NI Music Prize 2023

Excitement, surprises, artists with heart, emotional speeches, dancing in the isles, great talent and a full house at the Ulster Hall

The NI Music Prize roared out live from the Ulster Hall on Wednesday 15th November with a showcase and celebration of some of Northern Ireland’s best talent, both established and new. The event, which is now an annual sold out show and organised by the Oh Yeah Centre went out live on BBC Radio Ulster.

It was a special night of artists spanning 50 years right through to our fresh new talent all brilliantly hosted by Gemma Bradley and Rigsy.

It was an eclectic showcase of the diversity of talent based in Northern Ireland, from Traditional Pipers to Punk rock, Soul and Pop and it was evident that NI music is fit for a world-class stage. Industry guests, artists and fans from out of town joined in with a loud and proud local audience of shortlisted artists, friends and family.  There were outstanding performances from Chalk, Problem Patterns, Conor Mallon, Ferna, Winnie Ama and last year’s ATL Artist of The Year winners The Florentinas

Paul Brady received the Oh Yeah Legend Award presented by IMRO by esteemed singer songwriter and IMRO chair Eleanor McEvoy. The evening then played out with some of Paul’s most cherished works. You could have heard a pin drop during The Island and everyone was on their feet to The World Is What You Make It.

The evening also included the Joe Cassidy Chrysalis Award, a special award that was created by friends and family of the Chicago based Belfast artist. The winning act Chalk received a bursary award of £3,000.

Vic Galloway of BBC Scotland and Peter Leathem CEO of PPL announced the album winner Arborist for the wonderful record An Endless Sequence of Dead Zeros – an award decided by a panel earlier that evening.  Public vote for Single of The Year was announced by Rt. Hon. Lord Mayor of Belfast Councillor Ryan Murphy which went to Moonboot for ‘To U’. Chalk picked up Live Act sponsored by Shine Promotions. Problem Patterns picked up Music Video Market Place sponsored Video for ‘Who Do We Not Save’ and the BBC Introducing: ATL Artist of The Year award went to Tramp.

David Rigsy O’Reilly was presented with surprise gifts after announcing it would be his final show after 11 years.

Charlotte Dryden from Oh Yeah said; “We might be living in some of the most challenging times, but tonight was a needed moment of positivity. Recognition and acknowledgment for music creators is more important than ever and we thank our sponsors and supporters for getting behind that. Congratulations to all the acts tonight. Music moves people in many ways and tonight that was available to everyone”

The Prize also highlighted the good work of MACS Supporting Children and Young People and wish all involved in the annual sleepout for Youth Homelessness the best for 23rd Nov.

Thank you.

This event could not happen with out the financial, in-kind, voluntary and professional services of many.

Thanks to funders Belfast City Council, Arts Council of Northern Ireland, PRSF, PPL, IMRO, Shine Promotions, Music Video Market Place.

Thanks to Ulster Hall staff, to production, Paul O' Shaughnessey and crew including MagicKite and JustLite. Also to Visual Spectrum, BBC Radio Ulster and the ATL Introducing crew including Rory McConnell and Paul McClean.

Thanks to Stuart and Betsy Bailie at Dig With It, to Jeff Robinson, Alice Kearney, Emer Marcus, Maurane Ramon, Carrie Davenport, Will McConnell, James Ward, Jim Corr, Ciara McMullan, to the industry nominators, judges and the Cassidy family, DJ Lemonade Shoelace, to the Limelight staff, to Dead Rabbit and Budvar Beers.

To the Oh Yeah staff, in particular Dee and Ryan on production, Ríonach O Donnell on social media duties, Charlene Hegarty curator of the Sound of Belfast and the Music Cities afternoon, to Caoimhe O Connell for looking after judges and guests and to Seán, Lisa and Paul for keeping the ship on route.

Thank you to the ever supportive Oh Yeah board and our volunteers.

We will return Wednesday 13th November 2024.