Scottish Album of the Year: 2024 shortlist revealed

The shortlist for the 2024 SAY Award has been announced, featuring former nominees like Arab Strap and Becky Sikasa alongside new names like Theo Bleak and Barry Can't Swim

Feature by Tallah Brash | 03 Oct 2024
  • The SAY Award 2024 shortlist

Running since 2012, the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award is now only three weeks away from crowning its 13th winner of the annual award. Today, the previously-announced longlist of 20 has been whittled down to a shortlist of ten, featuring a mix of old and new names up for the award. 

Returning names include Arab Strap, whose latest album I’m totally fine with it don’t give a fuck anymore sees the Glasgow pair returning to the shortlist three years after As Days Get Dark made an appearance, while Becky Sikasa returns for a second consecutive year with The writings and the pictures and the song, after Twelve Wooden Boxes landed a spot last year. Two artists, Rachel Sermanni and Withered Hand, have featured on the longlist in the past, but this year have progressed to the short – Sermanni for her fifth album Dreamer Awake, and Withered Hand for his collaborative record, Wilson Williams, with Kathryn Williams. Incidentally, this is the record that secured its spot via the SAY Award public vote, which closed at midnight last night.

The other six artists that make up this year’s shortlist are all first-time nominees, and mostly for debut records: Glasgow four-piece rock band Dead Pony for IGNORE THIS, Lucia Fairfull’s alternative indie troupe Lucia & The Best Boys for Burning Castles, Edinburgh alt-electronic indie five-piece rEDOLENT for dinny greet, and Dundee heart-on-sleeve indie singer-songwriter Theo Bleak for Pain. The list is completed by two artists who have already been in the spotlight this year for their nods from the Mercury Prize – Glasgow trombonist and jazz aficionado Liam Shortall for Bad With Names, his debut album as corto.alto, and Edinburgh electronic producer Barry Can’t Swim for When Will We Land?

While all of the above artists will receive a £1,000 cash prize for making it onto the shortlist, one will follow in the footsteps of last year's winners Young Fathers in walking away with a potentially career-changing prize – £20,000 – at the award ceremony in Stirling on 24 October.

A photo of Alloysious Massaquoi from Young Fathers receiving The SAY Award.
Image: Alloysious Massaquoi from Young Fathers receives The SAY Award 2023. Credit: SMIA

The Sound of Young Scotland and Modern Scottish Classic Awards

The winner of the SAY Award's Sound of Young Scotland award will also be announced at the SAY Award ceremony on the 24th. Supporting the future of Scottish music, one lucky early-career artist will win a funding package of up to £10,000 to assist in creating their debut album. This year’s finalists are Alice Faye, Dillon Barrie, Goliath, Pippa Blundell and Spyres, as selected by a panel of former SAY Award nominees including Hamish Hawk, Lizzie Reid and LVRA. 

In addition to these two awards, the Modern Scottish Classic Award will also be given out on the night, an award launched in 2021 to recognise an iconic album from Scotland’s past that still inspires today. This year’s winner is Grit, the final album from Canadian-Scottish musician Martyn Bennett, who died of cancer at the age of 33 in 2005. A trailblazer in the world of Celtic fusion music, in the same year as his passing the Martyn Bennett Trust was set up to continue inspiring in his name. One of the trust’s founding members, BJ Stewart said: “The Martyn Bennett Trust is deeply honoured that Grit has been awarded the 2024 Modern Scottish Classic Award. This recognition is especially meaningful coming from fellow artists across Scotland's diverse music scene, reflecting the enduring impact of Martyn’s work. 

"Grit unites ancient and modern sounds, blending traditions with contemporary influences and championing marginalised voices. We are thrilled that Grit continues to inspire and influence musicians from so many different genres and backgrounds, much as Martyn himself sought to unite those elements in his work.” 


The SAY Award ceremony takes place at Albert Halls, Stirling, 24 Oct; tickets available at sayaward.com