Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
A Prize night is in store for NI Music
November 12 event on Youtube
In a year like no other it’s reassuring the NI Music Prize will go ahead – albeit in a modified format. Any sort of continuity is to be welcomed and in the seven years since its inception the awards have become an institution, a highpoint in the year for artistes and industry heads alike and a neat celebration of all the fine music being produced in this country. And there is much to celebrate.
The night itself, as is now the custom, will feature loads of live performances from the nominated acts as the votes from the judging panel and great unwashed are totted up for Best Album (the big one), Best Single, Oh Contender (for newcomers) and Best Live Act. These will i nclude Arborist, Careerist, Joshua Burnside, Kitt Philippa, Phil Kieran and Sasha Samara, musicians lauded and celebrated the world over. It promises to be an exciting show, ably held together by our colleague Rigsy with new ATL host Gemma Bradley and will be broadcast live on Youtube (younger people say streamed) on November 12.
Not sure where the smart money is being laid but we’d love to see judges pick Phil Kieran for the best album award for Life Cycling, his gloriously personal slice of Krautrock-influenced electronica, though there will be no undeserving winner whatever the outcome. There’s a cash prize of £3,000 for that category and £1,000 for each of the other winners – much needed in these difficult times.
Oh Yeah chief Charlotte Dryden said: “It has been an incredibly difficult year for music, musicians and live music, but we were determined to make sure that the show will go on. We need to have a moment for our community to come together to say we are still here, we will get through this and we matter. We have an
It will be different, but we think it will be great.
incredible amount of talent to celebrate here and while we normally get together under one roof for this annual celebration, this is an opportunity to showcase our music in a new way. We’re urging everyone to join us, tune in, get involved, organise watch parties and support local music. It will be different, but we think it will be great.”
The event is scheduled to take place during the Sound of Belfast 2020 virtual festival, which runs fromNovember 6-12. The full programme for this will be announced on Monday.
For more on the shortlists, voting and process go to www.