Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
NI gets a perfect
Album of the Year event a huge hit as we celebrate our talented bunch
It has been described as “a staff night out for the local music scene”, by Charlotte Dryden, head honcho at The Oh Yeah Centre, who took over the Ulster Hall on Wednesday night this week for the Northern Ireland Music Prize.
The 10th edition of the awards – which began in 2013 at The Mandela Hall before eventually graduating to the Grand Dame of Bedford Street – acts as a sort of annual scrap book of where we are with regards to alternative music in this part of the world.
And if there’s one thing we can take away from looking at the scene in 2022, it’s that it’s all over the place.
In fact, I rather clumsily called it “a complete mess” during my own contributions onstage as co-host.
But I meant that in a good way. I meant if you look not just at Wednesday’s line-up, but the nominations for the main prize (Album of the Year), you’re hearing punk, jazz, soundtrack electronica, straight-up rock, neosoul, slowgaze – in fact, each of the 12 albums is from its own little world.
Needless to say, there is definitely no Northern Irish “sound”, there’s barely two bands that sound vaguely alike.
This is a good thing of course
– a mess it may be, but it certainly keeps things interesting.
Regardless, what a night it was, each performance lighting the room up, each award result causing plenty of debate. So here are my 10 standout moments...
1. BARRY DEVLIN STEALS THE SHOW
It’s over 50 years since Barry Devlin – from Ardboe – helped form Horslips, who’d go on to define the Celtic Rock genre while unleashing some of the most iconic guitar riffs ever created.
He’s a worthy recipient of the Oh Yeah Legends Award, following the likes of Gary Lightbody, Terri Hooley, Ash and Henry Mccullough.
Even though the first thing he did as a version of Horslips took to the stage was drop his bass guitar, endless charm and wit (and of course songs like Dearg Doom and Trouble – With A Capital T) justified his now legendary status.
2. THE JOURNEYMEN (AND WOMEN)
The NI Music Prize isn’t – and shouldn’t – be just about the legendary acts and the exciting “next big thing”.
There is of course a whole world in-between – musicians who’ve been plugging away for years, gradually gathering steam and – eventually getting what they deserve.
That was the case with Rory Nellis, former frontman with the wonderful Seven Summits and now three splendid records into a solo career.
His latest – Written & Underlined – is likely his best work and it felt like a long overdue breakthrough moment for him after all this time to both be on stage at The Ulster Hall and on the Album of the Year list.
3. A NICE SURPRISE
Last year the winners were all
women with Dea Matrona doing the double and Saint Sister winning Album of the Year.
This year Ferna, aka Hannah Mcphillimy, was the sole female winner, picking up Single of the Year.
It should be noted, however, the nominations across the board – and the line-up – confirm NI Music is certainly no boys club. The Ferna single felt like a surprise winner simply because the competition was mostly more established acts.
It was certainly a worthy winner, however, Wasting is a weird and wonderful creation, equal parts trippy and anthemic.
4. JUNK DRAWER DO THE DOUBLE
Not only that, but these were the second and third awards the Belfast quartet have nabbed – this year picking up Live Act of the Year and Video of the Year ( for Railroad King).
For fans of scuzzy American college rock – early REM, Dinosaur Jr. and the like – they’re hardly the most instantly lovable, catchy act on the scene, but have their own unique, now multiaward-winning charm.
5. THE FLORENTINAS BREEZE TO BEST NEW ACT
Or at least I assume they did – prob
ably the most worthy winners on the night, picking up ATL Artist of The Year, basically Best New Band award.
As well as being the most authentically new act on the nomination list, The Florentinas are just a proper band – they look like a gang, are all irritatingly good looking, make great, straight-up indie rock and have caused a significant amount of hype over the last few months, with Gary Lightbody amongst their biggest fans. The future.
6. ROBOCOBRA QUARTET WIN THE BIG ONE
I called it! When asked off stage who I thought would win, I was convinced Robocobra Quartet’s record Living Isn’t Easy would pick up the most important award of the night for Album of the Year.
Not bad going on my part given no one had a clue – that particular award is decided by a panel in a secret location while the event takes place.
My reasoning was it’s easily the most interesting, arguably the most fun and – with the ludicrously groovy Wellness – has for my money the best song on any of the nominated albums.
That song was performed live on the night and I noted, of all people in attendance, my dad was impressed. And if you can win him over...
7. CHERYM DOUBLE DOWN ON THE DERRY
The Derry wans in the audience – cheering on an explosive set from double nominees Cherym and raising the roof every time the likes of North West acts Invaderband, New Pagans and SOAK were mentioned – made the most noise. Upping the hometown pride, Cherym wore full Derry City kits, celebrating the teams FAI Cup victory.
8. LEO MIYAGEE MAKES A LITTLE HISTORY
A key player in an oddly vibrant hip hop and neosoul scene in Northern Ireland, Leo’s Act III was the first album of its kind to make the Album of the Year shortlist.
A true creative, Miyagee was also performing – alongside a full live band and brass section. He opened the show with two tracks from the aforementioned album – beautifully presented – likely correcting assumptions made by some of the unenlightened music fans in the room as to what hip hop can be – or has become.
9. A NOD TO THE SOUNDTRACKERS
There’s an unusual amount of incredible soundtracks being created by Northern Irish composers these days and – given their names are usually buried in a list of names at the end of a TV show or movie – they don’t get much in the way of credit.
So it was great to see a light shone on Sheridan Tongue who picked up an award for Outstanding Contribution.
He’s already won an Emmy, been nominated for a Bafta and created music for the likes of Brian Cox’s Wonders Of The Universe and Spooks (amongst many others) and worked with the likes of Blur and Beverley Knight.
Chatting onstage with Sheridan it was nice to shout out Phil Kieran (his own soundtrack to Nightride nominated) and former NI Music Prize co-host Hannah Peel as amongst his contemporaries in Northern Ireland.
10. AN OPTIMISTIC NOD TO THE FUTURE
A huge amount of work goes into this. We are committed to giving our talent the best possible platform through this event.
It was too easy to get caught up in the positivity on Wednesday and just rave about our vibrant scene – but that ignores that there is a lot of work to be done and how further acknowledgement needs to come from the powers that be, not the general public.
Charlotte Dryden, CEO at Oh Yeah said it best: “A huge amount of work goes into an event like this and we are committed to giving our talent the best possible platform through this event.
“That’s why it is so reassuring that our supporters and sponsors understand this and get behind this event.
“Music contributed £345million to the NI economy pre covid and with the right conditions we can exceed that post covid. Challenges remain, but just imagine what we could do with the right investment. It’s why we need to support local music.”
So, Donald Trump is to run again for president in 2024, despite the Democrats retaining control of the Senate in the US mid-terms. Surely, the American people are not so stupid as to give this turkey a second chance? Steve Goulding, Sheffield
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