- rEDOLENT awarded £20,000 first prize at national music prize ceremony. Martyn Bennett’s ‘Grit’ named Modern Scottish Classic and Dillon Barrie wins the Sound of Young Scotland.
rEDOLENT accepting this year's Scottish Album of the Year award. Image by Ryan Johnston.
rEDOLENT's ‘dinny greet’ was tonight announced as winner of The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award in Stirling’s Albert Halls. rEDOLENT took home the £20,000 first prize and a bespoke trophy as part of Scotland’s national music prize, claiming the title ahead of a Shortlist including Arab Strap, corto.alto, Rachel Sermanni and more. The Edinburgh five piece won for their electronic indie-pop debut album at the beginning of what is set to be a hugely exciting career for the Scottish newcomers.
Martyn Bennett’s final record ‘Grit’ was awarded the Modern Scottish Classic Award, presented by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), with Martyn’s wife Kirsten Bennett and close friend BJ Stewart accepting the award on his behalf. Dillon Barrie was named The Sound of Young Scotland, winning a funding package worth up to £10,000 to create his debut album.
Now in its thirteenth year, The SAY Award has distributed over £390,000 in prize money, recognised 260 Longlisted albums and championed musicians from the country’s past, present and future.
rEDOLENT, winners of The Scottish Album of the Year Award 2024, said, “This feels like the dream of a 7 year old child - it’s making me question all of existence and reality! I always feel like we’re sprinting behind the pack trying to keep up and all I’ve wanted to do is contribute something. I’m potentially also gonna greet right now which is ironic. We’re just so grateful this helps us keep this wee club that we’ve got going.Thank you also to Young Fathers for all the cool tunes and for not releasing one this year!”
Kirsten Bennett and BJ Stewart accepted 2024’s Modern Scottish Classic Award for ‘Grit’ saying, Kirsten - “This is a very special award. Martyn would have loved that this represents so much of what is outstanding about Scottish music that’s happening now, no matter what genre.”
BJ Stewart - "It’s unbelievably 20 years this coming January that Martyn died, but his music lives on and we’re so grateful to everyone here for putting this on - The SAY Award has been amazing so thanks so much for that. 2025 is going to be a big year for Martyn’s legacy - the Martyn Bennett Trust is finally releasing the official biography and it’s been a long time coming. Please keep listening.”
Dillon Barrie, winner of The Sound of Young Scotland Award said, “Thank you so much to the four amazing other finalists!”
The SAY Award Ceremony returned to The Albert Halls in Stirling for the third consecutive year, welcoming Scotland’s biggest and best from across the music industry, with fans gathering alongside artists, managers, labels and more to celebrate the country’s outstanding music scene. Hosted by broadcasters Nicola Meighan and Vic Galloway, the night was a striking reminder of Scotland’s diverse music industry with albums from across genres honoured on the night.
The Edinburgh five piece, made up of brothers Danny and Robin Herbert plus Andrew Turnbull, Robbie White and Alice Hancock, claimed the prize for their debut album. rEDOLENT won the coveted title from a Shortlist including Barry Can’t Swim, Becky Sikasa, Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand, all of whom collected runner-up prizes of £1,000 each and unique glass trophies, created via The SAY Award Design Commission by Dunblane artist Elin Isaksson. Winners of each prize, The SAY Award, Modern Scottish Classic and Sound of Young Scotland, collected bespoke sand-casted glass sculptures, with The SAY Award trophy enhanced with 23.5 carat gold. The awards were cast from naturally occuring rocks found by the artist close to her Dunblane studio, hand poured with molten glass, using recycled coloured shards of glass as a result of a sustainability-focussed brief.
Listen to The Scottish Album of the Year, ‘dinny greet’ by rEDOLENT.
Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) said, “Tonight, rEDOLENT’s debut album ‘dinny greet’ claims Scotland’s national music prize with a powerful and resonant body of work. The album’s experimental indie pop sound draws on both sharp social commentary and inventive electronic textures, firmly establishing them as a unique and important voice in Scottish music. By writing and singing in their own demotic, ‘dinny greet’ carries an unmistakable self-assurance, reflecting not just the band’s journey, but where we are culturally as a nation in 2024.
“rEDOLENT’s win is a testament to the importance of recognising and investing in Scotland’s diverse creative talent. The band’s distinct sound and voice, honed over a decade, speaks to the power of DIY ethos and creative evolution, showing us the impact of emerging artists in shaping our ever-evolving cultural identity.
“This year’s Ceremony also saw rising talent Dillon Barrie awarded the Sound of Young Scotland Award, promising a bright future for Scottish music. Meanwhile, Martyn Bennett’s iconic ‘Grit’ was celebrated as the Modern Scottish Classic Award winner – a seminal record that fused traditional Scottish music with cutting-edge electronica, creating a lasting legacy that continues to inspire generations of artists and music fans alike. Chosen as the winner by this year’s 20-strong SAY Award Longlist, tonight we celebrated ‘Grit’ through a specially curated unique performance – one which will undoubtedly be remembered for many years to come.
