With Bangor singer-songwriter Foy Vance having scooped the inaugural award last year, the twelve-act shortlist for this year’s Northern Irish Music Prize has been revealed.
Recognising the very best albums released in the last twelve months by a Northern Irish act, this year’s ceremony will see Belfast-based singer-songwriter Robyn G Shiels (above), alt-rock heroes Mojo Fury, the Smalltown America-signed More Than Conquerors, Derry indie-pop quartet Wonder Villains, transatlantic indie-rap duo Malibu Shark Attack, singer-songwriter Tony Wright AKA VerseChorusVerse, electro-pop band Ed Zealous, Nathan Connolly’s Little Matador, singer-songwriter duo Sullivan and Gold, Dungannon folk songstress Alana Henderson, Belfast doom masters Slomatics and multi-instrumentalist Peter McCauley AKA Rams Pocket Radio vie for prize. The shortlist was compiled by an extensive panel of Northern Irish broadcasters, journalists, writers and promoters.
As well as featuring sets by some of the shortlisted acts, this year’s event – taking place at Belfast’s Mandela Hall on Saturday, November 15 – also doubles up as something quite special: the presentation of the ‘Oh Yeah Centre Legend Award’ to Northern Irish alt-rock legends Therapy, who will also be performing their landmark 1994 album Troublegum in its entirety.
Speaking of the appearance, the band said: “It’s a great honour to accept this award. Northern Ireland made us the people that we are today and growing up in its musical landscape informed our lives in many different ways. We’re very grateful and very proud”.
Doors for the Northern Irish Music Prize are at 8pm. Buy tickets here and stream the timeless ‘Nowhere’ from Troublegum below.
