The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards celebrates its 25th year
A star studded night at the Barrowland Ballroom marked the silver anniversary of the event
Last updated 5th Nov 2023
The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards are celebrating their 25th year with a bumper line up of winners.
Among this year’s talent is indie favourites The Snuts, East Lothian’s Callum Beattie and music legend Sir Elton John, who has been awarded the Specsavers Global Artist Award.
The recognition follows his recent retirement after 50 years of performing live for audiences around the world, a career which concluded with the final show of the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour at the OVO Hydro in June.
Sir Elton thanked organisers for the award, saying: “I’ve always loved coming to Scotland and playing for all of you. It’s one of my favourite places and one of the most beautiful countries to visit, so I’m extremely touched.”
The awards are the flagship fundraiser for the UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins.
Last night’s event raised a whopping £172k for the charity, which works to use music to break through barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability and social isolation, while creating a space for people to express themselves and make connections.
The show was opened by social media star Katie Gregson-MacLeod, who performed her debut hit Complex, after scooping the VEGA Breakthrough Award.
She said after accepting it: “To be recognised with these other artists is such an honour.
“The work of Nordoff and Robbins is so important and means a lot.”
The crowd was wowed by further performances throughout the night, including from P&J Live Spotlight Award winners, Dead Pony, and Blur 69 Vodka Sound of Scotland Award winner Bemz.
The Ayrshire rapper said it was “surreal” to be collecting the award, adding: “If you’d told me when I first started rapping in Stranraer that my music would be recognised on such a crazy platform, I’d have bit your hand off.
“It means so much to represent the genre in Scotland.”
After accepting an award on behalf of his longtime bandmate, Sir Elton John, legendary guitarist Davey Johnstone was then presented with the Sir Reo Stakis Foundation Outstanding Achievement Award by fellow musician and old friend, Rick Astley.
It was his first ever visit to Glasgow’s iconic Barrowland Ballroom, and before presenting the award, Rick said: “I’m not a speechwriter – just a musician with fantastic hair – but it’s a pleasure to be presenting this award to an inspiration, a mentor, and a part of rock and roll history.
“He’s also the coolest guy I know.”
Davey Johnstone played with Elton John for 50 years, joining him on his final show at the OVO Hydro back in June.
Callum Beattie not only took home the Hard Rock Cafe Breakthrough Award, but also the honour of being considered among Nordoff and Robbins chair, Donald MacLeod MBE’s, favourite performances of the last 25 years of the awards.
Before performing his smash hits Salamander Street and Heart Stops Beating, Callum said: “The one thing that got me through the tough times was when I was a kid writing songs, so I totally understand what we’re doing here today.”
To wrap up the ceremony, the crowd was on their feet to see Stuart Wood lead the latest iteration of the Bay City Rollers through some of their hits, including Shang-A-Lang and Bye Bye Baby.
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