This year’s shortlist will receive expertly handcrafted awards made from low-carbon concrete, with the winner’s prize set to be revealed exclusively at the Ceremony.
Plus, fans can enjoy some incredible performances at this year’s Ceremony to celebrate Modern Scottish Classic Award winner Paolo Nutini’s ‘These Streets’, as well as a special set from Glasgow band Dead Pony to celebrate 10 years of PRS Foundation’s PPL Momentum Music Fund.
Taking place in the heart of Scotland at Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday 26 October, the biggest night in Scotland’s music calendar will see the country’s music industry and artists join fans to celebrate 2023’s SAY Award Shortlist, as well as hear the exclusive announcement of the winner of The Sound of Young Scotland Award and celebrate this year’s Modern Scottish Classic Award winner, recently announced as Paolo Nutini’s ‘These Streets’.
A record-breaking 437 eligible album submissions for The SAY Award were whittled down to a longlist of 20 and then a shortlist of 10, with the winner chosen and crowned Scottish Album of the Year live at The Albert Halls, Stirling.
Shortlist
The SAY Award Shortlist for 2023, with all albums in the running to win the £20,000 prize and coveted title of Scottish Album of the Year is:
Andrew Wasylyk Hearing the Water before Seeing the Falls
Becky Sikasa Twelve Wooden Boxes
Bemz Nova’s Dad
Brìghde Chaimbeul Carry Them With Us
Brooke Combe Black Is the New Gold
Cloth Secret Measure
Hamish Hawk Angel Numbers
Joesef Permanent Damage
Paolo Nutini Last Night In The Bittersweet
Young Fathers Heavy Heavy
Since its inception, The SAY Award has rewarded musical endeavour with artistic creativity. Each year, The SAY Award Design Commission funds a maker to create bespoke prizes for the musicians recognised at The SAY Award Ceremony, celebrating the reciprocal relationship between art and music.
Stirling-based makers were invited to respond to an open call, with this year’s Design Commission being awarded to local maker Brutal Concrete Workshop.
Handmade in the shadow of the Wallace Monument in the very heart of Scotland, Stirling-based Stuart Blackman expertly crafts unique forms from low-carbon concrete.
As part of The SAY Award’s commitment to sustainability, applicants were encouraged to think creatively about making sustainable prizes, focusing on circular designers, ethical considerations and a zero-waste approach.
Bucking the trend of traditionally cast concrete, Brutal Concrete creates structures which appear to have been sculpted organically by wind, rain and other natural forces.
Invigorating challenge
Stuart Blackman, founder of Brutal Concrete Workshop said: “It’s been a proper invigorating challenge to find a way to push these concrete structures in a sustainable direction.
"Traditional concrete has a high carbon footprint because of the heat required to manufacture the cement. But these trophies incorporate a new cement alternative made from recycled industrial by-products. This reduces the cement’s carbon footprint by up to 80%. ”
The shortlisted artists will each receive a statuesque concrete totem, bejewelled with recycled glass terrazzo. Sustainability was factored in at every stage of the design and manufacturing process, with the awards being cast in recycled moulds and packed in sustainable presentation boxes.
The artists being awarded The Sound of Young Scotland and the Modern Scottish Classic Award will also receive one of Stuart’s unique creations, with their awards taking the form of robust concrete and terrazzo bowls.
The prize for The SAY Award winner will be exclusively revealed at the ceremony. Each shortlisted artist will also receive £1,000.
The SAY Award Winner will receive a unique creation from Brutal Concrete Workshop, along with one of the UK music industry’s largest prize funds of £20,000.
Creative talent
Stirling Council leader Chris Kane said: “Stuart’s bespoke trophies look stunning and are concrete proof of the wealth of creative talent in the Stirling area. It’s fantastic that The SAY Award Design Commission offers a national platform for local crafters to exhibit their skills.
“Brutal Concrete Workshop has proven to be a worthy successor to Art Futuro – who were awarded the commission last year – with the high-quality submissions from Stirling’s creative community giving decision makers a huge selection headache.
“We’re only one week away from The SAY Award taking place right here in Stirling and we can’t wait to welcome artists, fans and industry representatives to our city for one of the biggest nights of the Scottish music calendar.”
Final Ceremony tickets can be found here: www.sayaward.com