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 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. 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
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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Social media unite in search for ‘crazed’ fan who stole drum from AO Arena gig last night
Thomas Melia
This past weekend, people online began pulling together to try and find a fan after they stole a drum from a major music artist’s concert at the AO Arena on Sunday night.
When you say the words, “I’ll never forget that gig”, it usually means you had a really great night and, for this fan in particular, we think it’s fair to say that they be forgetting this night anytime soon – you know, many because they took a piece of the set home with them.
That’s right, following Twenty One Pilots’ massive Manc gig at AO Arena as part of their ongoing world tour, some fans were practically frothing at the mouth as the alternative duo did what they do best.
In fact, one individual clearly loved the concert so much that they just had to claim a keepsake, to such an extent that they want as far as steal band member Josh Dun’s drum directly from the stage.
As far as merch and memorabilia go, that might just be the biggest souvenir we’ve ever seen someone swipe from a rock show.
In terms of the night itself, the highly anticipated return to Manchester was a huge success, with the band playing out to flurries of red, orange, yellow and black, thanks to fans sporting the same colours as Twenty One Pilots‘ latest album cover, Clancy.
In the video, the drum – which features the band’s logo on a red-splattered drumhead in the Clancy aesthetic – can be seen being carried out of the venue by a fan from the general standing floor area.
As a result, not only did people on social media quickly begin sleuthing and trying to find the drum thief, but they’re also questioning why fans near the culprit weren’t doing more to get it back to the band.
One user wrote, “Ok but like I would have stopped her?” while another commented, “So I was scared to even take too much confetti with me and she casually STOLE THE DRUM??”
The fan who originally uploaded the video online aid in a subsequent post, “Guys, please, don’t put us to blame for not stopping her, we did all we could but literally no one around us cared about it.” They went on to add: “You’re not putting the blame of her stealing the drum on us, I’m sorry but I’m not having it.”
As you can see, the instrument was eventually located, with Twenty One Pilots’ videographer Sax uploaded a picture to his Instagram profile along with the caption, “We have the drum”, thanking fans for all their efforts in helping track down its whereabouts.
Featured Image –Ashley Osborn (publicity picture /@tillitaint (via X)
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Olly Murs at AO Arena, Manchester – tickets, times, setlist and more
Thomas Melia
The ‘Troublemaker’ himself, Olly Murs, is ready to cause some more chaos and this time he’s returning for his second night in Manchester with boyband Blue.
X Factor and British star Olly Murs is embarking on his latest UK arena tour, which does feel a little bit ‘likely lads’ on tour-esque with a helping hand from UK boyband, Blue.
Back in the late noughties, it was hard to escape the blazer-wearing, top-hatted, popstar as he was dropping back-to-back bangers like ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ and doo-wop inspired ‘Dance With Me Tonight’.
Now, this cheeky-chappy is embarking on the ‘15 Years Of Hits – Live 2025‘ tour, where he’ll be belting out all those classics as well as some more recent tunes too. Here’s how he sounded last week:
There are just a few tickets left for Olly Murs at AO Arena, so make sure you bag yours before your ‘Heart Skips a Beat’ HERE.
Olly Murs 15 Years Of Hits setlist
Olly Murs is coming to AO Arena in Manchester this week.Credit: Marcos Moreno via Wikimedia Commons
This Essex chap might have a solid setlist which he follows night in and night out, but he’s no stranger to being a bit ‘Unpredictable’. I mean, he is bringing a flamethrower on stage with him…
After being on our screens and airwaves for almost two decades, it’s no surprise that this setlist is lengthy, totalling at just over 20 songs – give or take the 80s medley weaved into the mix.
Who doesn’t love a bit of ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ paired alongside Murs’ stacked setlist?
Troublemaker
Right Place Right Time
Please Don’t Let Me Go
Thinking of Me
Oh My Goodness
Heart Skips a Beat
Kiss Me
Army of Two
Hand on Heart
Up
Die of a Broken Heart / I Found Her / Dancing on Cars / I Hate You When You’re Drunk (Marry Me Medley)
Seasons
You Don’t Know Love
I’m Your Man / Never Gonna Give You Up / Livin’ On a Prayer / Beat It / Careless Whisper / I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles) / I’m So Excited (80s Medley)
What are the stage times for Olly Murs in Manchester?
AO Arena has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning concertgoers can be ‘Wrapped Up’ in the Essex popstar’s hits without having to worry about getting home too late. It’s a school night after all!
Doors for Olly Murs’ 15 Years Of Hits – Live 2025 are scheduled for 6:30pm with a start time of 7:30pm and support from 2000s UK boyband, Blue.
The BRIT-winning, Eurovision-performing, chart-toppers are back together once again and about to take us back to pop school as we quickly re-learn the words to boyband textbook classics ‘All Rise’, Best in Me’ and more.
How to get to AO Arena
Olly Murs sporting his usual blazer and top-hat style back in 2013.Credit: InfoGibraltar (via Flickr)
Tram
For those of you heading to AO Arena, luckily, it’s connected to Manchester Victoria Station, and it has an integrated Metrolink stop to make your life even easier.
Head along the pink, light blue or yellow lines directly to the Victoria stop, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Train
Considering this live entertainment venue is situated right in the middle of one of Manchester’s most frequented stations, concertgoers should find no problem getting to the arena, wherever they are.
Bus
A variety of buses cover AO Arena and Victoria Station on their route, such as the 2 bus, which stops just a one-minute walk away from the venue.
A full list of buses and their routes can be found HERE.
Getting there by car and parking
The Arena has its own official CitiPark, with 958 car parking spaces including 40 Blue Badge parking bays, which can be booked in advance.
Alternatively, anyone attending a gig can park at their nearest train station and jump on a train service or the various Metrolink park and ride facilities.
Walk/cycle
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes through the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app.
Daisy Jackson -
20th March 2024 
