NI Music Prize returns to the stage for 2021

Celebrating the best in our local music scene 👏

Author: Emma DicksonPublished 19th Oct 2021

After a year away from the stage due to Covid-19, the event will return to the Ulster Hall on November 17th.

Organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre, the NI Music Prize honours and celebrates the very best of new, established and emerging Northern Irish music.

Hosting the event will be Rigsy (DJ & Broadcaster) and Gemma Bradley (Presenter, BBC Radio 1 Introducing and ATL) alongside a host of guest contributors and live announcements.

The evening will include performances from shortlisted artists including Amy Montgomery, Dani Larkin, New Pagans and TRÚ.

The show will also feature guest performances from Ryan McMullan and Ash, plus last year’s winner of the BBC ATL Introducing Contender Award Sasha Samara.

The awards include Best Album supported by PPL, Best Single sponsored by YouTube Music and ATL Introducing Contender Award in association with Oh Yeah.The winners of Best Single and ATL Introducing Contender Award will be awarded a cash prize of £1,000 and £3,000 will go to the winner of Best Album.

This year the event will also celebrate the work of Help Musicians to thank the charity for the support it has given to musicians throughout the pandemic. Since March 2020, the charity has provided financial hardship funding to help musicians survive while live music was paused; this monthly support helped nearly 800 musicians in NI. Moving forwards, Help Musicians is increasing its practical help to support musicians back into work.

Commenting on this year’s event, Charlotte Dryden from Oh Yeah said: "It has been a long and challenging twelve months for musicians. That is why this year is such an important coming together, not just to celebrate the great wealth of talent that has produced world-class records throughout the pandemic, but also to thank and let the music community take a moment to reflect, start to rebuild and look to the future. It’s going to be a very special evening indeed.”

Dan Chalmers, Director of YouTube Music EMEA said: “Supporting new musicians has never been so important after the very difficult times we have been through and with access to live music challenged. We are proud to sponsor such an important moment celebrating the best music coming out of Northern Ireland and we look forward to an especially poignant and celebratory event”.

How to watch the NI Music Prize Event:

A very limited number of tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 22nd October from The Ulster Hall at ulsterhall.co.uk

The event will also be streamed live on YouTube.

Check out the NI Music Prize Shortlist:

Best Album 2021 – Supported by PPL

Andrew McGibbon – Northern Gothic

Arvo Party Inheritance - Arvo Party

Bicep - Isles

CATALAN! - Veritas

Dani Larkin - Notes for a Maiden Warrior

Hannah Peel - Fir Wave

Jealous of the Birds - Peninsula

Joshua Burnside - Into The Depths Of Hell

New Pagans - The Seed, The Vessel, The Roots & All

Peter J McCauley - Amnesty

Saint Sister - Where I Should End

This Ship Argo - Always the Bees: Never the Honey

TRÚ – No Fixed Abode

VerseChorusVerse - What If We Won

Best Single 2021 – Sponsored by YouTube Music

Amy Montgomery - Intangible

Bicep - Apricots

Cherym - Listening To My Head

Dea Matrona - Stamp On It

Enola Gay - Sofa Surfing

Invaderband - I Won't Remember You

Jordan Adetunji - Wokeup!

Waldorf & Cannon - We Are Your Government

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