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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 - 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

“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.

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.