SCOTTISH ALBUM OF YEAR AWARDS LONGLIST AHEAD OF VIRTUAL CEREMONY

THE Scottish Album of the Year awards have turned virtual for September and theshowbizlion.com is delighted to announce the line up. 

This year’s Live at the Longlist event as Free Love, Kinnaris Quintet and Sacred Paws all take to the stage ahead of the exclusive 2020 Longlist reveal. 

Transformed into a virtual event for the first time ever, this year’s Live at the Longlist will be broadcast as a YouTube Premiere from 19:00 BST on Thursday 17th September (www.youtube.com/sayaward)with fans from around the world able to watch and discover 2020’s Longlist first, as well as witnessing some extremely special, socially distanced performances from former SAY Awardnominees. Following a record-breaking 362 albums submitted for consideration to The SAY Award in 2020, artists with Eligible Albums includeDeacon Blue, Declan Welsh and the Decadent West, Gerry Cinnamon,  Lewis Capaldi, Mogwai, The Ninth Wave,  Rachel Sermanni, Sacred Paws, The Snuts, Tide Lines, Twin Atlantic and many more. To view all 362 Eligible Albums, visit www.sayaward.com 

Live at the Longlist gets this year’s campaign underway with the programme having been shot at both Edinburgh’s Summerhall and the city’s most exciting new events space 54EP, where co-hosts Vic Galloway and Nicola Meighan will reveal which twenty albums make up this year’s Longlist. Ensuring music fans find out the highly-anticipated Longlist first, Live at the Longlist is a night to celebrate Scottish music from all corners of the country, spanning genres and styles and uniting fans in these unprecedented times.

SAY Award alumni and Glaswegian duo Free Love return to the virtual Live at the Longlist in 2020, after being Shortlisted in 2019 for their album ‘Luxury Hits’. Known for their exhilarating live shows, Free Love will give fans a taste of their latest mini-album ‘Extreme Dance Anthems’ which sees the band excel in a completely different musical direction than previous records and garnered high praise from the likes of Clash and The List.

 Speaking about their performance Free Love said, “Played some live music for the first time in a long time through a big soundsystem and it was an epiphanic catharsis. We had no idea how much we were missing hearing sound loud and being able to feel the vibrations through the body and move with it and scream and sweat and tune ourselves to rhythm and tonality. You can only really do this at loud volumes as the vibrations need to be felt holistically, not just in your ears. The obvious deficit was an audience to feedback and synergise the NRG but some day we'll be able to do that again. Grateful for this experience which we'll be able to share with you soon..." 

Also Longlisted in 2019 for their debut album ‘Free One’, Kinnaris Quintet join this year’s Live at the Longlist line-up, bringing their combination of Scottish and Irish folk with Bluegrass, Old-Time and Classical to the virtual stage. Taking audiences by storm at festivals around the world, the band’s highly emotive, uplifting sound is a stunning example of the best Scotland’s music scene has to offer.

 Aileen from Kinnaris Quintet said,“What a joy it was to be asked to perform as part of The SAY Award this year! We were so thrilled to have been involved, and it was such a welcome and anticipated performance for us lot who have missed playing music together so much! In recent times it's been a real challenge to stay motivated, given that the music and arts industries have been pushed aside so much. Having had the opportunity to play music again, in front of a small but wonderful crew, filled us with so much happiness and excitement for live music to return, and we're grateful to The SAY Award for giving us that high again. Without the support and enthusiasm of the team behind it all, it would leave music and everyone involved in creating music in a darker place than it currently is. We are dead proud to be a part of it and urge one and all to get behind the award in any way possible!"

 The 2017 SAY Award winners Sacred Pawscomplete the ultimate Live at the Longlist line-up, following the release of their sophomore record ‘Run Around The Sun’ in 2019. Weaving perfect pop melodies with their distinctive style of singing back and forth as if in conversation with each other, culminates in a vibrant, optimistic album from the Glasgow-based duo, making for an extremely special socially distanced performance.

 Sacred Paws said, “Playing live is always such a great release and a source of joy for us - we're not really used to playing for cameras but everyone at The SAY Award made it so much fun that we almost felt like we were at a real gig for a moment! We really hope you enjoy watching as much as we did playing."  

