Jocks Away

“I was wondering why people kept telling me to bring my mum and dad!” said an emotional Sharleen Spiteri when she collected her Tartan Clef Outstanding Contribution Award presented by pal, UK comedian Peter Kay. The Phoenix Nights star had driven from London to support his friend. “When we hang out we like to have old school monster mash up battles on our iPods!” he revealed.

The prestigious awards ceremony, now in its 10th year, was held in Glasgow’s Old Fruit Market recently and Hot Press had the pleasure of attending. All proceeds from the event go to the very worthy cause of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy.
The Fratellis, Eddi Reader and Ricky Warwick also scooped Clefs on the night, but the climax of the evening came when Edwyn Collins, James Kirk, David McClymont and Steven Daly climbed the steps to accept Orange Juice’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
“I’m very flattered, it’s all part of the renaissance of Orange Juice. I have fond memories of the band,” said Edwyn Collins, who had travelled from London with his wife Grace and son Stephen for the evening.
Others had a somewhat longer journey: bassist David McClymont had flown in from Australia where he lives and writes for Lonely Planet, and drummer Steven Daly jetted in from the US where he currently works as a scribe for Vanity Fair. Guitarist James Kirk still lives in his home town and makes his living as a chiropodist – imagine having one’s bunions tended to by a post-punk legend!
Eighties luminaries Hue and Cry opened the music programme for the evening with a stellar version of one of their best-loved tracks ‘Labour Of Love’ - nothing like a good blast of soulful pop to get proceedings underway.
Next up were indie rockers Beecake who won the Visit Scotland People’s Choice Best Live Act. The band features Lord Of The Rings actor Billy Boyd who took time out from the movie circuit to accept the award and play a blistering version of their uber-catchy ‘Soul Swimming’, justifying the win with a suitably raucous performance.
Winner of the Trad, Folk and Roots Award, national legend Dougie McClean, treated the crowd to a mesmorising version of one of his greatest songs,‘Caledonia’, which has been covered by Frankie Miller, Amy McDonald and Paolo Nutini to name but a few.
Eddi Reader picked up the Singer/Songwriter Clef, well-deserved considering her impressive solo canon. The lady has come a long way since her Fairground Attraction days. She was accompanied by her ‘partner in music and life’ Trashcan Sinatra John Douglas for a beguiling rendition of ‘Wild Mountainside’.
Ricky Warwick claimed the Rock Award on behalf of The Almighty and proceeded to play a blinding acoustic version of ‘Wild And Wonderful’. Later that evening chatting to Hot Press, Ricky revealed that his third long-player Belfast Confetti is due in Spring 2009.
The show was closed in explosive style by The Fratellis who were bestowed with the SECC Tartan Clef Award.
Glasgow is the ideal location for the national awards ceremony, having recently won the title UNESCO City Of Music. On average, 127 musical events take place in the city every week at such legendary venues as King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut (where Alan McGee first spotted Liam and Noel), the Barrowland Ballroom and the School of Art (where Orange Juice played their first show on April 20 1979).
The city’s rich and varied musical output was certainly represented here tonight.

Check out homecomingscotland2009.com for information on live music events in Scotland.