The Scottish Music Awards returns to Glasgow's Barrowlands on November 7 for its 28th year, honouring David Byrne, Susan Boyle, The Fratellis and Cammy Barnes at the annual ceremony.
First launched in 1999 as the Tartan Clef Awards, the event has grown from a one-off gathering at Glasgow City Chambers into a mainstay of the Scottish music calendar, recognising stars from Lewis Capaldi to Annie Lennox, Simple Minds and Dougie MacLean.
From one-off to tradition
Donald MacLeod, owner of Glasgow nightclubs The Garage and The Cathouse and a founding organiser, told the Sunday Mail: "The way it's grown is massive. I'm very proud as everybody involved will be that what started as a one-off at Glasgow City Chambers all these years ago has grown so much."
MacLeod recalled memorable moments from past ceremonies, including searching for Paolo Nutini before his stage appearance. "We found him in the cleaner's office joking away with the staff and having a laugh with him. I remember going, 'Paolo, come on, you need to go.' And he went, 'Oh, right' - then shut the door on me."
He also described an incident involving a mountain bike at the event: "It turned out it had a flat tyre and I nearly crashed into Annie Lennox."
Charity and rising stars
Since its inception, the awards have raised nearly £1 million for charity partner Nordoff and Robbins, which provides music therapy to patients across Scotland and the UK. MacLeod noted the charity's work spans SEND schools, hospices, dementia care homes, mental health hospitals and people with learning disabilities.
Sharleen Spiteri of Texas visited a Nordoff and Robbins centre earlier this month with former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. Rab Andrew, long-time manager of Texas, Gun and Primal Scream, said: "Sharleen was blown away by how the kids reacted to the music therapy they were doing. We're huge supporters of the charity."
Andrew, who attended the first awards in 1999, highlighted memorable moments including Emeli Sande and Lana Del Rey presenting awards and Peter Kay driving from Wigan to honour Spiteri. He said the awards have given emerging artists a platform: "It's always a fantastic night and it's at a legendary venue at the Barrowlands now where it's really made a home. It's just tradition now."
2026 honourees announced
David Byrne of Talking Heads will receive the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. Born in Dumbarton in 1952, Byrne co-founded the band in New York in 1975, and their first Scottish show came in 1977 supporting The Ramones at Strathclyde University. Talking Heads released eight studio albums before disbanding in 1991 and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
Susan Boyle will receive the Icon Award. Since her Britain's Got Talent breakthrough in 2009, the West Lothian singer has sold more than 21 million albums worldwide and achieved No. 1 albums in more than 40 countries.
The Fratellis will receive the Raymond Weil Classic Album Award for their platinum-selling debut Costello Music, ahead of a UK tour in 2027 marking the album's 20th anniversary. Cammy Barnes, a Fife-born semi-finalist on Britain's Got Talent in 2023, will win the Artist of the Year Award.
