THE Scottish Album of The Year (SAY) Award has announced its short list.

The ten albums include Babe, Best Girl Athlete, Franz Ferdinand, Golden Teacher, Karine Polwart and Pippa Murphy, Kobi Onyame, Mogwai, Out Lines, Siobhan Wilson and Young Fathers.

The shortlist was chosen by a panel of judges including Strawberry Switchblade’s Rose McDowall, BAFTA award-winning film maker Lynne Ramsay and curator of National Museum Scotland’s ‘Rip It Up: The Story of Scottish Pop’, Stephen Allen.

Each shortlisted album has won a £1,000 prize, with the winning album being awarded £20,000.

Alan Morrison, head of music at Creative Scotland said: “Scotland’s world-class music is driven by the diversity of the artists who make it, and this year’s SAY Award shortlist shines a spotlight on the breadth of talent we have living and working here.

"These ten albums contain music that will touch the listener’s heart or set their feet dancing – sometimes both at the same time.

"They draw in influences from near and far, as pop hooks, folk melodies, international rhythms and post-rock firepower paint a widescreen portrait of what Scottish music can be in the 21st century."

The final award ceremony takes place on 6 September at Paisley Town Hall.

www.sayaward.com

THE actor Jim Broadbent has told the Edinburgh International Book Festival of how he created his first graphic novel, Dull Margaret, with comic artist Dix, and the writer and editor Daniel Hahn.

“I was so proud of the fact that I had spotted that Dix might be on the same wavelength, and the relationship – which was largely by email, we’ve only met about five times so far – was so easy, and complete fun,” he said.

The character, and story, was initially inspired by Broadbent seeing Bruegel’s 16th century painting, Dulle Griet, featuring “a strange mad powerful woman astride the Gates of Hell,” he said

"She looks strong and interesting; and something about her is funny as well. I was just transfixed by that image.”

While the title of the painting actually means “Mad Margaret”, Broadbent preferred “Dull Margaret” as a title, and – at a time when he didn’t have “any interesting acting work” – he developed a script for a short film, in part inspired by his take on the character, the Lincolnshire Marshes of his childhood, and a growing interest in fairy stories.

There were no takers for the film, however, and it became a book.

Writing the script for Dull Margaret and seeing it become a graphic novel was an “absolute delight”.

"I was so proud of the fact that I had spotted that Dix might be on the same wavelength, and the relationship – which was largely by email, we’ve only met about five times so far – was so easy, and complete fun,” he added.

www.edbookfest.co.uk

THE ARTIST Greig Burgoyne is taking part in Artwalkporty in a series of events from August 31 to September 2.

In a day-long performance he will work with sand from pier to pier at Portobello in Edinburgh.

On the 1 and 2 September, he will lead to participatory performances with the public.

Participants will walk simultaneously measured spaces from within a 117.9 mtr loop of elastic chord.

In another project, the composer and sound artist Ross Whyte will great a new work, The Great Exhibition, linking up the Ross Theatre Bandstand to the site of Portobello's old band stand.

The show ill involve eight sites across Edinburgh and Musselburgh of old and existing band stand loctions, with an "immersive App" and live performance from the Portobello Community Choir.

www.artwalkporty.co.uk