The shortlist for Scottish Album of the Year has been announced, with Arab Strap, and two Mercury Prize Nominees among the names in the running.

Of the ten albums up for the top prize, only one will walk away with £20,000 when this year’s ceremony takes place at Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday 24 October.

The 10 albums that have made the shortlist, whittled down from a longlist of 20, are Arab Strap’s I’m Totally Fine With It Don’t Give A F*** Anymore; Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand’s Willson Williams; Lucia & The Best Boys’ Burning Castles, Rachel Sermanni’s Dreamer Awake, Dinny Greet by rEDOLENT, and Theo Bleak’s Pain.

Barry Can’t Swim’s When Will We Land? and corto.alto’s Bad With Names, which were both nominated for the 2024 Mercury Prize, are also on the shortlist, along with Becky Sikasa’s The Writings And The Pictures And The Song, and Dead Pony’s Ignore This.

Music fans were given 72 hours to ‘have their SAY’ and vote for their favourite Longlisted album to secure a place on the Shortlist, with Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand revealed as this year’s public vote winner. The 9 remaining Shortlisted albums were chosen by The SAY Award judging panel.

Robert Kilpatrick, Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said: “In what has been – and continues to be – an incredibly challenging time for Scotland's cultural sector, The SAY Award’s role in celebrating, promoting and rewarding artistic endeavour is more important than ever.

“Culture is our identity; it’s how we understand ourselves, our place in the world and how we connect with each other. It tells the stories of life in Scotland and is essential to our collective and individual well-being. By championing the incredible musical output of our nation, we share our stories with the rest of the world and find new ways to connect.

“Scottish music not only enriches who we are but also contributes significantly to our economy, generating £195 million in 2018 alone, with music tourism adding £406 million.

“These figures show the profound impact of music, not just culturally, but in creating jobs, driving growth and funding vital public services. Without sustained and increased investment, however, the future for many of our artists and cultural organisations remains uncertain. It’s therefore essential that we continue to advocate for the long-term commitment that Scottish culture both needs and deserves.”

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As well as recognising the talent of tomorrow, the award ceremony will also give a nod to the past, with the Modern Scottish Classic Award. This year Martyn Bennett’s final studio album ‘Grit’ has been named the winner of the prize this year, which was decided by vote from the 20 longlisted SAY artists for 2024.

His album is widely credited with starting the musical evolution of Celtic fusion, featuring tracks including ‘Blackbird’, ‘Chanter’ and ‘Move’, where Martyn expertly blended Scottish traditional music and singers with cutting edge electronica and dance beats. 

Bennet composed the album while battling Hodgkins Lymphoma, undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

He died in 2005 aged 33, 15 months after the album launched.

Martyn Bennett at club 95 Traverse Theatre in Edinburgh in 1995. BJ Stewart, one of the founding members of the Martyn Bennett Trust and Martyn’s close friend and photographer, 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. 

"This award reaffirms his vision of music as a force for connection and unity, as relevant today as it was in 2003. We are incredibly grateful to the Scottish Music Industry Association, The SAY Award nominees, and everyone who continues to celebrate Martyn’s music. Thank you.”

The five finalists for The Sound of Young Scotland Award have also been announced. Alice Faye, Dillon Barrie, Goliath, Pippa Blundell and Spyres are all in the running for the prize which will offer a funding package worth up to £10,000 to help the winner create a debut album.

Robert Kilpatrick added: “Congratulations to the 10 incredible albums that have made the SAY award shortlist, as well as to our sound of young Scotland award finalists and this year’s modern Scottish classic award winner – Martyn Bennett’s outstanding, innovative and much-loved record Grit.”