The world’s greatest night in music, the Q Awards, unravelled this evening with celebs, fans and industry alike coming together to celebrate the best music 2017 has had to offer. At its new home of Camden’s legendary Roundhouse, the awards were hosted by Absolute Radio presenter and Q Awards regular Christian O’Connell.
A total of twelve Q Awards were given out throughout the evening, and the ceremony was followed by a spectacular sold-out live show from Welsh alt-rockers Manic Street Preachers. James Dean Bradfield and co. stormed through a dozen albums’ worth of hits in front of a packed Roundhouse crowd – and also left with a Q Inspiration Award under their belt. The band’s set was preceded by fellow award winners Sleaford Mods, who won the inaugural Q Best Film award, for Bunch of Kunst.
It was an excellent night for Liam Gallagher who took away not one, but two Q Awards – Q Best Live Act and Q Icon – less than a fortnight after the release of his debut studio solo album, As You Were.
Ed Sheeran came and also conquered – the singer-songwriter was crowned Q’s Best Act In The World Today, right in the middle of American and Asian legs of his gigantic ÷ Tour.
The Q Best Track award was gifted to leading Leicester rock outfit Kasabian for their mesmerising You’re In Love With A Psycho – arguably the most unforgettable tune of the year.
Meanwhile, Gorillaz, the world’s most famous virtual band, were furnished with this year’s coveted Q Best Album award for Humanz – album number five from Damon Albarn’s animated outfit, which was released to wide fan and critical acclaim in April.
This year the Q Awards also paid serious homage to the unstoppable force that is the UK grime scene – with both Wiley and Stormzy taking home gongs (the Q Innovation in Sound and Q Best Solo Artist respectively). Croydon’s most popular musical export of the moment, Stormzy released his debut studio album Gang Signs & Prayer in February and is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down.
Rag‘n’Bone Man rounded off his own spectacular year and beat stiff competition to bag the Q Best Breakthrough Act award. Real name Rory Graham, the star has made his mark in music already with his debut smash album which spawned some of the most memorable hits of the year. He follows in the footsteps of the likes of Sam Smith and Mumford & Sons who have previously won the award.
The infamous Q Maverick award went to Viv Albertine, celebrated guitarist in punk outfit The Slits, and The Breeders’ Kelley Deal was honoured with the Q Gibson Les Paul Award.
The likes of Paloma Faith, Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams and Skepta were among those presenting awards.
Ted Kessler, Editor of Q magazine, commented on proceedings: “I am humbled by the array of talent who turned up to accept their Q Awards this year, as well being very grateful to the stars who presented them. It underlines – as if it needs underlining – that Q alone welcomes great music from across all genres, all eras, all backgrounds… as long as the artists are alive. It is also the home of superstars and visionaries alike. Where else would you find Ed Sheeran hanging out with Viv Albertine of art-punk inconoclasts The Slits, Liam Gallagher embracing Stormzy and Wiley, or the Manic Street Preachers, Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice and Michael Sheen huddled together in conversation? In the week that Liam smashed all kinds of records for first-week sales of his debut album, it also brought home to me how robust the current music scene is, and how the old boundaries between underground and pop have crumbled. It felt like we were mapping out history today. But I always feel like that after a good party…”
The full list of Q Awards 2017 winners is as follows:
Q Best Breakthrough Act Presented by Red Stripe – Rag’n’Bone Man
Q Best Live Act Presented by The Cavern Club – Liam Gallagher
Q Maverick Presented by the Roundhouse – Viv Albertine
Q Innovation In Sound Presented by Flare Audio – Wiley
Q Best Film Presented by Pretty Green – Bunch Of Kunst (Sleaford Mods)
Q Best Track Presented by Flare Audio – Kasabian – You’re In Love With A Psycho
Q Inspiration Award Presented by Three – Manic Street Preachers
Q Best Album Presented by The Box Plus Network – Gorillaz – Humanz
Q Best Solo Artist Presented by Help Musicians UK – Stormzy
Q Gibson Les Paul Award – Kelley Deal
Q Best Act In The World Today Presented by Buster + Punch – Ed Sheeran
Q Icon presented by BMW UK – Liam Gallagher
Elsewhere at the Q Awards Paloma Faith, George Ezra, The Big Moon, Wiley, Girl Ray and Biffy Clyro walked the red carpet and Music-News.com was there.