As we announced last week, the inaugural Northern Ireland Music Awards take place at the Ulster Hall, Belfast on November 2 as part of Belfast Music Week. The awards, presented by AU and Oh Yeah Music Centre, aim to recognise the vibrant state of Northern Ireland’s music scene, as well as celebrating its rich heritage. There is much more on the awards in our new issue (out around Belfast this afternoon and elsewhere by the weekend), and here we are proud to present the nominations. Dozens of NI music experts – journalists, DJs, promoters and more – were canvassed for their votes in eight categories, and Oh Yeah will also present their Legends and Contenders awards.
Stiff Little Fingers, And So I Watch You From Afar, The Japanese Popstars, Cashier No.9 and General Fiasco will perform live at the event, which is presented by Rigsy (BBC Across The Line) and Emma Fitzpatrick (Citybeat). Tickets are priced at £12, available at the Ulster Hall box office or from www.ulsterhall.co.uk
Best Band (sponsored by Beck’s Vier)
And So I Watch You From Afar
Cashier No.9
LaFaro
Not Squares
Two Door Cinema Club
Best Song (Sponsored by Invest NI)
And So I Watch You From Afar – Search:Party:Animal
Cashier No.9 – Goldstar
General Fiasco – The Age That You Start Losing Friends
Rams’ Pocket Radio – Dieter Rams Has Got The Pocket Radios
Seven Summits – Burning Heart
Best Solo Artist (Sponsored by Belfast City Council)
Duke Special
Foy Vance
Pat Dam Smyth
Rainy Boy Sleep
Robyn G Shiels
Best Electronic Artist
Boxcutter
The Japanese Popstars
Not Squares
Phil Kieran
Space Dimension Controller
Best Album (Sponsored by HMV)
And So I Watch You From Afar – Gangs
Cashier No.9 – To The Death of Fun
Girls Names – Dead to Me
Mojo Fury – Visiting Hours Of A Travelling Circus
Not Squares – Yeah OK
Best Live Act (sponsored by the British Council)
And So I Watch You From Afar
LaFaro
Mojo Fury
Not Squares
Pocket Billiards
Best Video
Cashier No.9 – Goldstar
Cashier No.9 – Lost at Sea
General Fiasco – The Age That You Start You Start Losing Friends
Kowalski – Outdoors
Mojo Fury – Colour Of The Bear
Best Festival (Sponsored by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board)
Belsonic
Glasgowbury
Open House Festival
Pigstock
Sunflowerfest
The Oh Yeah Legends Award
Following previous recipients Terri Hooley (2008), Henry McCullough (2009) and The Undertones (2010), Belfast punks Stiff Little Fingers are recognised with the Oh Yeah Legends Award. “By challenging the given notions of sectarianism in songs like ‘Suspect Device’ and ‘Wasted Life’, they encouraged a generation of young people to see life beyond the bigoted, tribal world of Northern Ireland,” says Oh Yeah’s Stuart Bailie. “And when they sang “grab it, take it, it’s yours” they let us all know that we were in charge of our own destiny. Inspiring.”
The Oh Yeah Contenders Award
“The Contenders night was launched last year with live music from A Plastic Rose, Wonder Villains, Farriers and More Than Conquerors,” explains Oh Yeah’s Stuart Bailie. “We had a 12-track CD of new bands and then we took them on a bus tour around the north.” Following a poll of NI music experts, the winners of the inaugural Contenders Award will be announced on the night.
Amazing talent to choose from – my vote has to go to Duke Special as best solo artist much as I love Foy’s work – Duke’s international output has been phenomenal!
can’t you proof read or don’t you know the song titles ?
Great Nominations all round, only query though is why the wonderful Forfey festival is not on the nominations list??? Its the highlight of my summer every single year!!
What’s wrong with the song titles, Paul?
How come Martin Corrigan didn’t get a mention??? tut tut
Rams/Mojo/Pat D Smyth/Darren Lee/Sunflower for the absolute win!!!
This will be pretty amazing!
Congrats AU and Oh Yeah!!!
Agreed, Forfey should be on here. It’s the highlight of the summer for many people all over the UK and Ireland. Shame on you,whoever you are.
Yes I agree with Mike – ‘Duke Special’ for best solo artist
Cashier No 9 single ! Chris
That’s what it’s called Paul. What you on about?
Yeah it’s Goldstar, all one word. Here’s the artwork – http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRZ8akhv-HfewOWnP5HkGM1MK2lLgR1a3TAYTQ_UJodSzKynJah-Q
Sorry Joy and Mike, but it has to be Foy Vance,……… watch this on youtube- Foy Vance, Duke Special & Band – Come On Up To The House
Dear AU Oh Yeah,
Thanks for the nomination.
Can you please correct our spelling, we are called Sunflowerfest not Sunflower festival.
best regards,
Michael Magowan
How come The Answer don’t get any nominations? Or are these awards for ‘indie’ bands only?
No problem Michael, will change that now.
Hi Kerry,
I think the main reason that The Answer didn’t get any nominations this year is that they are between albums, and haven’t been as active locally. If the awards were held two or three years ago I’d dare say they’d have definitely picked up a few. They are a phenomenal live band.
With their new album being released soon, things might be different next year.
I’d say this is the main reason that Two Door Cinema Club didn’t pick up more nominations too – their album fell just outside of the nominations time frame.
Also, we’d say this list is far from indie. LaFaro, ASIWYFA and Mojo Fury are all pretty heavy, Pocket Billiards are pure ska, not to mention the varying types of acts in the Electronic and Solo artist categories.
Thanks for your reply, I take your point about the Answer between in between albums – hopefully we’ll see some nominations for the guys next time around. Glad to see Foy Vance there, he certainly deserves to be.
It Would be nice see the answer considered for a nomination, they released a documentary about their mammoth tour with ACDC earlier this year and their new album ‘Revival’ last week… http://www.theofficialcharts.com/albums-chart/#section1
Which is in the UK chart at the minute, its their second album to break the top 40, they are an asset to Northern Irish.
Hi Daniel, The Answer were certainly eligible for nominations, and they did receive them, unfortunately they just didn’t have quite enough votes to make the final shortlist.
Sweet! Rainy Boy Sleep definitely deserves the nomination.. top act!
why did stendhal festival not get a mention? for a 1st year festival it was brillant.
Hi Conor. Stendhal just didn’t get as many votes as the other five listed above!
SUNFLOWERFEST! #1
[...] going mental at the moment with steam flying out of people’s ears all over the show regarding The Northern Ireland Music Awards. The ensuing flame war has proven to be some entertaining lunchtime [...]
that there Sleepy Boy Slim is the one to beat!!
GO ON SON!!
I am not sure my opinion counts because I am from St John, Kansas USA, but we have had Duke Special perform twice now in Kansas and everyone can’t wait for his return!!!
Its got to be Duke Special for us
Two Door Cinema Club all the way ^_^ They have such great music which you will never tire from.
Has to be Duke Special. No question.
Saw SLF last night,superb as always,Jake was threatening to play Wait and See at the awards,just to be contrary!Well deserved for fingers in my opinion!
Best of luck to Duke Special, we’re rooting for him!
Girls names-YES !