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 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. 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.
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
Northern Music Award 2024, Sponsored by Live Nation
Tim Burgess
Newcomer of the Year, Sponsored by PizzaExpress Live
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
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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The adopted Manc indie pop star with that we’re backing to win the Mercury Prize this year
Danny Jones
The 2025 Mercury Music Prize shortlist is officially out, and we’re proud to say that the North has been well represented once again this time around, with multiple names from the top end of the nation featured among the nominees – including an adopted Manchester-based rising star.
You know what, cratch that: she might as well be a Manc music queen at this point, if you ask.
We may be heavily biased here, but with indie and alt-pop artist CMAT making her way onto the Mercury Music Prize award shortlist this year, our vote is practically already cast.
If you haven’t listened to CMAT yet, then you’re seriously missing out, and following the release of her latest LP, Euro-Country, at the end of August, it’s little surprise she’s earned the Mercury nod.
She may be Irish-born, but the ‘Dubyone Diana’ truly started to make a name for herself in Manchester, and you’re damn right we’re taking her as one of our own.
Moving to 0161 as a teenager with her old band, Bad Sea, she was just 17 when she got here; now 29 and making fairly different music to the kind she did as part of the previous duo, she’s grown massively in popularity over the last few years – and she’s done a lot of it from right here in Greater Manchester.
From playing the city centre music venue circuit to stunning crowds at the likes of Kendal Calling and Glastonbury Festival, she’s come a long way in a relatively short amount of time.
Come on, if this isn’t award-winning energy, then we don’t know what is…
We welcome her to keep leaning into country music as much as she wants.
There’s another reason we want CMAT to win the Mercury Prize
It isn’t just because we’re somewhat biased local fans that we’re putting our money on her winning the 2025 Mercury Prize: she nearly already did this time last year for her sophomore outing, Crazymad, For Me, having released three impressive studio albums in less than 36 months.
“As she was reading it, I had this weird flip in my stomach, that I didn’t want to win the Mercury Prize for THAT record, because I had a feeling I could make something better.
“Two days later, I started to make EURO-COUNTRY. The Mercury Prize put a bottle rocket up my bum, to try and do something a bit more cutting edge and experimental and intense, if that makes sense.”
She signed off by adding, “I didn’t necessarily expect to be nominated again as a result, but I am very happy to have been.” We had a feeling she would, to be honest, hence why she was among our artists of the month – not even a fortnight before the shortlist was announced, no less.
Unsurprisingly, the likes of Fontaines D.C. and Sam Fender are also on there after a standout 12 months for both artists, but we’re sticking with CMAT for our 2025 Mercury Prize winner. After all, surely she can’t miss out two years in a row?
Featured Images — Raph_PH (via Flickr)/Publicity picture
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Sugababes announced as headliner for this year’s Homobloc queer block party
Daisy Jackson
Homobloc has unveiled its line-up for this year’s massive queer block party, and they’ve roped in Sugababes as a headliner for 2025.
The phenomenal LGBTQ+ party, which takes over Depot Mayfield every year as part of the Warehouse Project season, will also see performances from Honey Dijon, The Blessed Madonna, and Beth Ditto.
The huge line-up also includes Patrick Mason, Slayyyter, Peaches (DJ) b2b Erol Alkan, Hercules And Love Affair – Live, Todd Edwards and many more.
As well as music, there’ll be performance art from queer collectives like Pxssy Palace, Butch Revival, T4T, Feel It, Ghetto Fabulous, House of Spice x Zindagi, and Red Rodeo Club.
Taking place in December, Homobloc will be returning for its sixth edition, with its most diverse line-up yet.
Once again, it’ll be an all-evening-and-into-the-night party that’s all-inclusive to all artists, performers, spectators and clubbers.
Homobloc is one of the biggest dates in the calendar for Manchester, with a diverse line-up of live acts, DJs and performers, showcasing rising talent and queer icons alike.
It’s a party with purpose, too, raising £137,399 for vital LGBTQ+ charities since its inaugural event in 2021.
This year, the team have hosted a series of one-off events, including events with Romy, Princess Superstar, and closing Manchester International Festival, as well as making its Ibiza debut at Amnesia.
This winter, Homobloc will be lead by pop royalty Sugababes, fresh from their European tour.
Sugababes will headline Homobloc 2025. Credit: Jody HartleyCredit: Jody Hartley
Homobloc favourites Honey Dijon and The Blessed Madonna will be back once again, plus Berlin-based techno powerhouse and creative director Patrick Mason, the iconic Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters fame, and a rare DJ set from Gossip’s magnetic frontwoman, Beth Ditto.
The line-up also includes American singer Slayyyter, a special b2b DJ sets from electroclash icon Peaches and Erol Alkan, live performance from dance music project Hercules & Love Affair, and a set from Grammy Award-winning house legend Todd Edwards.
There will be DJ sets from Sally C b2b I.Jordan, Roi Perez, Eliza Rose, Joshua James, Fat Tony, Grace Sands, and Manchester’s Aiden Francis, Gina Breeze and Kim Lana.
It’s all taking places across all three main stages at Depot Mayfield, as well as The Plant Room, the Star & Garter pub next door, and the Loft up on the rooftop.
Rod Connolly, Promoter from Homobloc, commented: “We can’t wait for people to dive into our 2025 lineup of queer excellence, proudly merging global and local artists, returning friends, and scratching the underbelly of the scene to showcase the rawest talent from the queer underground.
“In a time of rising division, events like Homobloc matter more than ever. We deserve a space for our community and allies to come together and hold each other up on a dancefloor full of love and resistance.
“We are the beings the bastards can’t grind down and we invite everyone to join us to shake off the bullshit, recharge, realign and carry our queer power back out onto the streets of Manchester.”
Sophie Bee, Homobloc Creative Director, added: “The team are super excited to be back. We’ve got some unreal collaborations booked in for this year, from Jodie Harsh and Clayton Wright’s London community strong, weekly club night Feel It to local hot talent Rojak.
“Loads of favourites are back like the Fvck Pigs, Sue Veneers, Ghetto Fabulous, Cute Cartel and Jay Jay Revlon, and there’s some really exciting b2b’s. We’re working with mind blowing producers such as Runway X Banksie and the nations favourite, Lill, producing a fabulous line up of queens.
“We’re also cooking away at some special happenings with Sam Buttery and Beau Azra. As always, we just want to blow your socks off and have the best time with all our pals.”
House Of Spice commented: “Homobloc is more than a festival to us – it’s a celebration of queerness, music, and chosen family.
“As a South Asian, Middle Eastern and North African queer brown collective, House of Spice is proud to bring our flavour to 2025, featuring Club Zindagi, Armana Khan, Shanika Sunrise, DJ Chafik, and our performers Lucky Roy Singh (Mother), Mixed Spice, Chilli Spice, Saffy Saffron Spice, and Rachel Pro-Filing.
“Together we’re excited to create a space that is unapologetically free, joyful, and rooted in community. Homobloc represents unity and visibility, and we can’t wait to dance, perform, and celebrate with everyone under one roof.”
This year’s Homobloc is set to take place on Saturday 6 December – grab your tickets HERE.
Pre-sale will be live on Thursday 11 September at 10am ahead of general sale from 10am on Friday 12 September.
Daisy Jackson -
20th March 2024 
