Britain’s Q magazine has held their annual awards show in London, honoring the best music of the last 12 months.
Q Awards
One of the most anticipated events on the music calendar, the awards took place Monday afternoon at London’s Grosvenor Hotel and were once again hosted by Al Murray in the guise of his alter-ego The Pub Landlord. Star guest presenters, including Radio One’s Nick Grimshaw, Olympics Opening Ceremony director Danny Boyle and rock’n’roll zombie Alice Cooper, who handed over a total of 15 awards celebrating the very best music of the last year.
Among the big winners were Blur who bagged Best Live Act (presented by Zeo) for their blistering Summer shows. Bobby Womack won Best Album (presented by Red Stag by Jim Bean) for The Bravest Man in the World. Emeli Sande received the Best Solo Artist gong (presented by Citroa) beating Noel Gallagher and Adele. Muse took home Best Act In The World Today fighting off The Stone Roses, Lady Gaga and Coldplay. Plan B, celebrating his birthday on the day of the awards, won Best Track for his controversial single Ill Manors, the reformed Pulp got the Q Inspiration Award, Smiths legend Johnny Marr was honoured as Q Hero and Olympic Opening Ceremony sonic architects Underworld were awarded Q Innovation in Sound (presented by Beats by Dr Dre).
Other veteran artists being honored were Underworld (Innovation in Sound), Dexy’s (Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Icon) and Dionne Warwick (Classic Song)
Commenting on this year’s awards, Q’s Editor Andrew Harrison said “It’s been the most incredible year for British music. Our bands and our anthems transformed the Olympics. A string of great albums announced fantastic new talent on the scene. And amazing comeback shows from Blur and the Stone Roses showed the enduring appeal of our best-loved musicians. Q is proud to raise a glass (perhaps a bottle of our very own Q Red Label Beer) to salute the artists that make Britain the world capital of rock and roll.”
The legendary monthly magazine celebrating everything that’s great in rock and roll, Q has a built an international reputation for quality amongst fans, musicians and the music industry in its glittering 26-year history. With world-beating exclusives, outstanding production values and an inimitable sense of humour, Q shapes the UK music scene. It has featured the world’s biggest stars, from U2 to Adele, Oasis to Rihanna and Radiohead to Lady Gaga and more, on its landmark covers, and creates new stars every month. With Q’s online presence, a new interactive iPad edition, social media, Q Radio, live events and of course the world famous annual Q Awards, the message is everywhere: music sounds better with Q.
Below is the full listing of this year’s winners as voted for by readers, online followers and Q’s resident musical experts.
- Best New Act – Django Django
- Best Track – Ill Manors – Plan B
- Best Album – The Bravest Man in the World – Bobby Womack
- Best Live Act – Blur
- Best Video – Disconnected – Keane
- Best Solo Artist – Emile Sande
- Best Act in the World – Muse
- Q Classic Song – Walk On By – Dionne Warwick
- Q Spirit of Independence – Cribs
- Q Innovation in Sound – Underworld
- Q Inspiration Award – Pulp
- Q Icon Award – Dexy’s Midnight Runners
- Q Classic Album – Generation Terrorists – Manic Street Preachers
- Q Hero – Johnny Marr
- Q Idol – Brandon Flowers
