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Northern Music Awards 2024 announces full shortlist – with huge honour for Tim Burgess

There's not long to go now.

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 20th March 2024

The full shortlist for the inaugural Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards has been announced, and Tim Burgess is set to receive a huge honour.

The first-ever Northern Music Awards, set to take place in Manchester next month (before moving to different host cities in subsequent years), will be honouring the incredible talent of the northern music scene.

Across 15 awards categories, the event will champion everything from artist to venue to event to individual, who have all helped to make our corner of the UK such a global force in the music industry.

Created by the UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins, the awards will be taking place at the Albert Hall in Manchester on 23 April, with tickets on sale now.

And ahead of the glittering event, the Northern Music Awards have announced that indie superstar Tim Burgess will be honoured with the headline Northern Music Award 2024.

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The Worsley-born Charlatans frontman has five solo albums under his belt, as well as 13 with the indie rock band, and brought people together online (first in lockdown) with his ingenious Listening Parties.

The awards, supported by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, celebrate the importance of live music, with public voting now open for the winners of the Festival of the Year category.

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The shortlist for the favourite northern festival award, sponsored by us here at The Manc, has been announced today as Sounds From The Other City in Salford, Beatherder in Lancashire, Tramlines in Sheffield, Kendal Calling in Cumbria, and Moovin in Stockport.

This is the only publicly-voted award, with voting closing on Wednesday 27 March.

Also announced today are the winners of the Disruptor in Music Award, sponsored by Notion Magazine, which goes to Rotherham’s indie-rock juggernauts The Reytons.

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Both The Reytons and Tim Burgess will be there to collect their awards in person on the night.

And the new shortlist for Music and Culture for Wellbeing highlights the power of music provision across the region, recognising projects that use music and culture to support and connect with people that face health, wellbeing, and socio-economic challenges.

Supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the shortlist for this award is Barnsley Libraries – Biblio Beats Festival; DanceSyndrome – Everybody Dance, Lancashire; Kirklees Council – Kirklees Year of Music; Manchester Camerata – Music in Mind; Royal Liverpool Philharmonic – Music and Health Programme; and Oyé Active Zone, Liverpool.

10 northern live music venues are in the running across two Inspirational Venue of the Year categories, sponsored by Skiddle.

The award for under 500 capacity sees Brudenell Social Club in Leeds, Future Yard in Birkenhead, Trades in Hebden Bridge and Manchester’s Night and Day, and Yes all shortlisted for the prize.

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Night & Day Cafe in Manchester has issued a statement after a lengthy court battle came to an end today. Credit: The Manc Group
Night & Day Cafe in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

The larger venues in the running for(under 2,000) are Albert Hall, Band on the Wall and New Century Hall – all in Manchester – along with Barbican in York and City Hall in Newcastle.

Nordoff and Robbins is the UK’s largest music charity and hopes that the event will be an essential fundraiser for a new centre in Salford, as well as kickstarting a new chapter celebrating the breadth of talent across the north of England.

Tim Burgess said: “It’s incredible to be recognised with the inaugural Northern Music Award. Music is important on so many levels, and I’m a firm believer in the unique way that it can connect people.

“It means a lot to me to be able to support the great work of Nordoff and Robbins, who use music therapy to unlock life for some of the most vulnerable people in society – and through the funds raised by everyone coming along to the Northern Music Awards we’ll be opening up music therapy to even more people across the North.”

Nadra Shah, Director of Engagement and Communications, Nordoff and Robbins, said: “Music is powerful, it’s universal, it breaks down barriers and it allows us to communicate in ways that otherwise some may not be able to – it’s the heartbeat of our organisation.

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“The Northern Music Awards is a chance for us to shine a light on those who work tirelessly to make sure live music is available and accessible throughout the North of England.

“We are excited to honour some of the industry’s much loved venues and festivals alongside an array of live performances and appearances from some of the most celebrated artists from the region.”

Sarah Slater, vice president – music and festivals, Ticketmaster UK, said: “We’re proud to be supporting the first ever Northern Music Awards and celebrating everyone who helps to bring live music to the north of England.

