The Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA) return to St Luke’s, Glasgow on Saturday 29 November 2025 for their 16th edition promising a vibrant celebration of Scotland’s diverse and boundary-pushing music scene. Hosted by BBC Introducing in Scotland’s Stephanie Cheape, the awards ceremony will see performances from sibling punk duo comfort, post apocalyptic metal outfit Lo Rays, and jazzy hip hop quintet Kai Reesu who’s album KOMPROMAT vol. i is nominated for Scottish Album of the Year 2025.

This year’s nominees spotlight the incredible breadth of talent emerging across the nation from Glasgow to Aberdeen, Edinburgh to Stirling and beyond representing the genres, subcultures and creatives that are defining modern Scotland. The list was formed through the SAMA Music Criteria and the help of 21 music professionals from diverse groups and backgrounds from across the country from leading organisations such as AMPLIFI, Core, Crowded Flat, DF Concerts, Eden Festival, GLITCH41, Hen Hoose, Music Venue Trust, Ponyboy, Tenement Trail, Triple G Presents, Up2Stndrd, and Wide Days. 

The 2025 Scottish Alternative Music Award Nominees:

Best Acoustic sponsored by Musicians’ Union

Faith Eliott
Jacob Alon
Lizzie Reid
Miwa Nagato-Apthorp

Best Electronic sponsored by UNESCO Glasgow City Of Music

KOPI ROMANTIKO
LWS
Proc Fiskal
Susannah Stark

Best Hip Hop sponsored by Pro Weekend Fest

Kpence
Kryptik
Loki
Supermann on da Beat

Best Live Act sponsored by St Luke’s & The Winged Ox

Azamiah
DOSS
Pippa Blundell
Waverley.

Best Metal sponsored by Drygate

Bleed From Within
Cwfen
Endless Swarm
Sixth Wonder 

Best Newcomer sponsored by Blackhall Records

Ay Bangz
Mercy Girl
Miwa Nagato-Apthorp
Rahul.mp3

Best Rock/Alternative sponsored by PRS For Music

Fright Years
Martha May & The Mondays
Mercy Girl
The Rooks

The 7 winners will be decided from a 3-day online public vote which opens Monday 17 November at 12:00 until Wednesday 19 November 17:00 viaofficialsama.com, inviting music fans and the general public to have their say in the awards.

Tickets for the awards ceremony and music showcase taking place on Saturday 29 November at St Luke’s, Glasgow are on sale now, priced at £12.00 (General Admission) and £20.00 (VIP) from Eventbrite UK.

Since launching in 2009, SAMA with support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland has become a key platform for music discovery, shining a light on artists, genres, collectives and scenes. Previous SAMA winners include the likes of Hannah Laing, Brògeal, VLURE, Taahliah, Gallus, Bemz and Lewis Capaldi. Alongside the annual awards, SAMA presents artist showcases at leading festivals including Liverpool Sound City, Pro Weekend Castellón, the SAMA Paisley Takeover, and also produce Scotland’s international hip hop conference PITCH Scotland.

Richy Muirhead, Founder and Director of SAMA Events Ltd comments

“Reaching our sixteenth year feels like a real milestone! Our goal has always been to shine a light on the incredible diversity of sounds emerging from genres across the country, this year’s shortlist is exactly that and you will find everything from jazz to doom, dub to folk, hip hop and afrobeats to everything in between. It’s vital that we continue to champion music on a grassroots level, to support independent venues, back the initiatives that keep the underground scenes alive, and support the next generation of artists and creatives! This year’s SAMA’s is a perfect opportunity to dive into new sounds and I’d encourage everyone to get to know the nominations list, and discover their next favourite Scottish artist!”

Alan Morrison, Head of Music at Creative Scotland adds

“SAMA has an incredible track record of celebrating discovery and diversity. These awards reach beyond the mainstream to throw a spotlight on artists who push back musical boundaries and create work that’s always innovative and truly exciting. Creative Scotland is proud to use National Lottery targeted funds to support an event with such an open-minded, no-limits, widescreen perspective on the music scene.”