Aspiring singer/songwriters take to the airwaves in bid to secure final spot in prestigious BBC Radio Scotland award
Audiences will have the chance to vote over the next two weeks for talented musicians who’ve been shortlisted for the inaugural BBC Radio Scotland Singer/Songwriter Award.
We’re delighted with the quality of the musicianship we have heard so far and I’m sure our audiences will enjoy listening to all of our singer / songwriters and finding out a bit more about them over the next two weeks.
The search for the country’s newest star has moved up a gear with the announcement of ten contenders whose recordings will be heard across BBC Radio Scotland.
Voting opens today, Monday 2 September, at 10.30am, when films of each of the singer/songwriters performing their original compositions will go online. Between now and the close of voting on Friday 13 September at 6pm, the songs will also be played on a variety of BBC Radio Scotland programmes - Mornings With..., The Afternoon Show and Get It On.
A prestigious panel of judges chose the ten musicians from among the hopefuls who had submitted short videos featuring an original composition and a cover version of a favourite song in the first stage of the process.
The top four from this public vote will perform at a live final at the St Luke’s venue in Glasgow on BBC Music Day, 26 September, which will be hosted by Ricky Ross, acclaimed singer/songwriter of Deacon Blue, and host of BBC Radio Scotland’s Another Country.
The winner will be chosen by the judges - singer/songwriters Fran Healy, Horse McDonald and Karine Polwart, promoter Geoff Ellis and music industry executive, Dee Bahl.
The ten musicians vying for a place in the final are: Megan Black, Darrell Cram, Liv Dawn, Bethany Ferrie, Gus Harrower, Kate Kyle, Mike McKenzie, Project Nigle, Moteh Parrott and Scott Wallace.
BBC Radio Scotland Executive Producer, Sharon Mair, says: "All of the musicians who have been selected for the public vote are brilliant. We’re delighted with the quality of the musicianship we have heard so far and I’m sure our audiences will enjoy listening to all of our singer/songwriters and finding out a bit more about them over the next two weeks. Now it’s over to the public to decide who should be in the final."
Ahead of the final, the four contestants will be mentored by songwriter and producer, Davie Scott, lead vocalist with The Pearlfishers, and a leading light in the University of West Scotland’s Masters in Songwriting course.
The prize for the winner includes a recording session with BBC Scotland in Glasgow, an opportunity to play the King Tut’s stage at the TRNSMT Festival and a promotional video.
Films of the ten musicians performing their songs, biographical details and information on how to vote can be found here.
JG2