SAY Award opens public vote and announces Karen Dunbar and more as judges

Scotlands national music prize, The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, today invites music fans to Have their SAY and vote for their favourite Scottish album. The SAY Awards 72 hour public vote is open now, meaning the public can back their favourite Longlisted album to secure its place on 2024s Shortlist: remaining in the running to win the coveted title and ?20,000 first place prize.


The free vote is now open via www.sayaward.com - fans have 72 hours to back their favourite record, with a diverse range of albums in the running from the likes of Arab Strap, Barry Cant Swim, Becky Sikasa, Theo Bleak, The Snuts and more. Voting closes 11.59pm Wednesday 2nd October.


Plus, The SAY Award has revealed 2024s judging panel includes Scottish actor and comedian Karen Dunbar, author Doug Johnstone, BBC Radio Scotland presenter Stephanie Cheape, V&A Dundee Director Leonie Bell, Amazon Musics Hazel Berry and more.


Music fans can vote once per person, choosing between 20 albums on The SAY Award Longlist, from trad to jazz, metal to indie and more. The album with the most public votes will be guaranteed a place on the 10-strong Shortlist, taking home a minimum prize of ?1,000 and remaining in the running to win the title of Scottish Album of the Year and a ?20,000 prize.


The SAY Award Longlist

Afterlands We Are the Animals in the Night

Amy Laurenson Strands

Arab Strap Im totally fine with it 👍dont give a fuck anymore 👍

Barry Cant Swim When Will We Land?

Becky Sikasa The Writings and the Pictures and the Song

Bee Asha Goodbye, Gracious

Blue Rose Code Bright Circumstance

Broken Chanter Chorus Of Doubt

corto.alto Bad With Names

Dead Pony IGNORE THIS

Empire State Bastard Rivers of Heresy

Fergus McCreadie Stream

Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand Willson Williams

Lucia & The Best Boys Burning Castles

Malin Lewis Halocline

Mama Terra The Summoned

Rachel Sermanni Dreamer Awake

rEDOLENT dinny greet

The Snuts Millennials

Theo Bleak Pain


The nine other albums on the Shortlist will be chosen by an esteemed judging panel, chaired by culture journalist and music professional Arusa Qureshi. The Shortlist will be announced Thursday 3rd October, with The SAY Award winner unveiled at this years Ceremony, taking place on Thursday 24th October at Stirlings Albert Halls. Buy tickets for The SAY Award Ceremony now via www.sayaward.com.


Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said, "Each year, The SAY Award public vote is a chance for music fans to have their SAY and help determine the Scottish Album of the Year. The publics choice will be guaranteed a place in this years Shortlist, securing them a minimum prize of ?1,000 and keeping them in the running to win the overall prize of ?20,000.


"We encourage music fans across Scotland to get involved, back their favourite record and have their SAY by taking part in the public vote. Best of luck to this years Longlist - its a truly fantastic snapshot of Scottish music from the past year, and were looking forward to celebrating these records and more, at The SAY Award Ceremony next month."


2024s judging panel will reconvene at The SAY Award Ceremony to choose the ultimate winner. This years judging panel is: Alistair Braidwood (Owner/Host, Scots Whay Hae!), Briana Pegado (Author & Founder, Good Trouble Co.), David Pollock (Journalist), Doug Johnstone (Author), Hazel Berry (Artist Relations & Amazon Originals Lead, Amazon Music), Karen Dunbar (Comedian/Actress/Entertainer), KevTame (Music Industry Professional, Welsh Music Prize Organiser), Leonie Bell (Director, V&A Dundee), Paul Bonham (Professional Development Director, Music Managers Forum), Sabrina Henry (Head of Programme, CCA), Stephanie Cheape (Singer/songwriter and BBC Introducing Presenter, BBC Radio Scotland).


All Shortlisted artists receive a trophy designed by Dunblane glass maker Elin Isaksson via The SAY Award Design Commission, as well as a prize of ?1,000. The SAY Award winner takes home the ultimate prize of ?20,000 plus a bespoke trophy, which will be made from recycled and molten glass.


One of the most highly anticipated nights in Scotlands musical calendar, music fans can buy tickets to attend The SAY Award Ceremony, joining an audience of artists, industry professionals, press and cultural tastemakers to celebrate outstanding Scottish music, with a series of special live performances on the night. The SAY Award judging panel will reconvene to select 2024s Scottish Album of the Year Award winner, exclusively announced at 2024s ceremony, alongside this years Modern Scottish Classic and Sound of Young Scotland winners.

The SAY Award is a Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) production. The SAY Award 2024 is delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, Stirling Council, Stirling Alive with Culture, Seabass Vinyl, Ticketmaster, Help Musicians, HMV, FOPP, PPL, the Scottish Governments Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music, Music Declares Emergency and Hotel Colessio (hotel partner for The SAY Award Ceremony).

The SAY Awards charity partner is Scotlands national childrens and young peoples mental health charity, Tiny Changes, set up in memory of Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison to help young minds feel better.


Now in its thirteenth year, previous winners of The SAY Award include; Young Fathers Heavy Heavy (2023), Fergus McCreadie Forest Floor (2022), Mogwai As The Love Continues (2021), Nova Re-Up (2020), Auntie Flo Radio Highlife (2019), Young Fathers Cocoa Sugar (2018), Sacred Paws Strike A Match (2017), Anna Meredith Varmints (2016), Kathryn Joseph Bones You Have Thrown Me And Blood Ive Spilled (2015), Young Fathers Tape Two (2014), RM Hubbert Thirteen Lost & Found (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat Everythings Getting Older (2012).


SAY Award Ceremony tickets are on sale now via www.sayaward.com

?18 + booking fee


Dont miss The SAY Award 2024 news - follow the award on social media across Twitter @SAYaward, Instagram @sayaward, Facebook @SAYaward and TikTok @thesayaward

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