“Scottish music is the soundtrack and stories of our lives. The SMIA is proud of its ongoing commitment to strengthen, empower, and unite our music industry, and tonight’s Ceremony highlights both the cultural significance and global contribution of Scotland’s outstanding creative talent.”
Head of Music at Creative Scotland, Alan Morrison, said, “‘dinny greet’, rEDOLENT’s SAY Award-winning album, is a perfect example of off-centre alt-pop, meshing together intimate lyrics, catchy tunes and leftfield rhythms to create one of the most memorable debuts by a Scottish band in recent years. It’s also nice to see a bit of Scots language upfront in the title, underlining everything that gives our music scene such a distinctive identity. Congratulations too to Dillon Barrie, whose Sound of Young Scotland Award highlights the magnificent new generation of talent that’s making Scotland’s jazz sector one of the most vibrant creative spaces in the country. Creative Scotland is proud to support the SMIA and The SAY Award, and to champion the album as an invaluable form of artistic expression.”
Stirling Council Depute Leader, Cllr Gerry McGarvey said, “Congratulations to rEDOLENT on the much deserved accolade of 2024 Scottish Album of the Year and also to Dillon Barrie for receiving The Sound of Young Scotland Award. ‘Grit’ being named as the Modern Scottish Classic was also a fitting tribute to the life, career and legacy of Martyn Bennett.
“Stirling has been proud to host The SAY Award over the last three years, with the historic Albert Halls providing an ideal stage for this magnificent event, especially as we celebrate our 900th anniversary this year.
“Our partnership with The SAY Award continues beyond this evening as the award-winning Tolbooth Stirling will host a number of shows from some of the Shortlisted artists as well as an exhibition from local artist Elin Isaksson who designed the stunning trophies as part of The SAY Award Design Commission.
“Thank you once again to everyone who played their part in making The 2024 SAY Award a resounding success and underlining Stirling’s status as a major cultural events destination."
Scotland’s music fans and industry alike gathered in Stirling, as part of the history city’s 900th anniversary in 2024, to enjoy incredible live performances ahead of the highly anticipated winner announcement. This year’s Ceremony was opened by No Windows, 2023’s Sound of Young Scotland winners, before three-time SAY Award nominee Bemz took to the stage for a special set. Each year, the Ceremony honours the Modern Scottish Classic Award winner with a celebratory set and tonight Greg Lawson, founder of the Grit Orchestra and Martyn Bennett’s close friend, curated a stunning performance with Croft No.Five and Fiona Hunter. Greg laid down his conductor’s baton to join Croft No. Five on violin, with Fiona Hunter taking on Sheila Stewart and Lizzie Higgins vocal contributions, performing ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Move’ in a triumphant nod to an album widely credited for beginning the musical evolution of Celtic fusion.
The SAY Award Shortlist for 2024 in alphabetical order:
- 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
A panel of industry experts and cultural tastemakers from across Scotland and the wider UKmet in Stirling to debate 2024’s Shortlist and choose the winner. Chaired by Arusa Qureshi, the judging panel was: 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 Manager’s Forum), Sabrina Henry (Head of Programme, CCA), Stephanie Cheape (Singer/songwriter and BBC Introducing Presenter, BBC Radio Scotland).
The Modern Scottish Classic Award (presented by The SMIA) is an annual recognition of an iconic album from Scotland’s past that still inspires today, selected by 2024’s 20 Longlisted artists with Martyn Bennett’s final studio album ‘Grit’ the fourth ever recipient of the award. Martyn’s fifth album expertly showcased his groundbreaking blending of traditional Celtic and modern music, and is now widely credited for starting the musical evolution of Celtic fusion and continues to inspire today.
Martyn battled with Hodgkin's Lymphoma throughout the making of the album, and was no longer able to play instruments himself with ‘Grit’ his sole artistic outlet. Martyn Bennett passed away 15 months after the album was released in January 2005 at 33 years old, following a short but extraordinary career that has left a stunning musical legacy, not only in Scotland, but around the world.
The Sound of Young Scotland Award (supported by Help Musicians, the Scottish Government’s Youth Music Initiative through Creative Scotland and Youth Music) winner was revealed on the night with Dillon Barrie chosen by a panel of 11 former SAY Award nominees. The Pitlochry native moved to Glasgow in 2021 to attend the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s jazz course.
The award aims to stimulate and support the future of Scottish music, offering a funding package worth up to £10,000 to an emerging Scottish artist to assist them in creating their debut album including: cash grants of £5,500, 250 vinyl pressings of their debut album from Seabass Vinyl, in-kind use of The Tolbooth’s recording studio in Stirling, business advice from industry experts arranged via Help Musicians and more.
