Anna Meredith wins The SAY Award 2016

This year's shortlist featured past winners Young Fathers, ex-Beta Band maverick Steve Mason, the latest albums from Emma Pollock and The Revenge, as well as South Queensferry musician Meredith – who clinched the £20,000 prize for her exceptional third LP Varmints. 

Remarking on her win, Meredith offered: “It has been a total honour and a privilege to be on the longlist and shortlist for the SAY award. It has been great getting to know all of the other albums and during these politically difficult times to see positivity, creativity and spirit coming out of the longlist and shortlist. Thank you to all of those artists. Huge thanks to the SAY award and my long suffering and hugely talented band who helped me make this real labour of love.”

This year's SAY Award was presented at Paisley Town Hall; it's the first time the award has been presented outside Glasgow. Stay tuned for our full recap of the night on 30 July.

The full SAY Award 2016 shortlist in alphabetical order:

• Anna Meredith – Varmints [live review]
• Auntie Flo – Theory of Flo [DJ Chart]
• C. Duncan – Architect [review & interview]
• CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye [review] 
• Emma Pollock – In Search of Harperfield [review & interview] 
• FFS – FFS (Public Vote Winner) [review & interview] 
• Lau – The Bell That Never Rang [website] 
• Steve Mason – Meet the Humans [review & Mason's own track-by track guide] 
• The Revenge – Love That Will Not Die [DJ Chart] 
• Young Fathers – White Men Are Black Men Too [review]