Jazz pianist Fergus McCreadie wins Scottish Album of the Year Award for 'Forest Floor'

Pianist Fergus McCreadie has won the Scottish Album of the Year award days after missing out on the Mercury prize.

The Clackmannanshire musician took home the award for Forest Floor at the ceremony in Stirling, joining the likes of Mogwai and Young Fathers on the list of winners.

The 25-year-old, who becomes the first jazz musician to win the gong, appeared on the Mercury shortlist alongside Harry Styles, Sam Fender and winner Little Simz.

His album was praised by judges for its “folk-influenced sound” and “precisely placed notes and rich harmonies”.

McCreadie also takes home a £20,000 prize along with the award, having previously received a nomination in 2019.

“I’m absolutely honoured and thrilled that Forest floor has been selected as this year’s Scottish Album of the Year,” he said.

“I’m really proud how we come across on the record and it’s such a privilege for us to have that recognised by the SAY award panel.

“I’m so excited by what this can do for Scottish Jazz – we’re the first jazz act to win the prize and I really hope we won’t be the last. Scottish jazz is full of incredible musicians and bands that I respect so much, and I really hope this will be only one step of an incredible journey for a scene which truly punches above its weight.”

Elsewhere, singer Berta Kennedy was named the second Sound of Young Scotland Award winner, scooping a £5,000 fund to help towards production of a debut album.

Meanwhile, Heaven or Las Vegas by Cocteau Twins was recognised as winner of the Modern Scottish Classic Award – given to a piece of work which continues to inspire Scottish musicians today.

Founding member Robin Guthrie accepted the award at the Albert Halls in Stirling – a stone’s throw from where the group played some of their first shows.

“Some 40 years ago, Cocteau Twins played our first ever show in what was then a nightclub called Le Clique, just 500m down the road,” he told the ceremony.

“We were teenagers, we had six songs, we didn’t know much. There wasn’t the type of support the Scottish music industry now brings – but we stuck at it.

“We’d like to thank the award’s Longlist who chose to recognise that this album should become a Scottish icon.”