Live at the Longlist will announce which twenty albums make up this year’s Longlist, before being reduced to the Shortlisted ten, with the final winning artist collecting one of the most lucrative prize funds in the UK; a £20,000 cash prize and nine runners up each awarded £1,000. The final award ceremony will take place on Thursday 29th October 2020.

The SAY Award have also announced their commitment to the Keychange pledge in 2020, ensuring the independent judging panel and nominators list set to decide this year’s Longlistand ultimately, the final winner, features a 50:50 gender split for the second year running. Featuring a broad range of influential tastemakers from across the country, the list spans music genres and creative industries, and is an outstanding representation of the Scottish music scene’s diversity and strength. The Scottish Music Industry Association, the team behind The SAY Award, strive to ensure equality and diversity are at the forefront of all they do and their commitment to a 50:50 gender split for the second year running is key to this work.

An integral part of the Scottish music industry, The SAY Award celebrates, promotes and rewards the most outstanding Scottish albums each year. To date, the award has distributed over £232,000 in prize money and championed 160 Longlisted albums across eight previous campaigns.

This year’s Longlist will be decided by 100 impartial nominators, asked to vote for their favourite albums from this year’s Eligible Albums list. With the 2020 campaign seeing a record-breaking 362 Scottish albums submitted, this year’s nominators include a range of journalists, promoters, music retail and live venue staff, festival directors spanning all music genres and styles. This year’s Nominators list will be published on sayaward.com following the announcement of this year’s Longlist.

The 11 judges, chaired by John Williamson, are tasked with listening to the twenty outstanding albums which make up this year’s Longlist to narrow down to a Shortlist of ten. Nine titles will be decided by the esteemed judging panel while the final album will be chosen by music fans in a 72-hour online public vote. At a time of crisis when much of our culture is confined to our borders, for the first time in the award’s history, The SAY Award will feature judges from four selected international territories; building upon and maintaining vital and valued international links for Scottish music.

Returning for its ninth year in 2020, The SAY Award is widely recognised as one of the country’s most reputable and prestigious music initiatives. Coming together to celebrate the passion, value and diversity of Scottish music in 2020, The SAY Award strives to be egalitarian throughout all stages of the campaign, reflected in the fact there is no fee to submit an eligible album for consideration, and digital releases that fulfil the criteria are also deemed eligible. To view the 362 Eligible Albums submitted for consideration this year visit www.sayaward.com.

Developed and produced by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), the 2020 campaign will be delivered in partnership with Creative Scotland, City of Edinburgh Council, YouTube Music, 54EP, Sweetdram, Culture & Business Fund Scotland via Arts & Business Scotland, PPL, Summerhall, Ticketmaster and new charity partner Music Declares Emergency.

Previous winners of The SAY Award include 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).

THE SNUTS GET READY TO ROCK THE TALL SHIP FOR VIRTUAL GIG

THE Snuts will perform at Glasgow’s famed Tall Ship this Friday and they promise to play fan favourites including recent single Elephants. 

We’ve had the privilege of watching The Snuts in their infancy and following two sold-out shows with The Libertines on Saturday, Jack Cochrane and the lads are ready to rock the boat. 

The band recently appeared in Strongbow’s latest advert with a stunning cover of ‘Summer In The City’, and their devoted fans have been working hard to help support the live music industry. 

Singer Jack Cochrane wrote a passionate open letter to First Minister Nicola Sturgeon as part of the #LetTheMusicPlay campaign and their passionate fan base showed their adoration for the band by raising over £3300 for their crew who have been left without work via a GoFundMe.

With a sensational rise since the release of live favourite ‘Juan Belmonte’ in 2019 and an adoring fan base, The Snuts have been garnering a massive following in the UK with support from the likes of BBC 6 Music, Radio 1, Radio X, Absolute Radio, NME, Independent, Clash, Notion, Far Out Magazine and Dork Magazine. Their latest single ‘Elephants’ went straight in at number 1 on the iTunes chart and shut down Twitter with their hashtag topping the trending chart. This followed the band’s debut ‘Mixtape EP’, recorded with Inflo (Karen O / Danger Mouse, Michael Kiwanuka, Little Simz) and Tony Hoffer, reaching number 1 in the Scottish and Vinyl Album charts and number 14 in the UK official charts in March. 