“It’s also an honour to be helping to raise funds for Nordoff and Robbins’ life-changing music therapy work, it has such an astoundingly positive impact for some of the most vulnerable people in society.”

You can find out more and book £40 public tickets for the inaugural Northern Music Awards here.

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Premium package tickets are also available to book. The package includes access to both the industry and public awards, live performances, canapes, a two-course evening meal and an alcohol and non-alcohol drinks package. Tickets are £250 with packages available. Email [email protected] for details.

The full list of nominees for the 2024 Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards

Special Recognition Award, Sponsored by SJM Concerts

Melanie C

Northern Icon

Lisa Stansfield

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Northern Music Award 2024, Sponsored by Live Nation

Tim Burgess

Newcomer of the Year, Sponsored by PizzaExpress Live

  • Antony Szmierek
  • English Teacher
  • The Goa Express
  • Mica Millar
  • OneDa
  • Otis Mensah
  • The Pale White
  • Phoebe Green
  • Pip Millett
  • Seb Lowe

Disruptor Award, Sponsored by Notion Magazine

The Reytons

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Breakthrough Act of the Year, Sponsored by PPL

  • The Mysterines
  • Crawlers
  • The K’s

Artist of the Year Sponsored, by Ticketmaster

  • Sam Fender
  • Louis Tomlinson
  • Self Esteem

Band of the Year, Sponsored by ASM Global

  • Blossoms
  • Courteeners
  • Bring Me the Horizon

DJ of the Year, Sponsored by Scan.co.uk

  • Paige Tomlinson
  • DJ Woody
  • Djinn
  • DJ Paulette

Festival of the Year, Sponsored by The Manc

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(Vote here)

  • Beatherder, Lancashire
  • Kendal Calling, Cumbria
  • Moovin, Stockport
  • Sounds Of The Other City, Salford
  • Tramlines, Sheffield

Inspirational Venue of the Year (under 500), Sponsored by Skiddle

  • Brudenell Social Club – Leeds
  • Future Yard – Birkenhead
  • Night and Day – Manchester
  • Trades – Hebden Bridge
  • Yes – Manchester

Inspirational Venue of the Year (under 2,000), Sponsored by Skiddle

  • Albert Hall – Manchester
  • Band on the Wall – Manchester
  • Barbican – York
  • City Hall – Newcastle
  • New Century Hall – Manchester

Music Moment of the Year, Sponsored by Raymond Weil

TBA on the night

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Industry Icon, Sponsored by Tysers Live

Michael Adex, NQ

Music and Culture for Wellbeing Award, Supported by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority

  • Barnsley Libraries – Biblio Beats Festival
  • DanceSyndrome – Everybody Dance, Lancashire
  • Kirklees Council – Kirklees Year of Music
  • Manchester Camerata – Music in Mind
  • Royal Liverpool Philharmonic – Music and Health Programme
  • Oye Active Zone, Liverpool

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Audio

Taemin at AO Arena: Take the K-pop world’s ‘Advice’ – you need to watch him live

Thomas Melia Thomas Melia

This time last month, South Korean star, SHINee and SuperM boyband member, Taemin showed Manchester the real meaning of ‘The Rizzness’. It was our first K-pop gig and won’t be our last.

Normally, if you ask me what I’m getting up to on a Tuesday night, I’d respond with the usual: “Nothing.” Ask me this random but eye-opening night back in March 2025, and I’d say, “Watching the ‘Ephemeral Glaze’ tour”.

Opening with a song labelled ‘Déjà vu’, ironically, felt from the truth, as the minute the performer stepped onto the stage, the whole crowd was watching what felt like an all-new spectacle come to life – even for some of the already inducted K-pop fans inside the AO Arena.

Following up with ‘Guilty’, I’d be lying if I told you we didn’t love this performance. It wasn’t overshadowed by that unbelievable grand opening either – if anything, it was even better.

