Another year, another opportunity to celebrate the great and good of the last twelve months in the Northern Irish music scene. The Ulster Hall is always a fitting room for such a celebration and it was another tremendous night for the Northern Ireland Music Prize.
Album of the Year is the big one and this year, the shortlist was the biggest to date. A typically eclectic list of releases covering a range of genres and featuring artists with several albums under their belts to debut releases.
With his stellar It’s Not Going To Be Ok, Joshua Burnside picked up his second album of the year award. His second win this week after picking up Folk Album of the year at the Rte awards as well.
Live Act of the Year is always one of the most interesting and divisive awards with so many differing opinions on what makes a worthy winner. Given their tremendous upward momentum and sold out gigs throughout Ireland, Europe and the US, it was no surprise to see CHALK pick up the prize this year.
PRS NI Creator of the Year was awarded to Kaidi Tatham.
Single of the Year is undoubtedly the most difficult of categories to predict with hundreds of releases to choose from and a public vote selecting the winner. On the night CHALK picked up the prize for their single ‘Pain‘.
The BBC Introducing award is a strange one. The criteria for how you make the shortlist is shrouded in mystery and it often includes artists a little further on than what you’d expect for what appears to be a developing artist award. This year Polar Bolero were the lucky recipients off the back of a stellar debut EP and renowned live shows.
Legendary country music singer Philomena Begley received the Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s ceremony with a little help from CMAT. Affectionately known as the Queen of Irish Country Music, the County Tyrone singer has enjoyed an remarkable career spanning more than six decades, becoming one of the most loved and influential voices in Irish Country music.
Prominent Belfast composer, cellist and uilleann piper Neil Martin received the Outstanding Contribution to Music Award. One of Belfast’s most versatile and influential musical figures, Neil has built an extraordinary career spanning traditional Irish music, classical composition, theatre, film and television. Known for bringing musical traditions together, his work has taken him from Belfast to some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall & as a musician, composer, producer and arranger, he has contributed to more than 100 albums.
