Photos By Bradley Quinn

WINNER -THE WOOD BURNING SAVAGES
ALBUM - STABILITY

Photos by Ciara McMullan.

Click on the photo above to see the whole gallery…

The Winners:

Best Live Act: The Wood Burning Savages, Presented by Tom Robinson.

Oh Yeah Contender: ROE, Presented by Phil Taggart

Best Single as voted by the public - Kitt Philippa ‘Human’, Presented by SOAK

Best Album: NI Music Prize - The Wood Burning Savages ‘Stability’

Outstanding Contribution to Music: Gary Lightbody, Presented by Mike Edgar.

The NI Music Prize 2018 took place at the Ulster Hall in Belfast on Thursday November 15th. The evening came after a day of industry panels, talks, discussions and workshops with local and visiting industry and media at the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast.

The NI Music Prize evening featured performances from six of the nominees across the four categories. Hannah Peel performed a sonically and visually astonishing set from her shortlisted album Mary Casio: Journey to Cassiopeia, complete with the brilliant 1st Old Boy’s Brass band, an exclusive performance for NI.

Best Album, Live and Single nominees The Wood Burning Savages promised and delivered a set of pulsating riffs and rebellious spirit, while Brand New Friend brought their boundless positivity and joyful harmonies to the stage.

Best Single and Oh Yeah Contender nominee Roe absolutely owned the stage and her deep electro pop groves dominated across the hall.

2016 NI Music Prize winner and third time album nominee Ciaran Lavery returned with a full band and a carefully choreographed set.

Best Live and Album nominee Ryan Vail put everything into his performance, bringing lasers and lights to the depth of his voice and music, while accompanied by the Arco String Quartet.

The event was hosted and held together by Rigsy (BBC Radio Ulster), and guest presenters SOAK, Phil Taggart (BBC Radio 1), Tom Robinson ( BBC 6 Music) and Mike Edgar.

The special award in association with Inspire Wellbeing for Outstanding Contribution to Music was presented to Gary Lightbody by Mike Edgar, and Feargal Mellon of Inspire. The presentation began with a surprise video of dedications and messages to Gary from friends, family and industry. Mike Edgar made a beautiful intro and Gary made a very emotional and heartfelt acceptance speech. He also highlighted the need to get behind supporting mental health for our community and talked openly of his own battle with depression and mental health issues over the last few years.

It was a lovely evening with BBC Radio Ulster and the team from Across The Line capturing the whole thing brilliantly for radio.

The night took place during the Sound of Belfast 2018 festival, which ran 8th – 15th November.

Over 80 industry and media cast their vote for the best Album ( Between August 17 - August 18). They were also invited to nominate for Best Live, Best Single and the Oh Yeah Contender Award for best emerging act.

A second round of voting then took place for all but Best Single which went to public vote.

The NI Music Prize is coordinated by the Oh Yeah Music Centre and is supported by Belfast City Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, British Council, PRS (Performing Rights Society), PPL (Phonographic Performance Limited), Help Musician’s Northern Ireland, Invest Northern Ireland and Tourism Ireland.