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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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Manchester’s Co-op Live arena postpones The Black Keys and Peter Kay (again)

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Co-op Live postpone The Black Keys and Peter Kay gigs again

The Co-op Live has announced it is postponing both The Black Keys gig and Peter Kay’s performance.

Both shows were set to take place this week as the huge arena finally opens in Manchester.

This is the second time Peter Kay has been rescheduled – the show was meant to officially open the venue earlier this week.

Co-op Live went ahead with a test event with Rick Astley last Saturday, albeit with a capacity that was reduced at the eleventh hour.

But the huge venue was hit with ‘power supply issues’ and took the ‘difficult decision’ to postpone Peter Kay.

It’s now gone one step further and pushed back The Black Keys – meant to be their first proper live music event – as well as Peter Kay AGAIN.

In a statement shared today, the Co-op Live said it has been ‘undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans’.

It said that the shows are being rescheduled to ensure they can ‘run safely’.

The 23,500-capacity arena said this will give them ‘the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly’.

The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May, and Peter Kay on 23 and 24 May.

As for the Bolton-born comedian, he sounds somewhat in disbelief himself:

The legendary British stand-up

Co-op Live’s statement reads: “Since making the difficult decision to postpone the live shows at Co-op Live due to take place this week, we have been undertaking an extensive protocol of testing critical procedures to ensure all areas are ready for fans.

“To ensure that we can run all shows safely, regretfully we have now had to take the decision to reschedule the planned The Black Keys and Peter Kay shows.

“Both The Black Keys and Peter Kay have graciously agreed to reschedule their shows. The Black Keys will now perform on 15 May 2024, and Peter Kay will now perform on 23 and 24 May 2024.

“All tickets remain valid and ticket holders will be contacted by their point of purchase. Refunds will be available for those who can no longer attend.

“We deeply appreciate the impact this will have on excited fans, and sincerely apologise for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause.

“Rescheduling Peter Kay and The Black Keys will give us the extra time we need to continue testing enhanced emergency communications thoroughly.

“This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size to ensure that our fans, artists and staff have the safest experience possible.”

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Featured Images — Press Images/The Manc Group

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Co-op Live boss resigns just days before venue’s official opening

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Gary is outta here.

The boss of Co-op Live, Manchester’s enormous, ground-breaking new arena, has resigned from his position just days before the venue is set to open.

The enormous music-first arena has been taking shape beside the Etihad Stadium for several years, and was due to welcome its first official audiences this week, but has been hit with last-minute challenges.

And now Co-op Live‘s boss Gary Roden has quit the mammoth project, with the news of his resignation announced late Thursday evening.

Oak View Group, which Co-op Live is part of, said in a statement that they would like to ‘thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans’.

Stepping into his shoes as interim general manager will be Rebecca Kane Burton, who previously ran the U.K.’s highest-grossing venue, London’s The O2 arena.

Gary has previously come under fire for saying that some grassroots music venues ‘poorly run’ – a statement that OVG has now distanced itself from.

A separate statement said that ‘neither Co-op Live nor Oak View Group share the sentiment expressed by former Co-op Live General Manager Gary Roden regarding the grassroots industry’.

It continued: “As OVG Chairman and CEO Tim Leiweke has repeatedly stated, Co-op Live remains committed to grassroots music in Manchester and beyond, including teaming up with Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham on the Artist of the Month campaign, and as a founding partner of Beyond The Music.

“Co-op Live also donates over £1m a year to the Co-op Foundation to support communities and empower young people to take social action through its new Young Gamechangers fund.

“Oak View Group and Co-op Live remain happy to meet with grassroots organisations once the venue is fully operational.”

Co-op Live boss Gary Roden speaking at the launch of Co-op Live just days before he resigned. Credit: The Manc Group
Co-op Live boss Gary Roden speaking at the launch of Co-op Live just days before he resigned. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Co-op Live in Manchester
Inside Co-op Live in Manchester

The news of the venue’s boss stepping down comes at a time when all eyes are on Co-op Live, the opening of which has been delayed.

The Co-op Live’s opening event – two nights with Bolton comic legend Peter Kay – was pushed back due to ‘power supply issues’.

The venue did host a test event with Rick Astley last weekend, but even that faced difficulties, with thousands of tickets cancelled to reduce capacity just hours before showtime.

It’s now set to officially open this Saturday 27 April with a performance by rock group The Black Keys.

The full statement from OVG about Gary’s resignation said: “Gary Roden has decided to resign. We’d like to thank Gary for his help bringing the UK’s newest arena to live entertainment fans and wish him the best for the future.

“Rebecca Kane Burton has been named Interim GM, effective today. Rebecca is a seasoned veteran of venue management and live entertainment in the UK having served as VP/GM of The O2 from 2012-2016 and CEO of LW Theatres from 2016-2021.

“We are focused on opening Co-op Live.”

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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