Scotland’s rock legends push to transform CCA into a national Hall of Fame

ScotsRock has proposed taking over Glasgow’s Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) to create a Scottish Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame, a campaign backed by major names including Midge Ure, Lulu, Jim Kerr, Travis and Del Amitri. The group says the revamp would celebrate Scotland’s global music influence while breathing new life into the Sauchiehall Street venue.

The initiative names established and emerging acts from across decades: Big Country, Annie Lennox, Bay City Rollers, Skids, Primal Scream, Fish (Marillion), Simple Minds, Gerry Rafferty, Callum Beattie and The Sensational Alex Harvey Band, among many others. Supporters who contacted BBC Your Voice also highlighted Lewis Capaldi, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Emeli Sandé, Nazareth and Cocteau Twins as contenders.

Organisers pitch the Hall of Fame as both a cultural showcase and a tourist draw. Contributors argued the project could boost Sauchiehall Street’s economic vibrancy and create a dedicated hub for Scotland’s musical heritage, from Gaelic and folk-influenced acts like Runrig to stadium-selling bands such as AC/DC with Scottish roots.

ScotsRock appointed Midge Ure as its inaugural patron, lending high-profile endorsement to the campaign. Backers point to the wide commercial reach of Scottish artists — Simple Minds’ global sales, Wet Wet Wet’s long-running chart success with Love Is All Around and AC/DC’s multi-decade, multi-million record sales — as evidence of a compelling national story to tell.

The proposal has drawn varied public nominations, from veteran performers like Gerry Rafferty and Nazareth to contemporary names including Callum Beattie and Lewis Capaldi. Readers emphasised both artistic merit and the potential for a Hall of Fame to inspire younger musicians and preserve Scotland’s musical legacy.

Liberal News Analysis: What Does This Development Mean?

Turning the CCA into a Hall of Fame would be more than a museum project: it could reposition an urban cultural asset as an active economic and creative engine. For the local music industry it offers a centralised platform to amplify touring, education and archival work, while for the city it promises footfall and ancillary spending that support hospitality and retail on Sauchiehall Street.

There are also symbolic stakes. A nationally branded music institution can shape how Scotland’s musical contributions are curated and taught, influencing future funding decisions and festival programming. If delivered with community and industry input, the plan could balance heritage conservation with contemporary activity, avoiding a static exhibit in favor of an engaged cultural venue.

Operationally, success depends on clear governance, sustainable funding and programming that serves both visitors and working musicians. Partnerships with existing festivals, record labels and education providers would be crucial to ensure year-round relevance and financial viability.

Timeline details, formal funding proposals and responses from Glasgow City Council or the current CCA operators were not provided in the initial announcement; those steps will determine whether the plan moves from campaign to implementation.

Hızlı Bakış: Bilmeniz Gerekenler

• Midge Ure and other major Scottish musicians back ScotsRock’s bid to convert Glasgow’s CCA into a Scottish Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame.
• Public nominations span decades and genres, from Bay City Rollers and Simple Minds to Lewis Capaldi and Callum Beattie.
• Supporters argue the venue could become a cultural hub and tourist magnet for Sauchiehall Street if funding and governance are secured.