Darcy Taylor

After an online celebration last year, the Northern Ireland Music Prize came back in-person this year with a pool of fresh talent and performances. Organised by the Oh Yeah Music Centre as part of the Sound of Belfast festival, it was a rightful celebration of the incredible musical talent we have on this small island.

Despite a slow entry process and a few technical glitches early on, the buzz of excitement in the hall quickly swept everybody up. Shortlisted act Amy Montgomery opened the event with her haunting vocals, strong stage presence and a beautiful ornate flower headdress. The audience were treated throughout the night to a mix of eclectic folk, pop and alternative rock, with performances from shortlisted acts New Pagans, Dani Larkin and Trú. There were also some excellent special guest performances from Sasha Samara and Ryan McMullen.

Dea Matrona scooped up the awards, winning Best Single Supported by YouTube for their single Stamp on It. The three-piece rock band started modestly, busking the streets of Belfast before gradually gaining the recognition of rock stars like former Eagles guitarist Don Feldman, who praised the girls for their unique sound.

In many ways, YouTube has changed the music landscape into a much more global, interactive, and well-connected industry. Label manager Corbyn Ashbury spoke on how YouTube has been supporting Northern Irish artists through working with the Northern Irish Music Prize and the Oh Yeah Centre, and supports artists “financially but also in educational resources”.

Dea Matrona continued their winning streak when they bagged the ATL Contender award, which was voted for by the public. After this huge success, they are sure to make even more fans along the way, with tour dates coming up in Derry, Dundalk and Belfast throughout the rest of the year.

Of course, these musical achievements hold even greater significance when considering how hard the music industry has been hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. Lemonade Shoelace, a nominee for the ATL Contender Award, gave an insight into the importance of these events for young musicians in Northern Ireland, stating how “musicians need a public space to interact with a load of different people from the industry” and noted the impact of support from fans, saying that “you keep seeing the same face at gigs, and it is really important to keep that close knit community” in the local music scene.

This year also saw the first ever all-female line up of winners, with Saint Sister picking up the Best Album Supported by PPL award for their record Where I should End. New Pagans frontwoman Lyndsey McDougall recounted her experience of seeing female representation in the industry as a teenager, sharing that “there wasn’t that many females in bands, there were maybe a few, and they were really important in my development as a woman just to see that, and know you could do that as well”.

A heartfelt tribute was played and a moment of silence held in commemoration of the late music legend Steve Strange, who was last year’s winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award. Strange started out as a drummer in the industry, but left his mark as an agent, working with some of the biggest industry names, from Eminem to Coldplay, and including beloved local artists such as Snow Patrol and Vance Joy.

The Outstanding Contribution Award this year went to music manager Mike Edgar, who called on the government to provide funding and support for the music sector in Northern Ireland, to loud applause.

The event closed with a guest performance from ASH, as people stood and danced and celebrated the return of live music.

NI Music Prize: A celebration of Northern Irish talent