Young Dundee band Model Aeroplanes are on a new high after winning the Hard Rock Cafe Best Emerging Artist Award at the 17th annual SSE Scottish Music Awards in Glasgow.
The accolade comes just over three months since the band signed to Island Records, the home of legends like Bob Marley and Amy Winehouse.
And the lads – Rory Fleming Stewart, Ben Buist, Grant Irvine and Kieran Smith won over new fans by performing live at the glittering ceremony at Glasgow’s Old Fruitmarket.
Grant from the band told The Courier: “It was a pleasure to be at such a prestigious event, to be in with all the music greats from Scotland – and meeting Bay City Rollers was a dream come true.”
Manager Paul Grieve said: “It was a great night. The band had a great time!”
He added: “The party went on too long – but back to work on Monday!”
Ex-Kirkcaldy firefighter Stevie McCrorie, winner of The Voice 2015, also performed at the ceremony, just 24 hours after he wowed the crowds at The Courier Business Awards in St Andrews.
The SSE Scottish Music Awards took place late on Saturday night, to raise funds for Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland.
The night, hosted by STV’s Jennifer Reoch and Ewen Cameron brought together some of Scotland’s most celebrated acts and artists and honoured them with numerous awards, handcrafted for the occasion by Scottish woodwork designer, Paul Hodgkiss.
Winning the SSE Best Live Act Award was Paisley born singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini, who smashed a headline performance to 35,000 people for Glasgow’s Summer Sessions at Bellahouston Park, as well selling out two SSE Hydro shows at the start of the year.
Also honoured was Clare Grogan who took home the prestigious PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW Special Recognition Award and performed with her new all-girl band line up. The singer and actress has been a spokesperson for her home town of Glasgow, which was named as one of National Geographic Traveler’s Top 20 world destinations for 2016.
1970s boy-band Bay City Rollers picked up the Sir Reo Stakis Living Legends Award before closing the show in a tartan-clad performance which had the whole room on their feet.
On his return to the music industry, singer Les McKeown said:“This award means so much to me personally… as it’s from the homeland! It’s truly amazing to see all this love for The Rollers again I would like to thank everyone at SSE Scottish Music Awards for honouring the Rollers in such an incredible way after all these years. This award is bigger than the Oscars because the Nordoff Robbins charity help change peoples lives… that’s special! Rollermania is back!”
Ticketmaster’s Tourmaster Award went to stadium filler and indie rock legend, Noel Gallagher. He will be playing the SSE Hydro next April sent and his thanks by video link saying: “If you’re coming to the Hydro next year, I’ll see you there. Thank you very much.”
Donald MacLeod, Chairman of Nordoff Robbins Scotland said: “This years’ SSE Scottish Music Awards has been the biggest yet with headline acts like the Bay City Rollers, Noel Gallagher and Paolo Nutini all being honoured. The last 17 years have been an incredible journey – not only for the Awards but also for the charity itself. Huge thanks to SSE for allowing us to grow we’re overjoyed that the charity will reach more and more people all across Scotland and in particular when we open our new facility in Aberdeen. We want to thank everyone who has helped, supported and donated tonight every penny counts towards bettering peoples’ lives through music, and that is an incredible achievement.”
The full list of awards and winners were:
SSE Best Live Act Paolo Nutini
People Make Glasgow Special Recognition Award Clare Grogan
Sunday Mail Music Business Award Murray Chalmers
Nordoff Robbins Contribution to Music Award Rab Noakes
Jack Daniels Best Breakthrough Award White
Hard Rock Cafe Best Emerging Artist Model Aeroplanes
Sir Reo Stakis Living Legend Award Bay City Rollers
King Tut’s Songwriting Award Amy McDonald
Ticketmaster Tourmaster Award Noel Gallagher
STV Glasgow and STV Edinburgh Scottish Music Hall of Fame Award Donovan
Capitol FM’s Performance (no award) Single By Sunday
SSE Hydro and Raymond Weil UK Artist of the Year – Foxes
Big Apple Rekordelig Award KLOE