The NMG Awards 2024 - The Apex

The 11^th NMG Awards was held at The Apex in Bury St Edmunds and yet again it was a fabulous night, this event truly gets better and better each year!

The NMG Awards is about showcasing and celebrating grass roots music in the region. The nominated artists have all been supported through The New Music Generator radio show on Cambridge 105, which is on twice a week.

The format, with host and founder of NMG, Tim Willett, is professional and oozes class which provides huge credibility to all the nominees and all involved: Tim introduces the award category and the sponsor, whom then comes to the podium to present the nominees which are on a huge screen and then the top 5 are shown with a snippet of their music. The winner is announced after opening the golden envelope to a massive applause and the winner collects their award and gives a speech. It’s pukka.

The 19 Categories include a large array of genres to encompass the huge diversity in the local music scene and the awards are interspersed with live music from several of the nominees to keep things upbeat and moving along.

Myopia launched the event with their heavy rock beats vibrating around the venue. Other amazing performances were from the dynamic Dead Reynolds; pop songstress Grace Calver; passionate singer Claudia Kate; pop and country band Iona Sky; youth angst band HEADCHECK; incredible vocalist Imlac; hip hop beats with Nevusside and guests B-Lucky & Chima Anya; closing the night was Fuze with their energetic songs getting people out of their seats and dancing.

Additional prizes are in the form of Artist Development Awards donated by local music companies and professionals to help the artist/band grow and reach more of their potential. The prizes included slots at Camp Bestival, Festival Too, First Light Festival, merch package, rehearsal room hire, track production package – to name a few! They are fantastic prizes to be donated and shows what awesome support for grass roots music there is in our region.

A big thanks to the judges who give up their time for this event: Gary Brown, Neil Jones, Joe Weaver; Rebecca May, Melody Coles, Lee Graham, Simon & Clarice Lucas-Hughes.

The event and everyone involved thank this year’s sponsors as without them there woud not be such an event: VisionExpress, Grapevine, The Hunter Club Arts Centre, The Nerve Agency, East Anglian Festival Network, The Portland Arms, Women Making Waves, Headline Records, The Plough Shepreth, Bandmade Merch Co, Punch Studios, Clean Records.

The evening was filmed live for YouTube and can be watched back here: