A new awards ceremony has been announced which will celebrate and honour the music industry across the north, from the festivals to the venues to the people who make it tick.
The Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards, supported by Ticketmaster, will host its inaugural ceremony here in Manchester this November – then will move to a different northern city every year.
Melanie C of Spice Girls fame is set to be honoured with the Special Recognition award at the awards show, for her outstanding contribution to music, and will be performing live.
Hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins, the star-studded awards have been created to recognise the breadth of musical talent across the north of England.
The Northern Music Awards will be officially launched this evening with a huge event at Band on the Wall, featuring performances from the likes of Antony Szmierek, Joash, The K’s and The Mysterines.
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Nordoff and Robbins is the UK’s largest music therapy charity, and money raised from tickets will help to fund the opening of a new dedicated music therapy centre, based in Salford.
The performance-packed event in November will be the first of its kind to celebrate the northern music scene, and will take place at Factory International on Thursday 30 November.
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Chris Hawkins. Credit: Ed HillMelanie C. Credit: Publicity picture
Awards categories range from Newcomer of the Year to Artist of the Year, Band of the Year, DJ of the Year, Maverick in Music, and the Northern Music Award.
A special Music and Culture for Wellbeing award will showcase outstanding and innovative creative arts provision in the North, that uses music and culture to support and connect with people that face health, wellbeing and socio-economic challenges.
And we here at The Manc will be proud sponsors of the Festival of the Year category.
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The 2023 Northern Music Awards will be supported by Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and City of Salford Mayor, Paul Dennett.
Sandra Schembri, CEO, Nordoff and Robbins said: “We see music as a superpower, so we’re incredibly excited to launch the Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards supported by Ticketmaster in Manchester and can’t wait to honour such a broad range of talent – from artists to venues, festivals and those who’ve really made a difference with music – the event is going to be unmissable.
“The support of the public, artists and the wider music industry is absolutely vital – all the money raised from ticket sales will enable Nordoff and Robbins to help more people in the North to access music therapy through a fantastic new centre.
Andy Burnham visit to Pioneer House School. Credit: Elspeth Moore
“Music therapy is the act of supporting people to connect and communicate through music who otherwise are unable to; such as those living with autism to dementia, learning difficulties to brain injuries, life-limiting illnesses to mental health issues, grief and trauma. We believe that everyone who needs it should have access to music therapy, because it can, quite simply, transform people’s lives.”
Chris Hawkins, BBC Radio 6 Music presenter and Northern Music Awards host said: “The North provides such a rich source of incredible music. The diversity and international acclaim of this huge asset needs to be showcased, and that’s just what the Northern Music Awards can do.
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“Music and celebration go hand in hand, and we all know celebration is good for the soul. The Awards will shine a light on extraordinary talent; from Salford to Newcastle, Liverpool to Bradford, Manchester to Sheffield and everywhere in between, all whilst inspiring the next generation of artists. It’s about giving the music community in the North a chance to celebrate them too.”
Greater Manchester Mayor, 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?
“Our city and region’s rich musical heritage and enormously talented artists, memorable live music venues and eclectic music festivals deserve to be celebrated. It is so important for the people of Greater Manchester that the money raised will go to providing essential music therapy service to those who need it most.
“Nordoff and Robbins’ trained music therapists really understand that music evokes different responses in people who may not otherwise be able to connect with the world – for many, this can be life changing.”
Salford City Mayor, Paul Dennett said: “We all know the power of music, whichever genre or period it may be, it has the ability to resonate and really mean something to all of us. The wide-ranging positive impacts of music therapy for those most isolated and vulnerable within the community have been well documented.
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“So, I’m extremely glad to be working with Nordoff and Robbins so that our residents here in Salford and indeed right across Greater Manchester will have access to a music therapy facility and the many benefits its services will provide. The music therapy support we’re looking to bring to Salford has the potential to truly change the lives of those who need it the most.
“As a city with a proud musical heritage, it is great to see how music is now being used in such an innovative way and I’m committed to help bring this approach to Salford.”
Nordoff and Robbins delivers music therapy to clients across the UK from bases in London, Croydon, Newcastle, Dunfermline and Glasgow, and its biggest service area is currently the North of England, with 45 music therapists and 118 partner organisations providing nearly 20,000 sessions of vital music therapy to more than 4,300 people in the region.
The new Greater Manchester centre based in Salford, 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.
Partners for the Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards include headline sponsor Ticketmaster, StreamGM, Notion magazine, and The Manc.
Full list of the 2023 Nordoff and Robbins Northern Music Awards categories
Festival of the Year – Sponsored by The Manc
Best Venue – live music venue split into two categories: under 500/over 500
Newcomer of the Year
Breakthrough Act of the Year
Music Moment of the Year
Artist of the Year
Industry Icon 2023
Band of the Year
Music and Culture for Wellbeing
DJ of the Year
Maverick in Music Award – Sponsored by Notion magazine
Northern Music Award 2023
Special Recognition Award
Featured image: Jody Hartley
Audio
‘The world’s biggest Eurovision festival’ and celebration is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
An absolutely massive Eurovision festival and all-around celebration is coming to Manchester this year ahead of the Finals in Switzerland this May – in fact, it claiming to be the biggest in the world.
Taking place in our city for the first time ever, the official ‘MancHagen Eurovision Party’ is heading to 0161 for the annual festival’s 20th anniversary and it’s promising a huge programme of events, live music, entertainment and, most importantly, it’s all for a good cause.
Kicking off one of the best weekends of the year on Thursday, 10 April, MancHagen has partnered with the Gay Village district and some Canal Street favourites to offer a safe and exciting destination for all eventgoers to meet up.
You can expect live cabaret and singing, drag performers and DJ sets, as well as non-stop partying until the early hours. We cannot wait.
Credit: Silvester Belt via AP Media (supplied)/The Manc Group
The Canal St venues making up ‘Eurovision Village’ include EVA, Iconic Bar, New York New York, The Eagle and Cruz 101, all of which host an exclusive series of Eurovision programming and parties.
For instance, MancHagen’s Official Festival Euroclub opening party will be housed at Cruz 101, with eclectic sets from veteran Eurovision DJ David Horton and friends, followed by a weekend of performances from the likes of Choriza May (RuPaul’s Drag Race) in collaboration with Lady Olé.
Then, on the following Friday (11 April), the first half of the two-day All Stars Concertwill take place at Manchester Arcade Arena, our premier immersive augmented reality venue, from 6pm onwards.
Hosted by the UK’s 2001 Eurovision entrant Lindsay Dracassand Leeds‘ very own ‘Quality Street Queen’, Mamma Bear,the night will showcase Manchester’s leading cultural icons and look back at the thrilling history of the iconic song contest.
With show-stopping performances from the 2025 cohort, previous contestants and more, such as Eurovision 1993 winner, Niamh Kavanagh, Canal St queen Tonya Kneez; Beverly Tight-Lipps, Hera Björk and others, there’s plenty of reason to be excited about MancHagen.
Our interview with Danny BeardCanal Street in full swing during Pride 2024There’ll be plenty of watch parties around Greater Manchester, but a Eurovision Festival warm-up is even better (The Manc Group)
The celebration continues into Saturday (12 April), with an all-day programme at Depot Mayfield, a much-loved multiuse venue and home to The Warehouse Project as well as Europe’s largest indoor LGBTQIA+ celebration, Homobloc.
An exclusiveArtist Yellow Carpet Parade will then spotlight some of the UK’s leading Queer and creative pioneers, including appearances from Manchester’s own Drag icon and MancHagen ambassador Banksie, North West drag icon Danny Beard and more.
And that’s just the day-time: come nightfall, The Depot will transform into a wonderland of fashion, music and performance as the cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race UK will take over the room for a never-before-seen competition dubbed ‘Drag-A-Vision 2025’, with the likes of Marmalade, Rilesea Slaves, Alexis Saint-Pete; Charra Tea, Actavia and Chanel O Connor taking to the stage.
Oh, and of course there’s all the after-party action that Gay Village does so well – it is the part of the city that never sleeps, after all…
Besides the obvious excitement and fanfare surrounding this huge Eurovision festival, it is not only a welcome space for people from all walks of life but, above all else, being held for some vital charities.
Working alongside the Ukrainian Cultural Organization and United For You to host this year’s event, donations from each ticket sold will go towards Ukrainian Children and the George House Trust, as well as LGBTQIA+ groups like Sahir House, Manchester Pride and FSTB Danish Children.
The MancHagen co-founders say: “Our team is proud to announce the biggest celebration of Eurovision countries, cultures, fashion, music, dance and the diverse communities together in joy through music…
“There is nowhere more suited to host such an event than the UK’s inclusive capital of Manchester and capital of the North.” Dubbing itself the biggest party celebrating the annual event aside from the competition itself, if you’re a fan of the famous song contest, you don’t want to miss this.
Packages start at just £45, with VIP add-ons, affordable family tickets and VIP Backstage also available. Find out more about the ground-breaking Eurovision Festival and grab tickets for the Manchester celebration right HERE.
Featured Images — Silvester Belt via AP Media (supplied)/The Manc Group
Audio
Listen to Bring Me the Horizon’s cover of an Oasis classic
Danny Jones
Sheffield favourites Bring Me the Horizon have covered not just an Oasis classic but arguably their biggest song of all time – but is it any good?
The high-flying alternative metalcore band are one of the biggest contemporary rock artists on the planet right now, having most recently been nominated as ‘Group of the Year’ ahead of the 2025 BRIT Awards.
Undoubtedly one of the best-known acts to ever come out of not just Sheffield but Yorkshire as a whole, there’s no project or challenge too big for these lads at this point, which is exactly why they had no trouble taking on one of the most famous songs ever written.
We never thought we’d hear Bring Me the Horizon covering Oasis‘ ‘Wonderwall’, but here we are.
Covering the legendary Britpop anthem to Spotify singles, if you’re expecting it to sound anything like the ‘Wonderwall’ you know, then you’re in for a shock.
It’s certainly not just a straightforward stripped-back bashed out quickly in a studio with an acoustic guitar – far from it…
However, if you are a fan of the current Bring Me sound, you’ll be glad to hear that the Northern heavyweights are tapping into that raw aggression with plenty of nu-metal production value.
On the other hand, although frontman Oli Sykes’ softer and more melodic vocals of late get a good deal of the spotlight, there are plenty of rip-roaring screams layered throughout, not to mention some emo-esque guitar playing and shredding drums with plenty of staccato, double-time and fun fills thrown in.
They even recreated that iconic shot from the music video for the cover art:
They faired rather well.
Uncanny, lads.
Put simply, it’s got some of the best bits from both old and new BMTH only with those iconic lyrics; it does take a minute to get used to hearing ‘Because mayyybe‘ being sung like that, but it’s definitely a grower in our opinion.
The single release also comes with a new somewhat lo-fi electronic ‘EarthcOre remix’ of ‘YOUtopa’ from their most recent seventh studio album, POST HUMAN: NeX GEn; again, this version is rather different from the original but we like both.
Without further ado, please enjoy a short preview down below and you can listen to the Bring Me the Horizon cover version of ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis in full HERE.
What do you make of it?
Does the Bring Me The Horizon cover make ‘Wonderwall’ feel interesting again or is it still just Oasis’ most over-played song ever?
Daisy Jackson -
20th April 2023 
