Final Acts Announced for Specsavers Scottish Music Awards Honouring Iconic Artists and Emerging Talent

Martin Bone - Editor-In Chief 31 October 2024

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FINAL ACTS ANNOUNCED FOR SPECSAVERS SCOTTISH MUSIC AWARDS

Fairground Attraction’s Eddi Reader, Edinburgh’s own Nina Nesbitt, and Grammy award winning producer Blair Ferguson to be honoured at Specsavers Scottish Music Awards alongside moody trad newcomers Beluga Lagoon and crowd pleasers GUN.

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Full Winners List and Performers Announced for the 2024 Specsavers Scottish Music Awards

With just two days to go until the sold-out 2024 Specsavers Scottish Music Awards at Barrowland Ballroom, the prestigious awards ceremony has announced its latest winners and performers on the night.

Fairground Attraction’s Eddi Reader, Edinburgh’s own Nina Nesbitt, Grammy award winning producerBlair Ferguson, moody trad Newcomers Beluga Lagoon and crowd pleasers GUN to be honoured at Specsavers Scottish Music Awards, celebrated for their outstanding contributions to the music industry.

These artists will join the ranks of previous winners such as Lewis Capaldi, Sharleen Spiteri, Amy MacDonald, and Wet Wet Wet. The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards, now in its 26th year, is a flagship fundraiser for Nordoff and Robbins, a UK-based music therapy charity.

At this year’s ceremony, headline sponsor Specsavers will be encouraging musicians and music fans to look after their hearing, with all 1,000 attendees receiving gifted Specsavers hearing protection. The move comes after the high street opticians and hearing experts reveals that 23 per cent of gig goers in Scotland think loud music has damaged their hearing and 91 per cent of those working in music and nightlife venues have experienced a negative impact on their hearing.

Ryan Forbes, Specsavers audiology board partner for Scotland, said: “Music has the power to connect us, which can be clearly seen in the important music therapy work carried out by Nordoff and Robbins. However, if you don’t take steps to look after your hearing, exposure to loud music and loud environments over a long period of time can cause permanent damage. With Scotland’s music industry gathered underone roof we wanted to highlight this important issue and ensure guests can protect their hearing so that they can continue to enjoy music for years to come.”

The event will take place on Saturday, November 2nd and feature exclusive performances from some of Scotland’s most celebrated musicians. Newcomers Beluga Lagoon, Singer Songwriter Kyle Falconer, 90’s Darlings Soup Dragons, TikTok Favourite Calum Bowie, Scottish Songbird Nina Nesbitt, Rockers Gun and Alt-Rock Heroes Twin Atlantic will take to the stage on the night much to the delight of ticketholders.

In alphabetical order, the full winners and performers list for this year’s Specsavers Scottish Music Awards include:

Berkeley 2 Studios – Guitar Guitar Music Industry Award
Beluga Lagoon – PERFORMING – Barrowland Spotlight Award
Blair Ferguson – Blur69 Sound of Scotland

Calum Bowie – PERFORMING – Beavertown’s Breakthrough Award
Country 2 Country – Ticketmaster’s Tourmaster Award

Eddi Reader – Special Recognition Award sponsored by Specsavers
GUN – PERFORMING – Pizza Express Album of the Year
Hannah Laing – Go Radio Breakthrough Award

Harri and Domenic – Ballantines and Subclub Electronic Music Award
Kyle Falconer – PERFORMING – King Tuts’ Song Writing Award

LuLu – Scottish Icon Award sponsored by Rox
Nina Nesbitt – PERFORMING – SWG3 Independent Icon Award
Phil Bowdery – OVO Hydro Promoter of the Year Award
Soup Dragons – PERFORMING Raymond Weil Lifetime Achievement Award
Travis – Outstanding Achievement Award sponsored by the Sir Reo Stakis Foundation
Twin Atlantic – PERFORMING Disruptor Award sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh

Glasgow born Eddi Reader rose to fame in the 1980s as the lead vocalist for the band Fairground Attraction, whose hit single “Perfect” and debut album The First of a Million Kisses brought them widespread acclaim. After a 35-year hiatus, the band reunited earlier this year to embark on a 14-date UK tour. Eddi has also built a successful solo career, with her Scottish heritage strongly influencing her music and earning her significant acclaim. Her contributions have garnered numerous awards, including this year’s Special Recognition Award sponsored Specsavers.

Eddi Reader says: “I’m delighted to receive the Special Recognition Award sponsored by Specsavers. Scotland and Scottish music have always had a huge influence on me and my artistic expression, so it feels very special to be acknowledged here. This award is the icing on top of an already amazing year, especially with the joy of reuniting with Fairground Attraction. I’m incredibly proud to support Nordoff and Robbins and their extraordinary work using music to bring healing and joy to so many. Their mission is deeply inspiring, and it’s an honour to be recognised at an event that supports such a meaningful cause.”

Beluga Lagoon have recently captured the hearts of Scottish Audiences with their unique blend of Scots infused trad and modern rock. Selling out their biggest headline to date at the Barrowlands earlier this year caught the eye of venue manager Tom, who fell in love with their sound and handpicked them to be this years recipient of the Barrowland Spotlight Award.