LINE OF DUTY ACTOR MARTÍN COMPSTON HAS GOOD HAIR DAY

LINE Of Duty’s Martin Compston showed off his shaggy hairdo before getting a cut backstage on the set of the award winning show. 
Greenock born actor Martin told fans he was ‘officially back in business’ as he shared a picture of himself in his famous waistcoat and suit on set. 
And after quarantining for two weeks ahead of filming to ensure he followed the health and safety procedure he wasn’t taking any chances with Covid backstage as his hair stylist Cat Coogan wore a mask and shield as well as plastic apron to protect him from any risks. 
As he sat in the barbers chair he joked: “This woman’s surgical with scissors.”
Martin also posted up a picture of himself in police uniform teasing fans: “In The civvies, must be Line of Duty 6.”


The actor has been spending lockdown with his family and recently posted a picture of a damaged bush in his garden after he fell into it during an outdoor dancing session. 
He told fans at the time he’d been dancing to the tunes of local DJ George Bowie when the mishap happened and after  apologising to his wife Tianna Flynn also admitted he hurt his back.
Martin also said that  lockdown was like being an unemployed actor, but said he enjoyed the sober conversations he been having with pals on WhatsApp and time with family after spending March till November away from home last year.

BBC DRIVETIME PRESENTER STOPPED FOR DRINKING NON ALCOHOLIC BEER

BBC Scotland Drivetime host John Beattie  was stopped in his car after someone reported him to the police - because they though he was drink driving. 
But John,62, revealed he had been driving from a lookalike bottle of alcohol free beer.
Former rugby union player John, who lives in Glasgow’s west end, had been in holiday in Islay and was making his way back to the city when he was stopped en route at Loch Lomonside by a police car.
The health conscious presenter who also hosts BBC Scotland telly news show The Nine told fans that he’d been seen by someone jumping into his car in Inveraray after being spotted drinking from a beer bottle alongside his fish and chips last night. 
He explained he was driving non alcoholic beer to the two officers who stopped his car but was breathalysed during the incident. 
Posting up pictures of himself getting breathalysed and questioned by the police John said: “After an amazing holiday on Islay. Someone in Inveraray told the police I’d been drinking beer at the harbour last night before jumping back in my car again. They pulled me over blue lights etc on Loch Lomondside..... The reading was zero. I was using up an alcohol free bottle with excellent fish and chips. The lads were ok with me taking the picture. So, back to work today.”

Followers online were quick to reply to John with Jim Newlands saying: “ No big deal having to do a breath test......better safe than sorry. I take it from your tweet you have assumed it was a malicious phone call?”
Indy Oilman added:” U now might feel 1% of what Alex Salmond felt , mind if we call u a drink driver for the rest of your life even if u got off ?”
In 2003 John was chairman of the Scottish government physical activity taskforce to improve the health of the nation through exercise and oversaw a review in 2008, 'Let's Make Scotland More Active'.
Two years ago he was involved in a road accident after being knocked off his bike by a driver who was blinded by sunlight. At the time John feared he had a broken rib and lamented that he should have had a camera on him to capture the accident.
The legal drink drive limit in Scotland is lower than anywhere else in the U.K.
The legal alcohol limit is 50g in every 109ml of blood, and the breath limit is 22mcg of alcohol in 100ml of breath.

STILL GAME MEENA IN HOSPITAL AFTER BAD FALL

STILL Game actress Shamshad Akhtar kept up her sense of humour in hospital after she was admitted following a bad fall. 

The seventy year old charity volunteer and campaigner who who played hidden shopkeeper Meena in the BBC comedy stuck her two fingers up to the camera after she was asked to pose wearing her NHS issued nightie and lying in her hospital bed. 

Shamshad, arrived to Glasgow from Lahore when she was 14 years old and taught herself English. 

She got her funny role on Still Game after surviving an abusive relationships and credits Craiglang with giving her a new beginning. 

She donated all of her Still Game wages to help good causes, such as Down’s syndrome after her grandson Mo was born with the condition, is believed to have been taken into hospital around August 9 following her accident. 