Keith Millar, Relationship Manager at Help Musicians, said “Congratulations to Dillon Barrie on winning this year’s Sound of Young Scotland Award. We are delighted to be supporting emerging Scottish talent, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for Dillon. Our research shows that 80% of musicians face at least one or more career-restricting barriers, so we recognise how important moments like this are. Our support aims to equip musicians with the skills they need to build a sustainable career in music. Congratulations to all of this year’s nominees who contribute so much to Scottish music and beyond.”
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 Government’s Youth Music Initiative, Youth Music, Music Declares Emergency, Harviestoun Brewery and Hotel Colessio (hotel partner for The SAY Award Ceremony).
The SAY Award’s charity partner is Scotland’s national children’s and young people’s 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 are: 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 I’ve Spilled’ (2015), Young Fathers ‘Tape Two’ (2014), RM Hubbert ‘Thirteen Lost & Found’ (2013) and the inaugural winner Bill Wells and Aidan Moffat ‘Everything’s Getting Older’ (2012).
Now in its fourth year, previous winners of the Modern Scottish Classic Award are: Paolo Nutini ‘These Streets’ (2023), Cocteau Twins ‘Heaven or Las Vegas’ (2022) and Frightened Rabbit ‘The Midnight Organ Fight’ (2021).
Previous winners of The Sound of Young Scotland Award are: No Windows (2023), Berta Kennedy (2022) and LVRA (2021).
Background
SAY Award winner - rEDOLENT
Edinburgh 5 piece, rEDOLENT win for their debut album ‘dinny greet’. The band features brothers Danny and Robin Herbert, Andrew Turnbull, Robbie White and Alice Hancock.
Sound of Young Scotland winner - Dillon Barrie
Since moving from Pitlochry to Glasgow in 2021 to attend the jazz course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Dillon Barrie has quickly become one of the best known and most exciting names in the Glasgow Music scene for both his musical output and his drumming. Dillon has also been able to collaborate with many of the top musicians in Scotland such as writing and producing music for social media with Noushy Nanguy of the world renown band, Kokoroko, or stepping in to cover the great Graham Costello in the Rebecca Vasmant Ensemble.
SCOTTISH MUSIC INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION (SMIA)
The Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) is a not-for-profit trade body and membership organisation which exists to strengthen, empower and unite Scotland’s music industry. As a Creative Scotland Regularly Funded Organisation (RFO), we work to create and nurture an inclusive membership community which reflects the full spectrum of Scotland’s music industry. We give voice to our membership when speaking to Government, Parliament and development organisations, and we both produce and support projects and programmes that stimulate sustainability, domestic and international growth, development and innovation in Scotland’s music sector. Our services, projects and events are designed to strengthen and increase the value of Scotland’s music industry on the world stage: economically, socially and culturally. For further information on the SMIA and its services, projects and events please visit www.smia.org.uk.
CREATIVE SCOTLAND
Creative Scotland is the public body that supports culture and creativity across all parts of Scotland, distributing funding provided by the Scottish Government and The National Lottery. Further information at creativescotland.com. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram. Learn more about the value of art and creativity in Scotland and join in at www.ourcreativevoice.scot
The Youth Music Initiative is a music education programme with a vision to put music at the heart of young people’s lives and learning funded by the Scottish Government through Creative Scotland. Since its establishment in 2007 the programme has distributed over £159 million, transforming music learning facilities for children and young people across the country. You can find out more about the programme on the Creative Scotland website.
STIRLING COUNCIL
Stirling Council serves more than 94,000 residents and a thriving business community in an area that stretches from the scenic Campsie Fells to the vibrant city of Stirling and the outstanding natural landscape of the Trossachs. Stirling is steeped in history and will celebrate its 900th anniversary as a Royal Burgh in 2024. The nation’s most cherished landmarks are found here, including the National Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, making Stirling alive with history and culture while a growing modern artistic scene nurtures new creative talent.
Equidistant to both Glasgow and Edinburgh, Stirling is ideally situated for business as well as a place to live, work, study and visit. Stirling has a strong reputation as a business and investment location and hosts some of the UK and Europe’s most innovative science and technology businesses, including Codebase, the UK’s largest Technology Incubator. Stirling Council’s vision is to be a responsive local authority that works positively with employees, partners and communities to deliver on key priorities and ensure the best possible outcomes for everyone who lives in the Stirling area.
SEABASS VINYL
Seabass Vinyl is Scotland’s first vinyl pressing plant. We are an independent, family-owned business, manufacturing records from our factory in East Lothian, with an emphasis on quality and sustainability. We offer fair prices, short production runs and optimised production lead times. Our ambition is to become a valuable partner to the Scottish music industry and our local community.
