NMG Awards 2023

Celebrating Music in the East of England

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Announcement

23.04.18 – ON THE MOVE AGAIN

The NMG Awards are today announcing that the 2018 ceremony will be held at the Apex in Bury St Edmunds on Friday, 7th September 2018.

With memories of the fifth anniversary in 2017 still floating around my brain in a glowing haze, the turn of the year brought thoughts of the plan going forward. Our partnership for last year with Cambridge Live enabled us to celebrate the landmark in the city’s biggest and most prestigious music venue and I am grateful to everybody who made that possible.

Should I quit whilst I’m ahead? Is 5 years a decent run and I should go out on a high? Has everybody had enough now? Well, the answer to that last question I guess remains to be seen but after giving serious thought to the first two I’ve taken a gamble to take the show on the road again and for the very first time, host the ceremony in ‘Bury St Edmunds Rock City’.

Cambridge has been a fantastic home to us since the NMG Awards began in 2012 and is centrally located for artists involved with the initiative but there are many other areas where clusters of acclaimed musicians ply their trade and just over the Suffolk border, Bury St Edmunds is certainly one of those. Remember, the NMG Awards is about the whole of East Anglia.

The Apex, opened in 2010 is a brilliant facility and will provide another stunning setting for 2018 (I should know, I work there for a day job) and that point particularly important as I already know exactly how beautiful the auditorium will look and how brilliant the resident technical and front of house staff are.

Yes, the legends tables will return, ticket prices will remain the same as 2017 and there may even be some transport laid on for those not able to make the 30 mile trip along the A14 from Cambridge.

More details to come as this page wakes up from it’s winter slumber but I hope you will continue to support the NMG Awards in 2018 just as you have in every previous year and by doing so, it will continue to provide backing, encouragement, a pat on the back and opportunities for musicians across East Anglia.

Tim Willett
NMG Awards Founder.

2017 NMG Awards Great Success!

THE wait was over on Friday night when the NMG Award winners were announced at a packed red carpet event at Cambridge Corn Exchange. A major event in the city’s musical calendar, rock luminaries Mallory Knox, Lonely the Brave, Radio X’s new music guru, John Kennedy and Syd Barrett’s sister, Rosemary Breen were all on hand to present awards to the region’s emerging music talent, with Pink Floyd themselves sending a message of support for the event.

Now in its fifth year the NMG Awards is a music awards initiative celebrating the achievements and potential of artists based in East Anglia and plays a key role in developing and encouraging young talent on their initial steps towards a career in music.

With nominations in categories from Best Breakthrough Artist to Best Folk, Acoustic or Country Artist, the competition attracted an array of original new music from young artists within a 50 mile radius of Cambridge. Categories were judged by a panel of music industry professionals from the local scene, with one decided by an audience vote.
This year’s new Special Achievement Award – The Syd Barrett Pride of Cambridge Award – was presented by Syd Barrett’s sister, Rosemary Breen to Cambridge indie folk rock band, Fred’s House just before they go on tour to China.

Previous award winners have gone on to win artist development prizes, including slots at the Big Weekend and Secret Garden Party. Breakthrough Artist, Kelly Oliver’s song Rio was featured on BBC Television during the Summer Olympics and Best Folk, Roots or Country Artist winner, Mortal Tides featured on the bill of Cambridge’s first ever City Roots Festival in February.

The NMG Awards were devised by music promoter Tim Willett, the presenter of The New Music Generator which is broadcast on local radio station Cambridge 105: ‘’I am truly blown away by the support the music scene in the East has shown the NMG Awards over the past five years. Friday night was a really special way of celebrating the anniversary in such a prestigious venue and fantastic to kick off our partnership with Cambridge Live on the event going forward. Congratulations to all the winners and huge thanks to everyone involved for making the event so memorable’

Neil Jones, Cambridge Live’s Operations Director said: ‘”It was a truly special evening. The talent in the room was testament to just how strong the region’s musical output currently is. Cambridge Live is pleased to have teamed up with Tim Willett and the NMG Awards to celebrate such fantastic local creative talent”.

NMG Awards winners 2017
Male Solo: Tom Lumley
Female Solo: Ellie Dixon
Indie: Gaffa Tape Sandy
Alternative: The Rose Affair
Acoustic, Country & Folk: SJ & The Flying Pigs
Rock: SEASONS
Pop: Heylate
Urban & Electronic: Cumminz
18 & Under Band: Deep City
Audience Choice: Jake Aldridge
Breakthrough Artist: Maverick
Breakout Artist: Healyum
Syd Barrett Pride of Cambridge: Fred’s House
Studio of the Year: Valhalla Studios
Producer of the Year:Lauren Deakin-Davies
Small Venue of the Year: The Portland Arms

Cambridge Live To Present The 2017 NMG Awards

Celebrating Music in the East of England

Cambridge Live has announced that it is partnering with the area’s annual music awards, the New Music Generator Awards, to bring the event to the region’s biggest music venue, the Cambridge Corn Exchange.

Now in its fifth year and firmly established as an important event in the city’s music calendar, The NMG Awards is a music awards initiative celebrating the achievements and potential of artists based in East Anglia and plays a key role in developing and encouraging young talent on their initial steps towards a career in music.

With nominations in 11 different categories from Best Breakthrough Artist to Best Folk, Roots or Country Artist, the competition attracts an array of original new music from young artists within a 50 mile radius of Cambridge. Categories are judged by a panel of music industry professionals from the local scene, with one decided by an audience vote. 2017’s event takes place on Friday 15 September.

Previous award winners have gone on to win artist development prizes, including slots at the Big Weekend and Secret Garden Party. Breakthrough Artist, Kelly Oliver’s song Rio was featured on BBC Television during the Summer Olympics and Best Folk, Roots or Country Artist winner, Mortal Tides is on the bill of Cambridge’s City Roots Festival in February.

The NMG Awards were devised by music promoter Tim Willett, the presenter of The New Music Generator which is broadcast on Cambridge 105: ‘When we began the NMG Awards four years ago it was hard to believe they could grow into an event that reaches out to the entire Cambridge music scene. I’m delighted to be taking the NMG Awards to the next level by partnering with Cambridge Live. 2017 will be our fifth anniversary and I can’t think of anywhere better to be celebrating reaching that landmark than at the prestigious Cambridge Corn Exchange.’

Welcoming the new partnership, Neil Jones, Cambridge Live’s Operations Director said: ‘Cambridge Live aims to support and nurture talent from the local music scene. We are very pleased to be partnering with the NMG Awards to provide an annual night in the city’s calendar, celebrating the rich and vibrant musical talent from across the region.’

ENDS/

Editor notes:

For further information contact:

Press and Marketing Manager: [email protected]
Senior Press Officer: [email protected]

Tim Willett: 07590 684827
[email protected]

The NMG Awards 2017 takes place on Friday 15 September.

The deadline for artists to submit themselves for a nomination is Wednesday 31 May. They do this by submitting a track for airplay on The New Music Generator radio show on Cambridge 105.

NMG details can be found at www.nmgawards.com