Pianist Fergus in running for album of year
Acclaimed Dollar pianist Fergus McCreadie has been nominated for another leading 2021 music award.
He has made it on to the 20-album longlist for the Scottish Album of Year title with his new album ‘Cairn’ which is inspired by the landscape and traditions of Scotland.
It follows the 24-year-old reaching the shortlist in this year’s Jazz FM awards, in its album of the year category, as well as finalist in the UK Jazz Act of the Year.
The Scottish Album of the Year longlist 2021 includes Arab Strap ‘As Days Get Dark,’ Biffy Clyro ‘A Celebration of Endings,’ Jenny Sturgeon ‘The Living Mountain’, Mogwai – ‘As The Love Continues’ and The Snuts – ‘W.L.’
Fergus, a former pupil at Dollar Academy, said: “I am delighted and honoured to have been nominated for such a prestigious award in the Scottish music industry.
“‘Cairn’ was a composite of where I was at that time as a musician and composer, and how the band sounded after playing so much together in recent years.
“To be on the longlist with so many other great artists is very exciting to me, and I am especially honoured to be representing the jazz scene in Scotland, which I am always so happy to be a part of.”
‘Cairn’ – which follows Fergus’ selfreleased debut album ‘Turas’ in 2018 – is described as having “an energetic
Honour to be on longlist
freshness of sound and originality”.
Fergus studied jazz at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow and has performed at the Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen jazz festivals as well as being awarded diplomas in jazz from St Andrews University.
He has previously received Album of the Year at the Parliamentary and Scottish Jazz Awards, reached the shortlist of cross-genre Scottish Album of the Year Award 2019, and was finalist in the 2018 BBC Jazz Musician of the Year. In October last year he was awarded Best Instrumentalist at the Scottish Jazz Awards.
The winner of the Scottish Album of the Year title will collect £20,000 and nine runners-up will each be awarded £1000 and their own bespoke award.
This year’s event will take place before an audience at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh on Saturday, October 23.
Creative Scotland head of music Alan Morrison said: “If you need proof that the Scottish music scene is emerging strong and defiant from months of lockdown, then look no further than this year’s SAY award longlist.
“With three Official UK Charts number one albums, an explosion of diversity from some stars of tomorrow and positive recognition of our flourishing grassroots jazz scene, 2021’s contenders make a bold statement about the energy that fuels the music Scotland has to offer and the strength of our creative voice.”