TICKETMASTER
Ticketmaster is the world’s largest ticket marketplace and the global market leader in live event ticketing products and services. Through official partnerships with thousands of venues, artists, sports teams, festivals, performing arts centres and theatres, Ticketmaster processes 550 million tickets per year across 35+ different countries.
HELP MUSICIANS
Help Musicians is a charity that loves music and for over 100 years has been working hard to make a meaningful difference to the lives of musicians across the UK. It offers a broad range of help to support music creators in times of crisis and opportunity - ensuring musicians across the UK can achieve their creative potential and sustain a career in music.
HMV
HMV, for the fans since 1921. A leading specialist retailer of music, film, pop culture and technology products, with over 100 stores around the UK & Ireland offering a wide selection of new release and catalogue titles
FOPP
PPL
Founded in 1934, PPL is the UK music industry’s collective management organisation (CMO) for performers and recording rightsholders. We licence recorded music in the UK when it is played in public (bars, nightclubs, shops, offices, etc.) or broadcast (BBC, commercial radio, commercial TV, etc.) and we work to ensure that revenue flows back to both our own members and those of our international CMO partners. Our members include both independent and major record companies, together with performers ranging from emerging grassroots artists through to established session musicians and globally renowned artists.
PPL’s public performance licensing is carried out on our behalf by PPL PRS Ltd, the joint venture between PPL and PRS for Music. Through a network of agreements with other CMOs around the world, we also collect performance rights internationally when music is played overseas in public and used on TV, radio and some online streaming services, as well as for private copying. International royalties are an increasingly important revenue stream for performers and recording rightsholders.
In 2023, PPL paid out a record £279.6 million to more than 165,000 performers and recording rightsholders, the highest in the organisation’s 90-year history.
YOUTH MUSIC
Youth Music is the UK’s leading young people’s music charity.
We believe that every young person should have the chance to make, learn and earn in music.
Yet our research shows that many can’t because of who they are, where they’re from or what they’re going through.
We leverage our insights, investment, and influence to build a national grassroots infrastructure that ensures the future of music is more inclusive, diverse, equitable and accessible.
Youth Music is funded thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England, players of People's Postcode Lottery and support from partners, fundraisers and donors.
MUSIC DECLARES EMERGENCY
Formed by a group of UK based artists and music industry professionals in London in 2019, Music Declares Emergency has now expanded to four continents and works with over 8000 declarers from all sectors and areas of the global music industry, placing music at the heart of conversation and action in relation to the climate emergency.
Our work engages fans with the facts, develops messaging that cuts through the noise, works with artists to use their platforms, and encourages new business practice.
Our ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ message has been seen by millions and frames a community of music lovers dedicated to working with us and the movement to campaign for systemic change to deliver real action on climate.
www.musicdeclares.net
HARVIESTOUN BREWERY
Our beer isn’t just made of malt, hops, barley and water. It’s made of Scotland, the raw untamed environment that surrounds our brewery. We are Harviestoun Brewery. Since 1983, we have been brewing award winning beers, such as Schiehallion winner of World’s Best Pilsner and World’s Best Golden Ale with Bitter & Twisted along with Ochil Lager and a stable of other Gold medal winners. We strive to make ground breaking, quality beers for all to enjoy. For additional information on Harviestoun Brewery and our range of beers, please check out our website: www.harviestoun.com.
TINY CHANGES
Tiny Changes is Scotland’s first national young people’s mental health charity. We run projects with young leaders that help young minds feel better. The charity was set up in memory of artist and Frightened Rabbit frontman Scott Hutchison. Through his music and art Scott made tiny changes that had a big impact on people from all walks of life.
We believe that Scotland’s young people deserve great mental health, and we believe in their insight and innovation to make this possible. We exist to nurture the talent of young people to find solutions that work for them.
In four years, we’ve funded 69 innovative mental health ideas - from bubble therapy with refugees to peer-led crisis prevention cafe and d/Deaf youth wellbeing resources - supporting over 4,000 children and young people, with many of them leading change in their communities.
Over the next three years we'll support young people to co-design and lead Tiny Changes projects, while learning as much as we can about our impact. Our two goals are to invest £1 million in young people’s mental health and to support 10,000 children and young people by the end of 2026.
HOTEL COLESSIO
This beautiful Victorian landmark has been magnificently transformed into a contemporary boutique hotel that offers elegance and comfort. Whether you are looking to enjoy an overnight stay, have a drink in our wine bar, or celebrate your wedding day, Hotel Colessio is the ultimate setting.
The hotel is only a stone’s throw from the historic Stirling Castle and is the perfect location for exploring central Scotland as well as your gateway to the Highlands. We look forward to welcoming you.
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