The number seven has a special ring to it. Last night seven trailblazing acts were crowned winners at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA).
Held at Glasgow’s Saint Luke’s the celebratory event draws attention to Scotland’s ones-to-watch with an entertaining ceremony that featured performances from tong twisters, female rap trio The Honey Farm, the gifted singer-songwriter Becky Sikasa, and electro punk rockers Vlure, who closed the event with a blistering set.
The lively spectacle was presented by broadcaster Jim Gellatly and poet Leyla Josephine, with awards presented by BBC Scotland’s Vic Galloway and Phoebe Inglis-Holmes, rapper Bemz, and comedian Karen Dunbar.
After an industry nomination process, twenty-eight artists from diverse areas of music were selected, and 12,500 members of the public voted in the ballot.
Creative Scotland’s Head of Music, Alan Morrison said: “This year’s award winners aren’t just champions of alternative genres, they also draw attention to vibrant pockets of activity in overlooked parts of the country.”
In its thirteenth year, SAMA is the brainchild of Founder and Events Producer Richy Muirhead, who came up with the idea, while studying at university. The event continues to grow, it’s a defining name in Scottish music and has supported artists like Fatherson, Lewis Capaldi, Taahliah, and Gerry Cinnamon.
SAMA 2022 winners:
Best Acoustic sponsored by BTO BeCreative – Linzi Clark
Best Electronic sponsored by citizenM hotels – Kintra
Best Hip Hop sponsored by Help Musicians – Becca Starr
Best Live Act sponsored by Musicians’ Union – Hannah Laing
Best Metal sponsored by Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow – Catalysis
Best Newcomer sponsored by The Academy of Music & Sound – Pocket Monica
Best Rock/Alternative sponsored by Saint Luke’s & The Winged Ox – Gallus
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Words: Susan Hansen
Photography: Alice Hadden
