Celebrating incredible musical talent from across the North at our second Northern Music Awards
Dr. John Cooper Clarke, Blossoms, Ian Broudie, Yungblud, English Teacher, The Zutons and Nia Archives win big at the 2025 Northern Music Awards.
Our second Northern Music Awards, sponsored by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, took place last night at the Liverpool Olympia. We created the awards show to celebrate incredible musical talent from across the North and raise money for our vital music therapy services. And last night, we celebrated a whole host of northern artists, music venues, festivals and industry execs at our second annual awards show, which was presented by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Chris Hawkins.
Northern legends Dr. John Cooper Clarke, Blossoms, Ian Broudie and the Lightning Seeds and The Zutons took to the stage along with emerging Liverpudlian talent Luvcat and Hull rapper Chiedu Oraka.
Special guest presenters included a raft of personalities from across the North of England: Vernon Kay, Rick Astley, Peter Hook, The Verve’s Simon Jones, Echo & The Bunnymen’s Will Sergeant, Charity Shop Sue, Vicky Hawkesworth and Simon Rimmer.
Money raised from the evening will go towards expanding our music therapy provision throughout the North, using music as a creative health intervention to enhance connection, reduce social isolation and improve mental health for diverse local communities.
Drumroll please for the 2025 Northern Music Award winners…
Dr. John Cooper Clarke, winner of The Northern Music Award 2025, sponsored by Live Nation
Acclaimed poet and cultural icon, Salford born Dr. John Cooper Clarke, opened the awards with the rousing poems ‘Hire Car’, ‘I’ve Fallen in Love With My Wife’, and ‘I Want to be Yours’. Dr. John Cooper Clarke was presented with the headline Northern Music Award, sponsored by Live Nation by legendary Joy Division and New Order bassist Peter Hook.
Blossoms, winners of the Music Moment of the Year, sponsored by American Express
Stockport-bred Blossoms wowed the audience with a special acoustic set featuring ‘Gary’, ‘Your Girlfriend’, and ‘There’s a Reason Why (I Never Returned Your Calls)’. Pop sensation Rick Astley presented the indie-pop band with the Music Moment of the Year Award, sponsored by American Express, to honour their incredible live performances and hugely successful album campaign for their No. 1 smash ‘Gary’.
Ian Broudie, winner of the Special Recognition Award, sponsored by SJM Concerts
Liverpudlian legend, Ian Broudie took to the stage with Lightning Seeds who performed crowd pleasing hits ‘Life of Riley’ and ‘Pure’. Ian was presented with the Special Recognition Award, sponsored by SJM Concerts, by Echo & The Bunnymen’s songwriter and guitarist Will Sergeant.
The Zutons, winners of the Band of the Year, sponsored by Legends and ASM Global
The Zutons closed the Northern Music Awards with a powerful set that included performances of ‘You Will You Won’t’ and ‘Valerie’ and were presented with the Band of the Year award, sponsored by Legends and ASM Global, by fellow Liverpudlian, Ian Broudie.
English Teacher, winners of Album of the Year, sponsored by Rough Trade
Following 2024’s Northern Music Award for Newcomer of the Year, English Teacher scooped this year’s Album of the Year award, sponsored by Rough Trade, for their critically-acclaimed debut ‘This Could Be Texas’.
Yungblud, winner of Disruptor in Music, sponsored by Sentric
The Disruptor in Music award, sponsored by Sentric, went to Yungblud, who accepted the award via a video acceptance speech.
Nia Archives, winner of Artist of the Year, sponsored by Ticketmaster
The Leeds-born and Manchester-raised singer, producer and DJ, Nia Archives won the Artist of the Year award, sponsored by Ticketmaster and presented by comedian Charity Shop Sue.
Sarah Story, winner of DJ of the Year
Carlisle-born Radio 1 Future Dance’s Sarah Story won DJ of the Year, presented by BBC Radio 2’s Vernon Kay.
Luvcat, winner of Breakthrough Act of the Year, sponsored by BOXPARK Liverpool
Alongside an electric performance of ‘Matador’ and ‘He’s My Man’, Liverpool-born Luvcat was presented with the Breakthrough Act of the Year award, sponsored by BOXPARK Liverpool, by The Verve’s Simon Jones.
Chiedu Oraka, winner of Newcomer of the Year, sponsored by The Cavern Club
Hip-hop and grime artist from Hull, Chiedu Oraka gave a powerful performance of ‘Mayne’, ‘Champs On My Grave’, ‘Helly Hansen 6’, and ‘N.H.E (North Hull Estate)’. Oraka was named Newcomer of the Year, sponsored by The Cavern Club and presented by Hull musician Stewart Baxter.
The Northern Music Awards also celebrated music industry stars, venues and festivals from across the region. Posthumously, much loved live music promoter Chris York was honoured by the room and named Industry Icon, sponsored by Tysers Live. Rick Witter and Paul Banks of Shed Seven accepted the award on behalf of Chris’s family.
The Lake District’s Kendal Calling won the Festival of the Year Award, voted by the public and sponsored by The Guide Liverpool. BBC Radio 1 presenter Vicky Hawkesworth presented this year’s Inspirational Venue of the Year awards, sponsored by Seat Unique, with a percentage of the sponsorship fee being shared with the Music Venue Trust. Beloved Yorkshire venue, The Trades Club in Hebden Bridge was named Inspirational Venue of the Year under 2,000 capacity and Grade I listed architectural and cultural phenomenon, The Piece Hall in Halifax took the award for Inspirational Venue of the Year over 2,000 capacity.
Liverpool Philharmonic took home the Music and Culture for Wellbeing Award, sponsored by Flare Audio and presented by Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram. This category was created to honour an organisation, group or project offering high quality, creative health provision in the North of England that uses music, arts and culture to support people with health, wellbeing and socio-economic issues. A&R and artist manager, Sally Bryant was presented with The Nordoff and Robbins Industry Rising Star Award, by TV chef Simon Rimmer, for her flourishing early-stage career and commitment to Northern music.
About our work in the region
We’re continuing to work strategically in the North of England to deliver more music therapy to where it’s needed the most. The region is our largest service area, with 55 music therapists and 164 partner organisations providing over 23,500 music therapy sessions in 2024, transforming the lives of more than 6,500 people in the region.
In Liverpool alone we delivered nearly 2,000 music therapy sessions to over 600 people in 2024. We want to increase this number with the help of money raised during tonight’s event.
Sandra Schembri, CEO, Nordoff and Robbins, said: “This year’s Northern Music Awards have been a phenomenal celebration of the talent, passion and creativity that makes the North such a powerhouse of music. We’re incredibly proud to recognise and support the artists, venues, events, industry professionals and community initiatives that make real impact. Music has the power to inspire, unite and change lives and tonight’s winners and nominees embody that spirit. We’re beyond grateful to everyone who has supported this event, helping to raise vital funds to ensure we can continue to deliver essential music therapy across the region. We’ll be heading to another host city in the North for next year’s Northern Music Awards – so watch this space!”
