The Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards have confirmed nominees, line-up and more information about the inaugural event this year.
The huge awards will bring together and celebrate the biggest northern names in music, all while raising vital funds for a state-of-the-art music therapy for Greater Manchester.
Today, the Northern Music Awards has announced that Courteeners’ Liam Fray will perform a short and special live acoustic set at the event in April.
Also taking to the stage at the Albert Hall in Manchester will be the legendary Lisa Stansfield with a stripped-back set – the Rochdale legend will be crowned Northern Icon.
The stage will be welcoming Warrington’s rising stars The K’s, up-and-coming Leeds quartet English Teacher, and spoken word, indie hip hop artist Antony Szmierek, who is to open the awards with a specially commissioned piece about the power of music therapy.
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This inaugural event, supported by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, will be held in Manchester, with the Northern Music Awards then choosing a different northern host city for each subsequent event.
This very first event is taking place at Albert Hall on Tuesday 23 April, with tickets on sale to the public today here.
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Nordoff and Robbins is the UK’s largest music charity and hopes that the event will be an essential fundraiser, as well as kickstarting a new chapter celebrating the breadth of talent across the north of England.
As well as performing, Liam Fray may revisit the stage later in the evening – Courteeners are shortlisted for Band of the Year, along with Blossoms and Sheffield’s Bring Me The Horizon.
Antony Szmierek performing at the launch of the Northern Music AwardsCourteeners. Credit: Ewan Ogden
Antony Szmierek, Mica Millar, and indie/post-punk Leeds rising stars English Teacher are among the acts shortlisted for the Best Newcomer Award.
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Spice Girl Melanie C will receive the Special Recognition Award for her outstanding contribution to music. Singer songwriter Sam Fender, from Newcastle, Rotherham’s Self Esteem and Louis Tomlinson, born in Doncaster, are shortlisted for Artist of the Year, sponsored by Ticketmaster.
DJ of the Year sees Liverpool’s Paige Tomlinson, Burnley’s DJ Woody, Djinn and DJ Paulette – both from Manchester – all in the running.
Deserving winners in categories championing the entire industry from artist to event to venue, will receive a specially commissioned award designed by Lancashire-born contemporary British artist Thomas Wolski.
Nadra Shah, director of engagement and communications at Nordoff and Robbins, said: “The Northern Music Awards aims to celebrate the massive musical talent that continues to come out of this region and will be held annually in different Northern cities.
“We want to honour the enormous success of established artists such as the award winning and multi-million album selling Lisa Stansfield – but also spotlight emerging musicians who may not yet be recognised at a national level.
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“We really want to support and help to grow the eco system of Northern musicians whilst shining a light on the transformative work we do with music therapy to connect with some of the region’s most isolated communities.
“In 2024 we’re celebrating 20 years of providing essential music therapy in Greater Manchester and we’re excited that this show will support our vision to open a brand new centre – helped by the money raised from these awards.”
Melanie C. Credit: Publicity picture
Liam Fray said: “It’s a huge honour to be performing at the first Northern Music Awards, not only to help celebrate the incredible music talent that continues to come out of the North, but to raise awareness of the work Nordoff and Robbins does with music therapy, using the power of music to help people connect and communicate.”
Lisa Stansfield said: “Music and singing are in my blood as much as being a proud Mancunian, so to be named Northern Icon at the first ever Northern Music Awards is an immense privilege.
“I’m incredibly proud to support Nordoff and Robbins to raise money for a new music therapy centre for the people of Greater Manchester. The benefits of music therapy are simply life changing, helping children and adults who are otherwise isolated to break through barriers and find a connection.”
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The new Nordoff and Robbins music therapy centre, supported by The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and City of Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett, will be a ‘multi-disciplinary music making and therapy space, housing a high spec recording studio with interactive, accessible music technology throughout, serving the needs of individuals and diverse Northern communities’.
Andy Burnham visiting a Nordoff & Robbins centre. Credit: Elspeth Moore
Andy Burnham said: “I’m delighted to be helping to bring these inaugural awards to the North – and what better city to launch in than Manchester? Historically, Northern music has always been a cut above, especially the music from working class communities. There is a strong, talented, and passionate musical heritage here that deserves to be celebrated.”
The judging panel comprises industry heavyweights including Ticketmaster, SJM Concerts, Music Venue Trust, Live Nation, and Kendall Calling, as well as BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins, who will host the April event.
The Strokes at Co-op Live, Manchester – stage times, setlist, tickets and more
Lydia Mastrolonardo
This Autumn, everybody’s favourite New York-based indie band The Strokes have been treating fans across the globe to their energetic live shows – and Monday is finally Manchester’s turn.
