Susan Boyle wins Music Therapy Choice Award

The 15th Annual Scottish Music Awards took place on Saturday 23rd November '13 at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket, raising much needed funds for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland. The star studded celebration brought together the biggest and brightest talent from all areas of the Scottish music industry in support of the charity with fantastic performances from top acts including Admiral Fallow, Nina Nesbitt, and GUN.

Last night's event opened with a live performance from Edward Reid and the Ups & Downs who gave their own rendition of 'Born This Way' for an audience of performing artists, celebrities and VIP's. The Lanarkshire based Ups and Downs theatre group have been offering young people with Down Syndrome an encouraging and creative outlet for 19 years. Edward has been patron of the Ups & Downs for nearly 3 years and works with them every year as a guest performer for a show that runs for a week each March.

With a line-up of internationally acclaimed artists, the fund-raiser celebrated it's 15th ceremony, presenting awards to Admiral Fallow, Camera Obscura, Twin Atlantic, Nina Nesbitt, Mogwai, Susan Boyle, Shirley Manson as well as Rose Moon from Adele's management team, and legendary Scottish record producer John McLaughlin.

The 'PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW Special Recognition Award' went to Admiral Fallow, who are recognised as having helped to raise Glasgow's profile internationally as a world class music destination.

Glasgow was recently named as the 'Best place in the UK to discover new music talent' with the city hosting on average 130 music events every week (more than any other Scottish city) generating an estimated £75m to the city's economy each year.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau said: "For more than a decade the Scottish Music Awards have played an important role in celebrating both Glasgow and Scotland's rich and diverse musical heritage. Indeed, hosting Scotland's national music awards further reinforces Glasgow's cutting-edge style credentials and its reputation as not just Scotland's leading music city, but also as a UNESCO City of Music."

"However, the Scottish Music Awards are about more than just music. They are intrinsic to raising much needed funds for, and recognising the work of, the truly inspirational Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland charity and its people."

The audience of over 500 were treated to a performance from Scottish Hip Hop Act Stanley Odd who won 2013's Creative Scotland Big Apple Award, which saw them travel to New York with Nordoff-Robbins Scotland to perform six gigs over six days during Scotland Week 2013.

A highlight of the night was the long awaited reunion of Shirley Manson and original band mate Martin Metcalfe who played together in the iconic band Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie. Manson also took home the Sir Reo Stakis Foundation Innovation Award.

Other performers included Nina Nesbitt, who received the inaugural Braehead Arena Best Emerging Artist Award. Nina attended last year's Scottish Music Awards as a guest and was made an ambassador of the charity. Taking an active role in the life changing work of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, she attended a music therapy session in April this year at the Royal Blind School.

Rose Moon, of Grammy winner Adele's management team, who has previously worked for Nordoff-Robbins Scotland and the Scottish Music Awards, won the DWF Biggart Baillie New Boss Award in recognition of her incredible management achievements in her career.

World renowned song-writer John McLaughlin won the Sunday Mail Living Legend Award for his accomplishments in song-writing and producing, having worked alongside the likes of Busted, Westlife, 5ive, Lulu, Blue, 911 and Echo & The Bunnymen.

Other Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland supporters included Mogwai, who picked up the Ticketmaster Best Live Act Award, whilst the King Tuts Wah Wah Hut Songwriting Award was awarded to Camera Obscura, in recognition of their sixth and most successful album to date. Twin Atlantic took home the goNORTH Best Breakthrough Act, having headlined Belladrum festival earlier this year.

Winners of the eight awards in order of ceremony:

Rose Moon - DWF Biggart Baillie New Boss Award
Admiral Fallow - People Make Glasgow Special Recognition Award
Camera Obscura - King Tuts Songwriting Award
Twin Atlantic - goNorth Best Breakthrough Act
Nina Nesbitt - Braehead Arena Best Emerging Artist
John McLaughlin - Sunday Mail Living Legend Award
Mogwai - Ticketmaster Best Live Act
Susan Boyle - Nordoff- Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland Fans Choice Award
Shirley Manson - Sir Reo Stakis Foundation Innovation Award

The evening was brought to a thunderous close by GUN, who reformed at the Scottish Music Awards in 2008, and are now back in the studio working on the next album set to be released in February 2014.

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