Specsavers Scottish Music Awards announce next recipients
Specsavers Scottish Music Awards reveal Bay City Rollers' Stuart Wood as Legend Award Winner, plus Joesef, Rebecca Vasmant & Callum Beattie will join celebrations for biggest night in Scottish music!
Article Source: Specsavers Scottish Music Awards
Last Updated: 13 October 2023 8:15
With just under a month to go until the sold-out 2023 Specsavers Scottish Music Awards at Barrowland Ballroom, new winners – whose talents will be recognised at the ceremony next month - have been announced including Bay City Roller Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood, Glasgow singer-songwriter Joesef, Musselburgh musician Callum Beattie and DJ-Producer Rebecca Vasmant.
Set to receive prestigious music awards across a number of categories, the latest names to be announced join The Who, Bemz and Katie Gregson-MacLeod on the line-up celebrating the diverse talent on display in Scotland and beyond.
Stuart Wood, Joesef, Bemz, Callum Beattie and Katie Gregson-MacLeod will give exclusive performances at the milestone 25th anniversary ceremony on Saturday 4th November. The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards is a flagship fundraiser in aid of the UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins, enabling them to deliver transformative music therapy sessions to people in Scotland and break through barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability or social exclusion.
In alphabetical order, winners of 2023 Specsavers Scottish Music Awards so far include:
Bemz – Blur 69 Vodka Sound of Scotland Award
Callum Beattie – Hard Rock Cafe Breakthrough Award
Joesef – Pizza Express Best Album Award
Katie Gregson-MacLeod – VEGA Breakthrough Award
Rebecca Vasmant – Ballantine’s x Sub Club Electronic Music Award
Stuart Wood – Royal Highland Centre Legend Award
The Who –ROX - Diamonds & Thrills Icon Award
Best known as Bay City Rollers’ bass guitarist, Edinburgh born and bred Stuart Wood will win the Royal Highland Centre Legend Award for his contribution to music, which he now teaches at a local college. The Scottish five-piece were synonymous with 70s pop, reaching global popularity thanks to Wood’s songwriting talents featured on hits like ‘Maybe I’m a Fool to Love You’.
Stuart ‘Woody’ Wood said: “I'm very honoured and thrilled to be receiving this award. Hard to believe I've been doing this for 50 years! A big thanks to Nordoff and Robbins for the amazing work they do with music therapy...Keep on Rolling!”
Soul-pop singer Joesef shot to fame with the release of his debut album ‘Permanent Damage’ this year, earning him praise from the likes of Elton John, and recognition for the Pizza Express Best Album Award. Featuring favourites like ‘It’s Been a Little Heavy Lately’, Joesef is quickly rising through the ranks having won the Breakthrough Award at the 2019 Specsavers Scottish Music Awards, and since selling out headline shows at the Barrowland Ballroom among others.
Joesef said: “I’m very grateful to be recognised by the Scottish Music Awards for the album. I’m forever proud to be from Glasgow and releasing music in a time where there’s an inexhaustible pool of talent coming out of Scotland.
“It’s also an understatement to say the work of Nordoff and Robbins is inspiring. Music really is such a vital tool in increasing the quality of life of those who need it most, and the work they continue to do highlights that.”
Callum Beattie will win the Hard Rock Cafe Breakthrough Award fresh from his sophomore album ‘Vandals’ reaching number 2 on the iTunes charts. The ‘Salamander Street’ singer has built a reputation for brilliant live gigs that have seen him booked for some of Scotland’s top festivals including TRNSMT, although he still loves connecting with intimate crowds at venues across the country.
Callum Beattie said: “When my manager Dave told me I had won this award, I genuinely thought it was a wind up. I’m not big into awards ceremonies but this one is really special to me, for two reasons - firstly because it’s from Nordoff and Robbins, and they do such amazing work in supporting others, something that is very important to me.
“And secondly, because it’s in the Barrowlands - my favourite place in the world. I’m doing three nights there in December, so this will be my 4th time there in two months! Not bad for a wee guy with an acoustic guitar from Musselburgh.
“I’m absolutely over the moon to have won it, and I’m very humbled by the whole experience”
DJ-Producer Rebecca Vasmant has scooped the Ballantine’s x Sub Club Electronic Music Award following a busy year of filling dance floors, both home and away. Besides her regular slots at the Sub Club’s iconic basement, Rebecca has been bringing a fresh new twist to dance music producing and releasing on her own label Rebecca’s Records showcasing her love of jazz, the original form of unbridled spiritual sonic expression. Her radio shows on Giles Peterson’s Worldwide FM have also brought her unique sound to new audiences around the UK and far beyond.
Rebecca said: “I’m so thrilled and humbled to receive this award. This is a huge honour, and it means the absolute world to me.
I’m wholeheartedly grateful to the entire Sub Club team for all of the support they have kindly awarded me over the years.
I can only hope that my path inspires more young women to getting into the music industry, and that I can be a positive role model for any young person who faces barriers in accessing the music industry whether through gender or financial inequality.
This is the first award I have ever received in my career, so this feels really special, and cannot wait to share this news with the world!”
Last year’s Specsavers Scottish Music Awards was its most successful edition yet, featuring performances from honorary Scot Rod Stewart, the newly revived Altered Images and Hebridean hot-tickets Peat and Diesel. Hosted by long-time Nordoff and Robbins supporter Edith Bowman – who is returning to present this year’s edition - it celebrated big-names and up-and-comers alike, all in the name of raising funds for the UK’s largest independent music therapy charity.
Funds raised on the night via online donations, live auctions and ticket sales are a vital part of the charity’s ability to provide music therapists and sessions to those who need it most. The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards have also joined forces with Go Radio as their official radio partner for 2023. Tune into Go Radio for exclusive interviews and build up to the ceremony.
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