LEGEND VIVIAN JOINS WHIPPERSNAPPERS...YOUNG AND OLD

Northern Ireland’s music scene is in rude health these days, has been for a while.

It’s largely to do with the Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast city centre, the Nerve Centre in Derry, some people of vision in the general Limavady area and loads of devoted people putting their smarts into festivals and events all over the land. It helps that we have an incredible pool of talent too. Perhaps we always did - it’s just that this network stops the good ’uns slipping through the net.

Anyway, to celebrate all that’s good, the Northern Ireland Music Prize has shortlisted 12 albums by bands ranging from the late great Bap Kennedy to the awesome Sea Pinks. The awards night is November 11 and, as is now a fine old tradition itself, an old hand is honoured with the Oh Yeah Legend Award. This year it’s the turn of guitar hero Vivian Campbell who takes to the stage at the Mandela Hall bash on the night.

Charlotte Dryden, CEO of the Oh Yeah Music Centre said “It’s yet another great year for music from Northern Ireland. The 12 are just a taste of what we have to offer, but what a strong example in this list. The Awards evening will be a fitting end to another celebration of all that is great about local music.” The list in full: Arborist Home Burial, Arvo Party Arvo Party, Bap Kennedy Reckless Heart The Divine Comedy Foreverland Gross Net Quantitative Easing Hannah Peel Awake But Always Dreaming, Invaderband Invaderband, Joshua Burnside Ephrata, Malojian This Is Nowhere, Our Krypton Son Fleas & Diamonds, Robocobra Quartet Music For All Occasions, Sea Pinks Watercourse.

ROCKER: Vivian with his Def Leppard bandmate Joe Ellito