgate singer had a massive year with his single 'Dead Man's Blues' hitting number 1 in Scotland. La Volpe also started a series of live-streamed shows from home in the spring which resulted in the Sofathon Singalong online festivals in aid of the Music Venue Trust.

'It's some buzz to be nominated for the Breakthrough Award, especially in such a tough year for everyone in the music industry,' La Volpe said. 'It's my dream to follow in the footsteps of all the amazing Scots who've won it before so I've tried to stay busy and keep pushing forward despite all the difficulties we've had. It's not been easy for any of us and I want to say a huge thanks to the fans who've stuck with me and the artists and everyone behind the scenes who are working so hard to make sure we can all come back strong in 2021.'

With four Top 5 albums including her number 1 debut, and huge hits like 'Mr Rock & Roll' and 'This is the Life', Amy Macdonald is one of Scotland's most successful female artists and popular exports. The singer, who is set to release her highly anticipated fifth album at the end of October, is nominated for the Women in Music Award sponsored by Rox.

'The Scottish Music Awards have been incredibly supportive since they gave me the Breakthrough Award in 2007, which was such a huge boost when I was just starting out,' Macdonald said. 'In such a difficult year for everyone, to be nominated for the Women In Music Award 13 years later feels like another very special landmark. I'm looking forward to being part of the online show on 28th November and I hope we can raise plenty of money for the vital and life-changing work of Nordoff Robbins, which is needed now more than ever.'

Glaswegian singer and songwriter kitti, who is often compared to musical icons like Amy Winehouse, Erykah Badu and Alicia Keys thanks to her soaring vocals, was included on the BBC's Hot List for 2020 and is quickly establishing herself as an artist to watch. She is nominated for Best Breakthrough Award (Female) sponsored by Coors Light at this year's awards and will also perform on the night.

Donald C MacLeod MBE, Chairman of the Nordoff Robbins Fundraising Committee Scotland, said: 'Like many other charities, Nordoff Robbins have been severely impacted by COVID-19, having to postpone most of our fundraising events will mean an expected loss of 75% of our fundraising income, hugely impacting those we work with. Despite everything going on, all of us at Nordoff Robbins are working hard to support and help with social isolation through online music therapy delivery and online events such as these. Music has been a lifeline for so many of us during these unprecedented times and we hope you will all join us for an incredible night of performances at the first ever virtual Scottish Music Awards!'

For more information on Nordoff Robbins, visit nordoff-robbins.org.uk