Andrew O’Donnel, wilderness filmmaker turned Beluga frontman said: ‘It feels quite strange to be winning an award for music to be honest! Music is basically an essential part of life as far as I’m concerned, and being able to do it in a professional sense is still mind blowing. For many years I’ve been quite a reluctant performer, but this has been our busiest year in terms of live shows by a long way. Seeing how the music impacts on people has been really moving, and I have a deepened respect for the power of music. I think this is a feeling I share with Nordoff and Robbins.’

Edinburgh’s own Nina Nesbitt returned to our airwaves this year with her latest record, Mountain Music, with a series of signings and tour dates across the UK. On top of this, Nina has recently launched her own label, Apple Tree Records – making her win of SWG3’s Independent Icon Award all the more fitting.

Nina says: As someone who has just started my own record label, I’m so honoured to be winning the Independent Icon award at the Scottish Music Awards! I’m always so grateful for the support I receive back home. I’m so excited to be playing at the event and spending a night celebrating Scottish music.

Grammy award winner and “local lad” Blair Ferguson went from spending his early-teens producing tracks from his childhood bedroom to taking home his first Grammy at just 19, winning “Best R&B Track” for SZA’s “Snooze”. Given the extent of his talent, it felt fitting for Blair to take home Blur 69’s Sound of Scotland.

Blair Ferguson says: “Scotland has an amazing track record of producing talent that has shaped the history of popular music across the world, so it’s a great honor to receive the Sound of Scotland award at this year’s Specsavers Scottish Music Awards. Music connects people and changes lives. The event’s continued support for the work of Nordoff-Robbins shows how much the organizers understand the healing power of music. I’m looking forward to being part of this important event and to help raise money for the charity to continue doing its extraordinary work.”

A stones throw away from the Barrowlands is the home of Calton rockers, GUN. This year saw the band celebrate 30 years of their hit track “Word Up” and the announcement of a December tour to support their latest album, Hombres, winning them the Pizza Express Best Album Award.

Dante Gizzi from GUN says: “We are so deeply honoured to receive Album of the Year in Scotland. This recognition means the world to us, and we’re grateful for the support and connection with the people and music community here.

We’ve had a long-standing association with Nordoff Robins over the years and it’s been a truly phenomenal charity to be involved with. Their work with vulnerable communities, including those with disabilities, highlights the true potential of music to change lives in the most profound ways.”

Twin Atlantic’s Sam McTrusty says: “It’s truly an honour to be recognised by Nordoff and Robbins for their Scottish Music Awards. The work they do with music therapy is so inspiring to us as musicians and so necessary for so many families out there who rely on the experiences they provide.

For our band to be called a Disruptor within the industry feels great. We’ve always tried to push ourselves creatively, touring and now even how we release our music. So of course, it’s very humbling to have people from our homeland make some noise about it and the longer we are a band the more we just keep being drawn towards disruption of the rules.

Hopefully can be disrupting for many years to come.”

Harri says: “I feel like the trainspotter who got run over by the steam train – absolutely chuffed to bits! It’s an incredible honour to be recognised for something we’ve been so passionate about for so many years. The music, the culture, and the community have always been at the heart of what we do, and to receive this award from such an amazing organisation means a lot to us.”

Domenic says: “To be honest I’m a wee bit embarrassed about receiving an award, music is such a subjective thing that I’ve never felt comfortable with awards in music. My award is getting to play in the Sub Club every week to a great crowd and in front of great staff. I am however extremely honoured to be connected in some small way to the incredible work that Nordoff and Robbins do and how they use music to help so many people.”

Hannah Laing says: “As a Scottish artist, winning this award means absolutely everything. Over the last 12 years that I’ve been a DJ I’ve built up such a loyal Scottish following. They give so much support to their own and I appreciate that a lot.”

Soup Dragons Frontman Jim says, ‘The Soup Dragons are overjoyed to be honoured by Nordoff and Robbins with this award as the work and values of the organisation mean a great deal to the group. We stand together with Nordoff and Robbins in saying that- Together, we are music.’

About Nordoff and Robbins

Nordoff and Robbins is the UK’s largest music therapy charity, with a unique approach shaped by more than 60 years of practice. Through the power of music, it breaks through the barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability and social isolation. The charity does this through providing music therapy to people across the UK, whilst also training the music therapists of the future and funding research to measure andimprove the impact of its work.

Music therapy is the act of supporting people to connect and communicate through music who otherwise are unable to; such as those living with autism to dementia, learning difficulties to brain injuries, life-limiting illnesses to mental health issues, grief and trauma. Nordoff and Robbins music therapists use the power of music to create space for people to express themselves and find connection in society.

Nordoff and Robbins has specialist centres in London (Croydon and Kentish Town), Dunfermline, Glasgow and Newcastle that provide one-to-one and group sessions for children and adults, alongside providing sessions in various settings including schools, hospitals, care homes and more. Its music therapy training is validated by Goldsmiths, University of London, and is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).

From adults with dementia reconnecting with their family, to children with autism finding their voice, Nordoff and Robbins believes that everyone who needs it should have access to music therapy, because it can, quite simply, transform people’s lives.