HARD though it may be to believe, when the forerunner of the Scottish Music Awards first began, there was no live music.
“It was ridiculous,” laughed legendary nightclub owner Donald MacLeod who has helped the annual event raise more than £1 million for music therapy for people with a range of conditions.
Despite the lack of live music, the extravaganza still proved a bit too raucous for the City Chambers in Glasgow where it was first held. Since then various venues have been used until it found its natural home at the iconic Barrowlands.
The name has also changed from the Tartan Clef awards to the Specsavers Scottish Music Awards and this year will recognise such luminaries of the music scene as Travis, LuLu and Kyle Falconer.
As well as recognising Scottish talent, the event is a crucial fundraiser for the charity Nordoff And Robbins which uses music therapy to help people break through the barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability and social isolation.
MacLeod, who has been heavily involved for nearly three decades, is so passionate about music therapy’s benefits that he believes it should be provided in every school.
“I really do,” he told the Sunday National.
“It’s hugely important and never more so than now coming out of the pandemic when there is a massive rise in anxieties and mental health issues, especially in the young.
“The therapists are fantastic and work one to one with people of various ages and conditions from Alzheimer’s to autism, using the power of music.
“We’ve been able to offer 37,000 therapy sessions across Scotland in the past year alone. As the need for this lifechanging service grows, we look forward to raising even more money to help continue to fund this amazing organisation.”
Over the years more and more stars have supported the charity including Lewis Capaldi, Paulo Nutini, Texas, Biffy Clyro and Rod Stewart who sang at a recent awards ceremony.
“That has been very humbling and gratifying as well,” said MacLeod.
In Scotland, the charity now supports 14 therapists working in 37 centres across the country.
“I’m very proud of it and feel very happy that a wee fundraiser is now a major fundraiser and a major support vehicle for all these people and families,” MacLeod said.
“The families are the ones that have to look after the children and elderly and there is nearly next to no support for them, especially for those with dealing with Alzheimer’s.
“Music can bring memories back, calm people down and get them engaged – it’s fantastic seeing what can happen.”
MacLeod first became involved in the charity when it was a small operation in Scotland. His promotions company at that time was the largest in the country and along with various other movers and shakers in the music industry, he was invited by Nordoff And Robbins to come along to a meeting to see if he could help.
“At that point I did not have a clue what it was but they told me it was about therapists who use music to improve health and wellbeing and I thought it was a good idea,” he said.
“I wanted to give something back and I felt I could help as then they only had three therapists and they were using things like coffee mornings for fundraising.”
It was decided to stage an awards night for talent in the music industry and raise money in the process.
The first one in the City Chambers honoured Simple Minds but the irony was that there was no live music.
“We raised maybe 20 grand so we decided to do it again and went back to the City Chambers the next year,” said MacLeod.
“It was even more raucous so we thought we’d better find a new venue, have live music and that was the real start of the Tartan Clefs.”
As the years rolled on, more and more stars of the music scene started to support the charity and help out.
“Things started to accelerate and suddenly we were not raising £20,000 but £80k, £90k or £100k all in one night and supporting 16 therapists in four centres,” said MacLeod.
“Then the pandemic came along which hit every part of life and every type of organisation, including charities but Nordoff And Robbins did retain the therapists which was great.”
After the pandemic ended, it was agreed to give the awards night a proper “gig” feel, with the Barrowlands being the obvious choice for the venue.
“It’s a world-famous, iconic venue in the Unesco City of Music so it is some party but what is most important is that we continue to deliver the therapy where it is most needed,” said MacLeod.
“There is a lack of funding for music therapists and it is not a cheap process so the fundraising is really important.”
At Saturday’s event, LuLu will be honoured with the Scottish Icon Award.
“To be recognised as a Scottish icon is truly humbling,” she said. “It’s an honour to be celebrated in this way, especially for a charity that does such incredible work.”
The Specsavers Scottish Music Awards, hosted by Edith Bowman, will take place on Saturday (November 2) at Glasgow Barrowlands Ballroom