Her friend Ross Owen wrote: “Wishing our very dear friend Shamshad Ashraf a speedy recovery after her recent fall. Such a wonderful, kind and selfless lady. Hope you're back on your feet soon mrs xxx.“

Her daughter Anjum Ghani who spoke on her behalf on Facebook said: “Thank u to everyone for ure well wishes, shes still getting further tests done and ill pass all ure messages on to her xx”

Showing off the cards she’d been sent by family and friends, and posting up the picture of her mum swearing to the camera she later wrote: “Getting there slowly but surely. My mums still not able to reply back to her messages but will do so as soon as she is able to. She is responding well to treatment and is feeling much perkier, but still very weak. Thank u all once again.”

Well wishers from as far afield as Canada, New York, Ireland, the Isle of Lewis, and Motherwell sent their love. 

John Paul said: “Get up ya boot ,yir no getting pip. Get well soon shamshad xx love&peace.” And Anjum replied: “ John Paul 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 thatll make her smile.”

Fan Dave Paton refereed go her screen husband played by Sanjeev Kohli and joked: “Navid's away to pick up an overnight bag but is currently falling down the stairs, and will be in the adjacent bed shortly. Get well soon. X

Steven Nixon added: “I'd watch it if Tam comes in with flowers, won't no where they've come from. Get well Meena x

GARBAGE SINGER SHIRLEY MANSON TALKS LOCKDOWN ANXIETY

Pic from Garbage Twitter header 

GARBAGE singer Shirley Manson claims she’s had depression and anxiety through lockdown in a year that has been a real s***show but is excited about her bands 25th anniversary. 
The Edinburgh born singer also thanked everyone from her fans to her bus drivers, pressing plants and runners for looking after her during the course of her career. 
Shirley who is set to release a new album with Garbage in coming months said of lockdown: “Having the time of my life like everyone else. I really shouldn’t complain, but of course, I do. I read a thing today with Michelle Obama talking about low-grade depression and anxiety, and I’m like, “Well, at least I’m in good company.” 
Shirley reckons the Covid 19 Crisis has been like walking through ‘an endless landscape with no hope and no dreams.’
She added: “There is no form to my day whatsoever. We’re in the middle of mixing a Garbage record, so thank God for that. It’s the only thing keeping us sane. I’m cooking a lot, walking the dog a lot. I’m reading a lot, which has been fantastic. I haven’t read this much since I was in adolescence. So that’s been one of the amazing things, I think, about getting time like this. But it’s hard.“
In a chat with Rolling Stone magazine the singer said she was looking forward to ‘a bright future’ with her band. 
She added: “The sad thing is, we were looking at the most fun year we’ve had in quite some time. We’re restructuring our business and changing the way we release records from the way we have in the last eight years. We have a lot of touring lined up, which of course we can’t carry out. We have a new record being mixed as we speak that’s going to come out next year. We’ve got three more songs to go and then we’re done. And then we’ll concentrate on the artwork and start planning for next year. We were really excited. We were talking with our team this morning, and things are still looking hopeful.” 

PAIGE TURLEY GIVES FINLEY TAPP THE BURN

FINLEY Tapp was upset with girlfriend Paige Turley after she managed to wreck the new flooring of their swish new Manchester apartment. 
Paige accidentally ruined the new carpet after she used a pair of curling tongs and left them on the floor. 
Finley said of the burn marks they left on the light grey coloured carpet: “So Paige is not in my good books if I’m honest guys. It’s not good. She’s really really really... yeah guys for everyone asking it’s a burn from a curling iron.”
As Paige protested that it was ‘an accident‘ Finley asked followers if they could suggest any way to repair it.
He added: “So yeah any recommendations on how to get it out would be appreciated.”
Paige also revealed that the two had to get a fan to cool the air of their apartment after describing it as a greenhouse with floor of ceiling windows.


Paige recently revealed on a podcast that she and Finn have had some disagreements while living together. 
She told the Love Hate Club:  “With Finn when he’d get out the shower he’d leave his wet towel on the floor and get ready and that would drive me up the wall. I was like ‘the radiator is right there’. Just fold it up.” 
“I’ve got silver shampoo sent in and Finn with his dark hair was turning a greyish colour and I thought you cheeky b***** . There are so many other shampoos he could use.”
But she added: “He’s good at cooking cause I can’t really cook. He makes a mean Thai curry. I’m like that please don’t make it spicy and I sweat for two days after it but he’s a good cook.”
From Scotland with Love