That’s right – one of the most iconic indie rock bands of the era are set to bring their Reality Awaits tour to the Co-op Live for the first ever time, with their decade-spanning catalogue of indie anthems purely for our listening pleasure.
The Strokes formed back in 1998 and soon earned attention from major labels after becoming known for their intense live shows and with the release of their 2001 EP The Modern Age. This was closely followed by their first album, ‘Is This It,’ and ever since they’ve had fans absolutely transfixed.
These American rockers have dominated the charts with four Top 10 albums over the last decade, earning numerous awards along the way and even landing a spot on Rolling Stone’s Top 10 Debuts of All Time list. Now it’s our time to see them in the flesh – we absolutely can’t wait.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Manchester night, including dates, tickets, support, setlist, and how to get to the arena.
Gig Guide | The Strokes at Co-op Live, Manchester
Stage times for The Strokes at Co-op Live, Manchester
These are the only times that are confirmed, but it’s expected that support acts will begin around 8:00pm, followed by The Strokes on stage around 9:00pm.
For the Manchester gig, The Strokes will be joined by special guests, Alex Cameron and Fat White Family.
Alex Cameron is an Australian singer-songwriter, specialising in synth-pop and soft rock, joining us all the way from Sydney. He also has an impressive history having written for the likes of The Killers.
Fat White Family are and English rock band, which formed in 2011 in Peckham, London. The band are set to provide one of their typically high energy performances, which will be sure to get the crowd warmed up for The Strokes.
What songs can fans expect to hear?
It is set to be an unmissable show with frontman Julian Casablancas’ distinct vocals on albums containing crowd favourites like “Reptilia” and “Last Nite,” as well as material from their most recent album ‘The New Abnormal,’ and upcoming album ‘Reality Awaits.’
Based on the reported setlist from their Paris show on 22 October, Manchester fans can look forward to a strong selection of familiar hits, however as always it is subject to change.
The suspected set list goes as follows:
Going to Babble On
Reptilia
Hard to Explain
Dine N’Dash
Soma
Lonely in the Future
Juicebox
The Adults Are Talking
Heart in a Cage
Going Shopping
You Only Live Once
Meet Me in the Bathroom
One Way Trigger
Automatic Stop
Someday
Tyrants of the Mellow Moon
Take It or Leave It
Last Nite
Encore
New York City Cops
Threat of Joy
Ode to the Mets
Encore 2
Selfless
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
Mercury Prize 2026 review: RAYE takes home the crown as Newcastle celebrates the very best in music
Clementine Hall
One of the biggest nights in music kicked off last night as the Mercury Prize 2026 was awarded.
If there was ever a night to fall head over heels in love with British and Irish music, the 2026 Mercury Prize made a very convincing case.
Bringing together some of the country’s most exciting artists under one roof in Newcastle, this year’s ceremony was a reminder of just how much talent is packed into the current music scene.
From established legends to the names shaping what comes next, it was an absolute belter.
Images: Audio North
Held at the Newcastle Utilita Arena for the second year running, I think everybody in that room felt very lucky to be there to see firsthand who took home the coveted prize.
The shortlist brought together an impressive mix of artists, with Florence + The Machine, Olivia Dean, JADE, Suede, Pulp, Dave and Sir Paul McCartney among the big names making the lineup very star studded indeed.
Suede kicked things off with ‘Dancing With The Europeans’, bringing their unmistakable energy to the ceremony, while Pulp delivered ‘Begging For Change’ as part of the HELP(2) charity compilation.
It was a line-up that demonstrated the sheer range of music being made across the UK and Ireland, from contemporary pop to established rock and even jungle thanks to Bradford’s own Nia Archives.
And of course, there was one woman who had every reason to leave with a smile on her face.
RAYE took home the coveted Mercury Prize for THIS MUSIC MAY CONTAIN HOPE., an ambitious, genre-hopping album that blends jazz, soul, R&B and classical influences into something so fabulously unique.
Image: Audio North
Newcastle’s own Knats performance was definitely a highlight of the evening, combining slick jazz with spoken-word poetry against a projection of The Tyne Bridge.
A fitting image, and one that underlines the importance of holding such huge events in the north and highlighting the obvious talent that thrives here.
The 2026 Mercury Prize was a brilliant showcase of the country’s music at its best.
And with RAYE taking home the trophy, it’s clear there is plenty of ‘hope’ left in British music.
Daisy Jackson -
15th February 2024 