A majestic pose from Taemin at AO Arena in Manchester, performing to a lively crowd.
A majestic pose from Taemin at AO Arena in Manchester, performing to a lively crowd.
Credit: Audio North

This was a setlist that just keeps on giving: after this, ‘Advice’ greets our ears and fans erupt in various screams and cries, to which Taemin, 31, certainly appreciated.

It’s high energy through and through, as the next song, ‘Idea’, felt like the missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle for those of us not so used to this kind of music, well and truly captivating the Manc crowd.

Closing what was merely his opening segment with this song was definitely a good ‘Idea’… (sorry).

Its title may draw from a comedic viral term used to describe someone with great flirting skills, a.k.a. ‘rizz’, but ‘The Rizzness’ is no laughing matter.

Fans caught on quickly, and as soon as the first note was pumped out into the arena, the atmosphere reached whole new heights and those familiar screams at an other-worldly pitch returned.

I never thought I’d see the day where AO Arena screamed, “You know I got the rizz, the rizzness”, but there’s a first time for everything, I guess.

Taemin live at AO Arena in Manchester.
Taemin and his dancers were electric at AO Arena.
Credit: The Manc Group

Being from Korea, 31-year-old Taemin tried his best to communicate with the crowd throughout the night, taking breaks after back-to-back performances to gauge the audience’s reactions.

The South Korean superstar didn’t take long to warm up to the crowd and showed off his cheeky side, telling the arena, “Only 4 more songs” before finishing the sentence with “I lied”.

‘Criminal’ had me and the rest of Manchester weak in the knees; the choreography was flawless throughout, but this was a true highlight. Ending with ‘Say Less’, Taemin knew exactly what he was doing, putting a song that catchy right at the end, as this was all that replayed in my head on the train home.

Put it this way, we may still be relative newbies to the world of Korean pop music, but with another big name heading to Manchester, we’re definitely keen to find out more.

K-pop boyband ENHYPEN announce HUGE gig in Manchester

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Featured Images — The Manc Group

Audio

Hip-hop, soul and R’n’B legend Mary J Blige is coming to Manchester for a massive arena show

Danny Jones Danny Jones Mary J Blige Manchester tickets

Manchester is getting ready to welcome a global icon of hip-hop, soul, pop and R’n’B as Mary J Blige is set to put on a massive arena show.

With a music career spanning more than 30 years, Mary J Blige is an absolute legend of the American music scene, with nine GRAMMY Awards and nearly 40 nominations, along with a plethora of BET, Billboard, and AMA nods over the years.

She was even named Woman of the Year by Glamour back in 2023.

Often referred to as the ‘Queen of Hip-Hop Soul’, we can’t wait to welcome this latest member of music royalty to our city.

Currently on ‘The For My Fans Tour’, jetting quite literally all over and recently adding on even more dates, not only has London been given some love, but so has Greater Manchester – and rightly so.

Announcing the special one-off show and Co-op Live debut this Wednesday, 16 April, Mary J Blige won’t have to wait too long to be part of the ‘Family Affair’.

The 54-year-old from New York will be coming to the state-of-the-art, one of the biggest indoor entertainment venues in all of Europe, in just a few months’ time.

On top of the already well-established AO Arena, this is the pedigree of truly worldwide artists that Co-op Live was built to further attract – and it looks to be working.

It’s been the best part of a decade since she was last in these parts, so she’s sure to get a huge reception.

Roll on the summer.

While most audiences in the likes of North America have been treated to fellow R’n’B favourite Ne-Yo, those watching Ms Blige will be keeping things domestic as long-standing London collective and producers, Soul II Soul, will be joining her for the show.

‘Back to life, back to reality…’

So there you have it! Mary J Blige will be coming to Manchester on Friday, 4 July 2025, with her own pre-sale going live at 10am on Thursday, 24 April, but Co-op members can get there even earlier, with the venue’s early access available from the same time the day before.

As for general admission, you can get ready to grab your tickets HERE from 10am on Friday, 25 April.

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For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Press Shot (supplied)/Mark Sebastian (via Flickr)/Audio North

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