Wiltshire Music Awards: Results and Ups and Downs

Well, we did it! I sincerely hope you had a great night at the first Wiltshire Music Awards as we filled the Devizes Corn Exchange with a cross-section of people involved in the music scene of Wiltshire, musicians and fans. Positive feedback already, and a few teething issues, noted, which we must take onboard and learn from….

But for those who unfortunately couldn’t make it, I guess you are eager to hear the results. Let’s do this easy bit first! But before we do, I ask you, please, to take a few issues into consideration. Firstly, there was a monumental process to arrange, coordinate and launch during and also months prior to the ceremony. From the voting process and organisation of a panel of judges, to decorating the tables and corresponding all those trophies to each category.

So many volunteered their time to help with this, and we are extremely grateful to them. Overall, the management of the whole process and ceremony was carried out by Eddie Prestidge of Stone Circle Music Events. Eddie worked arduously on this project, and was dedicated to creating an extravagant event to be remembered. With the help of so many volunteers, myself included, stage tech and the staff of the Corn Exchange, I believe we achieved this to the best of our abilities, and a fantastic evening was had by most.

There should have been one more trophy, it should’ve been big, extra shiny, and presented to Eddie for his dedication and the tireless work he put into this. Exhausted, Eddie fell ill a few days before the ceremony, but strode through it the best that he could. The end result of this was that he was rushed into hospital a few hours prior to the conclusion of the ceremony. I have heard from him this morning, and he’s doing okay.

If you witnessed me on the sideline, rushing up and down the stairs like a headless chicken, it wasn’t my step aerobics workout, it was because I was honouring my part as co-host on stage but attempting to coordinate the floor as well, as best as possible, as Ed seriously needed to take a step back. Whilst the beginning therefore went to plan, as the evening progressed we stumbled on issues, but I ask you to please take this into consideration if you’re intending to criticise the evening on social media. I apologise for any breakdowns in communication, but the condition was out of our control and we strived through best we could.

Results

The results, then. Congratulations to everyone who bagged an award, commiserations to those who did not. To those unable to attend, we have trophies reserved for you and will arrange the best way to get them to you as soon as possible.

Best Venue. Sponsored by Pat Robertson of Trowbridge Motor Supplies ltd.

Runners Up: The Royal Oak, Pewsey. The Vic, Swindon.

Winner: The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon.

Best DJ: Sponsored by Mark Anthony Burdge.

Runners Up: Maurice Menghini – DJ Mister M. Mark Lister of Fantasy Radio.

Winner: Paul Alexander of Solstice Sounds, This is How We Do It Entertainment.

Best Drummer.

Runners Up: Tom Gilkes. Callum Rawlings.

Winner: Jamie O’ Sullivan.

Best Bassist. Presented by Alex Morgan of Waldrop Salisbury Sounds.

Runners Up: Nick Gorman. Nick Beere.

Winner: Mark Turner.

Best Guitarist.

Runners Up: Alastair Sneddon. Nick Beere.

Winner: Jolyon Dixon.

Best Duo.

Runners Up: Jolyon Dixon & Rachel Sinnetta. The Sylvertones.

Winner: Matchbox Mutiny.

Best Covers Band. Sponsored by Simon Woolley of The Three Crowns, Devizes.

Runners Up: Pinky & The Slapcats. The Unpredictables.

Winner: The Brit-Pop Boys.

Best Original Band: Sponsored By Peggy-Sue Ford of Don’t Stop the Music on Swindon 105.5 Radio.

Runners Up: Nothing Rhymes With Orange. Burn The Midnight Oil.

Winner: Talk in Code.

Best Tribute Act.

Runners Up: Painted Bird. BC/DC.

Winner: Mick Jogger & The Stones Experience.

Best Female Artist.

Runners Up: Sammi Evans. Rosie Jay.

Winner: Ruby Darbyshire.

Best Male Artist. Presented by Lesley Scholes of Fantasy Radio.

Runners Up: Lucas Hardy. Vince Bell.

Winner: George Wilding.

Best Original Song.

Runners Up: I Don’t Give a Damn by Rosie Jay. Do I Really Have The Blues by JP Oldfield.

Winner: All In by Talk in Code.

Best Instrumentalist.

Runners Up: Ruby Darbyshire. Andrew Hurst.

Winner: Jolyon Dixon.

Rising Star New Comer.

Runners Up: Ruby Darbyshire. Rosie Jay.

Winner: JP Oldfield.

Best Vocalist.

Runners Up: Chris Stevens. Lucas Hardy.

Winner: Rachel Sinnetta.

There were four special awards given out on the evening which didn’t receive runner-up places as according to the information given to the hosts. If there was an oversight about this, we apologise.

Outstanding Contribution to The Wiltshire Music Scene was won by Colin Holton of Salisbury Live.

Outstanding Contribution to Music in the Community was won by Jo Baines Robbins.

A Special Award was given to Wiltshire Hop & Harmony, The Wotton Bassett Dementia Choir. The Second Special Award was presented to Brian Mundy of BMS Stage Tech.

A Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Peter Lamb.

Ruby Darbyshire opened the evening with a bagpipe song and two others, as a surprise special guest.

We also had live performances from Nothing Rhymes With Orange, Burn The Midnight Oil, Lucas Hardy, Matchbox Mutiny, George Wilding, and The Britpop Boys. Due to technical issues, Jolyon Dixon and Rachel Sinnetta were unable to perform.