The first Devon Music Awards are being held this Friday (January 26), and the nominations have now been announced.
The awards aim to recognise and celebrate the huge amount of musical talent in Devon. The public have been invited to nominate bands and artists across 10 categories, and the winners will be announced on the night. The event is organised by the community arts enterprise Music in Devon Initiative CIC (MIDI).
The nominations are:
1. Best Live Act: Samantics, The Issues, Fluff, The Cabarats
2. Best DJ: Altern8, Cal Griffin, DJ Louie Louie, Chris Tofu
3. Best New Artist: Bad Willow, The Upper Hand, 3 Days of Wonder, Thomas Kavanagh
4. Best Album: Adverse Camber – No Ordinary Fish, Big Lava – Big Lava, 2022 - Freak by Wire, Hello Welcome by the Barefoot Bandit (members based in Exmouth and Ottery St Mary)
5. Best Single: Who am I to Dream - The Kabins, Steady - Luna Gray, Girl On The Moon – The Emporiums, Bored Wanna Talk – Clara Bond
6. Best Music Video: The Emporiums – Girl On The Moon, Arancini - The Issues, Hostage – Idle Tongues, Hifi Lofi - Lip Service
7. Best Rock Act: Big Lava, The Issues, The Upper Hand, Mother Vulture
8. Best Hip Hop/Grime/Rap Act: Freeminds, Samantics, Cash, Wak Therapists
9. Best Producer: Pete Marten, Tom Hopkins, Chris Tilke, Gaz Chatterton of Gaz Music Solutions
10. Legend Award (Nominations to be announced on the night)
Six up and coming Devon bands – the Kabins (Ottery St Mary) The Upper Hand, Luna Gray, The Issues, Free Minds and Drea Paiza - will performing at the awards evening, hosted by comedian Marina O’Shea.
Nick Hall, director of MIDI, said: “We’ve been absolutely blown away with the sheer quantity of nominations for MIDI TV’s first Devon Music Awards. By celebrating the public’s favourite established Devon musicians, we have aimed to also create a platform for younger musicians to gain much-needed exposure to key players in the Devon music industry as well as new audiences and to network and find opportunities to get out there playing this year.”
The Devon Music Awards are part of The MIDI stages project in partnership with InExeter supported by Youth Music’s Trailblazer Fund to help develop opportunities for under 25s to earn and learn with music. Young people from Midi’s Soundtribe project will be involved in organising and performing at the awards night, and the event also builds on the Music in Devon Initititive’s partnership with Youth Music and the support they offer young people entering the music industry;
Nick said: “We believe that every young person should have the chance to change their life through music. Yet our research shows that many can’t because of who they are, where they’re from or what they’re going through. Our insights, influence and investment in grassroots organisations and to young people themselves means that more 0–25-year-olds from can make, learn and earn in music. Youth Music is a national charity funded thanks to the National Lottery via Arts Council England, players of People's Postcode Lottery and support from partners, fundraisers and donors.”
The awards ceremony will take place at Bomba, The Quay, Exeter, and tickets are £20 from Fatsoma, to include a drink on arrival. Doors are at 8.30pm for a 2am close.
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