The NMG Awards return for a fourth year with more nominees than ever before!
The NMG Awards, the music awards night that celebrates and recognises the talent of the local music scene in Cambridge and surrounding towns and villages across all music genres and ages is returning for a fourth successive year.
The NMG Awards evening will take place on October 14, 2016, once again at the 500 capacity all-seater West Road Concert Hall in Cambridge.
The event is part of the New Music Generator initiative which supports unsigned music through it’s weekly flagship radio programme on the ‘Home of Cambridge Music’, Cambridge 105 and through live music events.
The NMG Awards are open to artists who have been featured on Cambridge 105′s New Music Generator show in the 12 months to July 31st, 2016, provided they are based within 50 miles of Cambridge city centre.
The event will once again be hosted by Tim Willett, the music promoter, who presents the New Music Generator programme each Wednesday evening on Cambridge 105.
Sheila Ravenscroft, wife of the late John Peel is once again on board as a supporter in 2016.
Sheila said ‘I was delighted to be approached to support The NMG Awards for the first time in 2015, an event which celebrates the strength of the music community in East Anglia so it was a no brainer for me to get involved again this year. I continue to be impressed by the level of talent we have in this area, underlined by the fact that this year we have more nominated artists than ever before. I think it’s fantastic that an initiative like The NMG Awards are providing an opportunity for artists to be recognised for their achievements and potential’
The 2016 judging panel comprises of broadcasters, promoters and figures who all support live music from local artists around East Anglia. They are:
Sue Marchant, broadcaster on BBC Eastern counties radio and long time supporter of local artists in the region.
Tom Simkins, presenter of BBC Introducing Cambridgeshire.
Gary Brown, organiser of the popular Junction Fiver Night, vocalist in Ska band Big 10 and supporter of up and coming young bands in the area.
Phil Pethybridge, a long time supporter of unsigned music and amongst other ventures runs The Living Room stage at Secret Garden Party and The Den at Cambridge Folk Festival.
Helen Meissner of Folkstock Records. Helen has a passion for supporting up and coming acoustic and folk artists.
James Parrish of Prescription PR. James has many years experience of securing bands publicity through press and airplay and also manages Lonely the Brave who are the most recent Cambridge band to make it big on a national scale.
There are fourteen categories this year which include an opportunity for the public to have their say in the Audience Choice award.
We are pleased to extend our radio broadcast partnership with community radio station, Cambridge 105 in to a fourth year. Cambridge 105 will broadcast delayed coverage of the event on FM, online and DAB Digital Radio. We also have an expanded relationship with Cambridge TV who will also broadcast five 1 x hour programmes of both the launch party and ceremony across Freeview and Virgin Media platforms and produce online content for The NMG Awards website.
We are pleased to welcome back Homegrown Music Festival as a sponsor for the third successive year alongside Crooks Hall Recording Studios.
Tim Willett said: “Last year’s event was amazing and so the challenge is on to make 2016 even more special. I cannot wait to return to the West Road Concert Hall on October 14th. The enthusiasm and support there is for this event amongst the music community continues to humble me and to be backed once again by Sheila Ravenscroft as well as our judges Sue, Tom, Gary, Phil, Helen and James is fantastic”