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2010 winners announced
Posted on Sun 18th Apr, 2010 .
The Final - By Heidi Stenhouse
Bournemouth, April 2010 - After six months of fierce competition the music men have spoken. From the five finalists, Disco's Out (Murder's In), Lady Winwood's Maggot, The Longest Day, Mutant Vinyl and Sarah Griffin, the overall winners of the Dorset Music Awards (DMA) 2010 are: The Longest Day.
This energetic rock band were chosen by Ryan Farley, A&R scout at Warner/Chappell publishing, and Jon Webster, founder of the Mercury Music Prize, who remarked that, "whilst all the finalists had to be good to get here, one band made the hairs stand up and certainly passed the old grey whistle test."
Already looking every inch the professional rock band, with powerful lead vocals, phenomenally tight riffs and a combined look all set to break a thousand teenage hearts, The Longest Day are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Their set was seamless, exciting and rock music as it's meant to be. Comparisons with 30 Seconds to Mars and Funeral for a Friend further emphasises their rock pedigree and mark the start of a tantalising path for this youthful band. As the announcement was made, the capacity crowd's cheers inside the Royal Bath's De Vere Suite most probably could've been heard all the way down to the pier.
In addition to the overall winner, the finalists had the chance to play at some of or all of four festivals this summer. A representative from each of Larmar Tree Festival, Camp Bestival, Shambala and Endorse It in Dorset, each made their selection as to who they wished to book for their festival in 2010. In a clean sweep, the eclectic madness of Disco's Out (Murder's In) won out. Resplendent in bunny costumes, grass skirts and clown makeup, the chaotic ska band were unusually lost for words. In a set where costumes, makeup, balloons and polystyrene planes were every bit as important as the music, this crazy cast of characters got the whole room jumping.
Whilst the winners were certainly very deserving, my heart goes out to the other three finalists. In a final where the competition was so fierce and the talent so exceptional, I find it heartbreaking that the other three walked away empty handed. To my mind all five were deserved winners and this review would not be complete without some special mentions.
Sarah Griffin rocked her set. With her exceptional vocal talent, amazing lyrics and extremely accomplished band, she can guarantee that this competition has won her a whole host of new fans and strengthened the resolve of her existing ones. Pronounced together with The Longest Day as being the most likely to have huge commercial success in 2010, by Camp Bestival's Julian Peck, the future beyond DMA 2010 is looking rosy for this exceptionally talented artist.
Mutant Vinyl demonstrated such professionalism and dynamism for such a young band. Suffering an unfortunate breakage of a guitar string mid set, the band ably continued maintaining the frenetic energy they had built up and slickly switching to tracks that were less guitar heavy. My admiration goes out to them for such quick thinking and still managing to deliver an electrifying set.
Lady Winwood's Maggot have possibly the most experience of all the finalists and their country death western has to be seen to be believed. They're colourful, talented and already have a huge and very loyal fan base. And it's not hard to see why: the lead singer's raspy voice, their unrelenting mandolin twangs and easy rapport, both amongst themselves and with the audience, connects with something deep inside and makes you have to dance.
Saturday's final was always going to be an exciting climax to the Dorset Music Awards 2010. But no-one could've predicted quite what an awesome event it turned out to be, nor the ferocity of the competition. From the opening set from last year's winners, Achilles, to the final announcement of The Longest Day as overall 2010 winners, this was a night to remember.
As the 500 strong crowd whooped and hollered their appreciation there was no doubt that this was the biggest and best Dorset Music Awards to date. It is a tribute to the professionalism of organisers Trevor Hill and Richard Stannard of Devil's Music that Saturday's final was the hottest ticket in town.
And whilst the guitars may be stacked, the amps packed away and the champagne corks popped on this year's event, one final question remains: how long until Dorset Music Awards 2011 begins?
Bournemouth, April 2010 - After six months of fierce competition the music men have spoken. From the five finalists, Disco's Out (Murder's In), Lady Winwood's Maggot, The Longest Day, Mutant Vinyl and Sarah Griffin, the overall winners of the Dorset Music Awards (DMA) 2010 are: The Longest Day.
This energetic rock band were chosen by Ryan Farley, A&R scout at Warner/Chappell publishing, and Jon Webster, founder of the Mercury Music Prize, who remarked that, "whilst all the finalists had to be good to get here, one band made the hairs stand up and certainly passed the old grey whistle test."
Already looking every inch the professional rock band, with powerful lead vocals, phenomenally tight riffs and a combined look all set to break a thousand teenage hearts, The Longest Day are going to be a force to be reckoned with. Their set was seamless, exciting and rock music as it's meant to be. Comparisons with 30 Seconds to Mars and Funeral for a Friend further emphasises their rock pedigree and mark the start of a tantalising path for this youthful band. As the announcement was made, the capacity crowd's cheers inside the Royal Bath's De Vere Suite most probably could've been heard all the way down to the pier.
In addition to the overall winner, the finalists had the chance to play at some of or all of four festivals this summer. A representative from each of Larmar Tree Festival, Camp Bestival, Shambala and Endorse It in Dorset, each made their selection as to who they wished to book for their festival in 2010. In a clean sweep, the eclectic madness of Disco's Out (Murder's In) won out. Resplendent in bunny costumes, grass skirts and clown makeup, the chaotic ska band were unusually lost for words. In a set where costumes, makeup, balloons and polystyrene planes were every bit as important as the music, this crazy cast of characters got the whole room jumping.
Whilst the winners were certainly very deserving, my heart goes out to the other three finalists. In a final where the competition was so fierce and the talent so exceptional, I find it heartbreaking that the other three walked away empty handed. To my mind all five were deserved winners and this review would not be complete without some special mentions.
Sarah Griffin rocked her set. With her exceptional vocal talent, amazing lyrics and extremely accomplished band, she can guarantee that this competition has won her a whole host of new fans and strengthened the resolve of her existing ones. Pronounced together with The Longest Day as being the most likely to have huge commercial success in 2010, by Camp Bestival's Julian Peck, the future beyond DMA 2010 is looking rosy for this exceptionally talented artist.
Mutant Vinyl demonstrated such professionalism and dynamism for such a young band. Suffering an unfortunate breakage of a guitar string mid set, the band ably continued maintaining the frenetic energy they had built up and slickly switching to tracks that were less guitar heavy. My admiration goes out to them for such quick thinking and still managing to deliver an electrifying set.
Lady Winwood's Maggot have possibly the most experience of all the finalists and their country death western has to be seen to be believed. They're colourful, talented and already have a huge and very loyal fan base. And it's not hard to see why: the lead singer's raspy voice, their unrelenting mandolin twangs and easy rapport, both amongst themselves and with the audience, connects with something deep inside and makes you have to dance.
Saturday's final was always going to be an exciting climax to the Dorset Music Awards 2010. But no-one could've predicted quite what an awesome event it turned out to be, nor the ferocity of the competition. From the opening set from last year's winners, Achilles, to the final announcement of The Longest Day as overall 2010 winners, this was a night to remember.
As the 500 strong crowd whooped and hollered their appreciation there was no doubt that this was the biggest and best Dorset Music Awards to date. It is a tribute to the professionalism of organisers Trevor Hill and Richard Stannard of Devil's Music that Saturday's final was the hottest ticket in town.
And whilst the guitars may be stacked, the amps packed away and the champagne corks popped on this year's event, one final question remains: how long until Dorset Music Awards 2011 begins?
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