GRIT wins Modern Scottish Classic Award

The Modern Scottish Classic Award, presented by the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), is an annual recognition of an iconic album from Scotland’s past that still inspires today. The award was voted for by 2024’s Longlisted artists, with Martyn Bennett’s ‘Grit’ (2003) named this year’s Modern Scottish Classic. Also announced are the 10 Shortlisted albums in the running for 2024’s Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award.

Robert Kilpatrick, CEO and Creative Director of the Scottish Music Industry Association (SMIA), said:“Congratulations to the 10 incredible albums that have made The SAY Award Shortlist, as well as to our Sound of Young Scotland Award finalists and this year’s Modern Scottish Classic Award winner; Martyn Bennett’s outstanding, innovative and much-loved record ‘Grit’. This is a fantastic representation of the strength and diversity of Scottish music – past, present and future.

BJ Stewart, one of the founding members of the Martyn Bennett Trust and Martyn’s close friend and photographer, said: “The Martyn Bennett Trust is deeply honoured that Grit has been awarded the 2024 Modern Scottish Classic Award. This recognition is especially meaningful coming from fellow artists across Scotland’s diverse music scene, reflecting the enduring impact of Martyn’s work.

‘Grit’ unites ancient and modern sounds, blending traditions with contemporary influences and championing marginalised voices. We are thrilled that ‘Grit’ continues to inspire and influence musicians from so many different genres and backgrounds, much as Martyn himself sought to unite those elements in his work.

This award reaffirms his vision of music as a force for connection and unity, as relevant today as it was in 2003. We are incredibly grateful to the Scottish Music Industry Association, The SAY Award nominees, and everyone who continues to celebrate Martyn’s music. Thank you.”

Martyn Bennet’s final studio album ‘Grit’ is the fourth recipient of the Modern Scottish Classic Award. A record which is widely credited with starting the musical evolution of Celtic fusion, it features tracks including ‘Blackbird’, ‘Chanter’ and ‘Move’, where Martyn expertly blended Scottish traditional music and singers with cutting edge electronica and dance beats.

His fifth album, ‘Grit’ featured the traditional singers, largely travellers, that Martyn was raised on, showcasing the astonishing purity of the past whilst basking in modern dance culture. Martyn battled with Hodgkins Lymphoma throughout the making of the album, undergoing extensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as a bone marrow transplant. No longer able to play instruments himself, ‘Grit’ was his sole artistic outlet. Martyn Bennett passed away 15 months after the release of ‘Grit’, in January 2005 at 33 years old,  following a short but extraordinary career that has left a stunning musical legacy, not only in Scotland, but around the world.

The SAY Award Shortlist for 2024, in alphabetical order, is:
Arab Strap I’m totally fine with it 👍don’t give a fuck anymore 👍
Barry Can’t Swim When Will We Land?
Becky Sikasa The Writings and the Pictures and the Song
corto.alto Bad With Names
Dead Pony IGNORE THIS
Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand Willson Williams
Lucia & The Best Boys Burning Castles
Rachel Sermanni Dreamer Awake
rEDOLENT dinny greet
Theo Bleak Pain

The SAY Award has also revealed this year’s five Sound of Young Scotland Award finalists, with the winner set to be revealed at this year’s Ceremony in Stirling’s Albert Halls on Thursday 24th October, alongside the SAY Award winner.