Awards mark resurrection of Mary Chain
● Reformed rock band among 20 artists nominated for 2017 SAY Award
They formed in an East Kilbride bedroom more than three decades ago, enjoyed a critically acclaimed career that took them around the world, before splitting in acrimonious circumstances on stage in Miami in 1998.
Now, The Jesus and Mary Chain are among the nominees for the most prestigious contemporary music prize in Scotland for Damage and Joy, their first album in 19 years.
The alternative rock band, fronted by brothers Jim and William Reid, are among 20 artists to make the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award longlist. Among the nominees revealed at an event at the ABC in Glasgow last night were indie veterans Teenage Fanclub, post-rock titans Mogwai and respected folk singer and harpist Rachel Newton.
Newer artists have also been given a chance to shine, with debut albums from Sacred Paws and teen canteen among those on the longlist.
Fans of electronic music will welcome the inclusion of Konx-om-pax, the recording name of Glasgow-based producer Tom Scholefield, for his second album Caramel.
But it is the return of the famously unsmiling Reid brothers that will attract most attention. The Jesus and Mary Chain first made headlines in 1985 on the back of their debut Psychocandy. They continued to tour and record up until falling out 13 years later. Although they reunited in 2006 it has taken more than a decade for Damage and Joy to surface.
The SAY longlist will be whittled down to a shortlist of ten albums, one of which will be chosen by the public in an online vote between 12-14 June, with the remaining nine chosen by judges. The shortlist will be revealed on 15 June.
The overall winner will then be announced at a ceremony at Paisley Town Hall on 28 June, and collect a prize of £20,000.
Now in its sixth year, the SAY Award was started by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA) with support from Creative Scotland to promote the nation’s recording industry at home and abroad.
The competition is open to Scottish artists as well those who have chosen to make Scotland their home.
“This year’s SAY Award ranges from acts who burst onto the scene in the 1980s such as The Jesus And Mary Chain to Teencanteen,” said Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland.
“And that’s one of the wonderful things about this prize – emerging artists such as Vukovi, Sacred Paws and Fatherson find themselves standing shoulder to shoulder with Scottish icons.”