The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – Scotland’s National Music Prize – announced Fergus McCreadie’s Forest Floor as the winner of its main prize for 2022, and £20,000, at a ceremony in The Albert Halls, Stirling.
In the award’s 11th year, Cocteau Twins were also recognised, picking up the Modern Scottish Classic Award for Heaven or Las Vegas, while Berta Kennedy won the Sound of Young Scotland Award and a funding package worth up to £5,000 to support the creation of her debut album.
Listen to 2022’s Scottish Album of the Year, Forest Floor, HERE.
Fergus McCreadie, Scottish Album of the Year Award Winner for 2022, who was unable to attend the ceremony said:
“I’m absolutely honoured and thrilled that Forest floor has been selected as this year’s Scottish Album of the Year. I’m really proud of how the trio comes across on the record and it’s such a privilege for us to have that recognised by the SAY award panel.
I’m also so excited by what this can do for Scottish Jazz – we’re the first jazz act to win the prize and I really hope we won’t be the last. Scottish jazz is full of incredible musicians and bands that I respect so much, and I really hope this will be only one step of an incredible journey for a scene which truly punches above its weight.
All that to say, thanks so much to the SAY Award and the panel, to David and Stephen for their incredible musicianship and friendship, to all my fellow musicians in Glasgow for their support and to you, the audience, who make it happen for us. I will always be grateful to make and play music.”
In alphabetical order, 2022’s The SAY Award Shortlist was:
AiiTee – ‘Better Days’
Constant Follower – ‘Neither Is, Nor Ever Was’
Fergus McCreadie – ‘Forest Floor’
Hamish Hawk – ‘Heavy Elevator’
Hen Hoose – ‘Equaliser’
Kathryn Joseph – ‘for you who are the wronged’
Kobi Onyame – ‘Don’t Drink The Poison’
Niteworks – ‘A’Ghrian’
Proc Fiskal – ‘Siren Spine Sysex’
Walt Disco – ‘Unlearning’
The 2022 judging panel – made up of people from a range of creative spheres, mostly outside of music – included Amina Shah (CEO, National Library of Scotland); Anneliese Harmon (General Manager, MMF); Corbyn Asbury (Label Relations Manager, YouTube); Dave Francis (Director, TRACS); Jackie Wylie (CEO / Artistic Director, National Theatre of Scotland); Jude McArdle (Membership Manager, AIM); Khaleda Noon (Executive Director, Intercultural Youth Scotland); Paul Black (Writer/Director/Comedian); Shereen Cutkelvin (Presenter, BBC Introducing) and Will Page (Author and Economist).
The Sound of Young Scotland Award Nominations for 2022 were:
Berta Kennedy (winner)
