Viewin’ the Fat

ROCK stars and celebrities raised the roof last night at the glitzy Tartan Clef music awards bash.
Indie stars The View and Marillion frontman Fish rubbed shoulders with TV funnyman Ford Kiernan and airport hero John Smeaton at the awards at Glasgow's SECC.

Others on the star-studded guest list included telly presenter Laura Marks, comic Fred MacAulay and singers Eddi Reader and Lloyd Cole.

The night's big winners were Dundee band The View - who scooped Best Live Band sponsored by The Scottish Sun.

Singer Kyle Falconer put on a brave face on the red carpet despite mourning the death of his mum this week.

But the scruffy rockers were worried they looked out of place. Bass player Kieren Webster, 23, said: "We're excited to be here but I feel a bit under dressed as loads of people got on the kilts." Guitarist Pete Reilly, 23, quipped: "We scrub up well, we've all got a splash of Dior on."

Folk rocker King Creosote, who won Singer Of The Year, and Fish picked up the Rock Award.

Other winners included Lloyd Cole and the Commotions, Mott The Hoople and DF Concerts.

Guests included SFA boss Gordon Smith, below left, who revealed he's a pal of Beatles legend Sir Paul McCartney.

He said: "The biggest thrill of my life was sitting in Sir Paul's house as he played for me about 20 years ago. I played to him Beatles song Blackbird, which I found really difficult. He went out the room, got his guitar and taught me how to play it."

Radio DJ Heather Suttie was keen to show off her credit-crunch dress on the red carpet.

She pulled off her jacket to reveal her cream lace vintage outfit.

The blonde bombshell said: "It cost me a whole £10."

The Tartan Clef awards bash raises cash for Nordoff-Robins music therapy in Scotland.

Scottish Sun columnist Donald Macleod, chairman of the fundraising committee, said: "This year's Homecoming Scotland Tartan Clef Awards again showed the incredibly high calibre of music in Scotland.

"On behalf of Nordoff-Robbins, I'd like to thank our sponsors, guests and donors for their overwhelming generosity in support of our charity's important work. It's hard to believe that in ten years we've moved from a small lunch in Edinburgh to filling one of the halls in the SECC."

The Sun, 28 December 2009