LWM Awards 2024 - The Winners
This has, without doubt, been the
hardest year to call on a number of categories which speaks volumes for the
quality of the music on offer in 2024. It has been a blast, it has been therapeutic
and it has been educational. Thank you, sincerely, to all the musicians, labels,
PR and management out there for sharing this music and making it such an
exciting year. Now, let’s see who gets those (figurative) gold medals….
Best Band (UK) 2024 Winner
October Drift: It has been
a hell of a year for October Drift and, despite the lack of bands in the top 40
these days, it was a tough call to pick a winner. However, the combination of quality
songwriting, sheer work ethic and a healthy dose of rock’n’roll swagger mixed
with social commentary made October Drift the obvious choice.
More information: https://octoberdrift.os.fan/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Chappaqua Wrestling
2022 Winner – Wooze
2021 Winner – Pattern Pusher
2020 Winner – Erotic Secrets of Pompeii
2019 Winner – Dinosaur Pile-Up
2018 Winner – Black Futures
2017 Winner – Rews
2016 Winner – Narcs / Berries
2015 Winner – Allusondrugs
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Best Band (South West) 2024 Winner
Bailey Tomkinson & the
Locals: I nearly didn’t select the Cornish collective as the winner this
year because I feel like 2025 might just be their year but then Bailey Tomkinson
& the Locals have really kicked it up a notch this year. Polished
production, soulful delivery and superb songwriting – a winning combination.
More information: https://www.baileytomkinson.com/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner - Tors
2022 Winner – Colour TV
2021 Winner – Long For The Coast
2020 Winner – Moriaty
2019 Winner – Pattern Pusher
2018 Winner – The Velvet Hands
2017 Winner – The Malthusian Trap
2016 Winner – Wildwood Kin
2015 Winner – Lost Dawn / Sound of the Sirens
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Best Band (International) 2024 Winner
Bicurious (Ireland): I had to triple-check that
Franco-Irish duo Bicurious hadn’t won this award before but another year of
superb, cutting edge music makes them the clear winners for 2024.
More information: https://bicuriousbandofficial.com/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – NOBRO (Canada)
2022 Winner – M(h)aol (Republic of Irleand)
2021 Winner – Monowhales (Canada)
2020 Winner – Larkin Poe (USA)
2019 Winner – Fontaines D.C. (Republic of Ireland)
2018 Winner – The Nectars (USA)
2017 Winner – Parekh & Singh (India)
2016 Winner – The Watanabes (Japan)
2015 Winner – Failure Machine (USA)
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Best Solo Male (UK) 2024 Winner
Jake Isaac: I’m honestly not sure how anyone has got through 2024 without the soulful and rich tones of Jake Isaac in their lives but, luckily for me, I had him in my ears so the very least I can do is bestow some questionable honour upon him. A man with true star quality.
More information: https://www.iamjakeisaac.com/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner - Granfalloon
2022 Winner – Joe Hicks
2021 Winner – Mrley
2020 Winner – Riaz Ahmad
2019 Winner – Xam Volo
2018 Winner – Joshua Kyeot
2017 Winner – Jamie Lenman
2016 Winner – Jake Morley
2015 Winner – Cosmo Sheldrake
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Best Solo Male (South West) 2024 Winner
Boss Cass: Exeter based Boss Cass is an absolute
whirlwind of creative energy and if you’re anywhere near that vortex then you’ll
quickly find out that it is one hell of a ride. There is more to come, I can
sense it, but he’s already doing incredible things so sit up and pay attention.
More information: https://www.bosscass.com/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner– Paul Armer
2022 Winner – Andy Quick
2021 Winner – Jamie Yost
2020 Winner – Ollie Dixon
2019 Winner – Samantics
2018 Winner – Matthew Gordon Price
2017 Winner – Gozer Goodspeed/Martyn Crocker
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Best Solo Male (International) 2024 Winner
Who Shot Scott (Australia):
The releases I reviewed from Aussie one-man-show Who Shot Scott in 2024 were
like a shot of tequila before jumping off a waterfall – refreshing,
intoxicating and terrifying. How could anyone, let alone me, resist that
combination? I’m just a man, damnit.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/whoshotscott/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Ben Harper (USA)
2022 Winner – Fantastic Negrito (USA)
2021 Winner – Yves Paquet (Belgium)
2020 Winner – Jacknife Lee (Republic of Ireland)
2019 Winner – Duckwrth (USA)
2018 Winner – Simon Lynge (Greenland)
2017 Winner – Noah Gundersen (USA)
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Best Solo Female (UK) 2024 Winner
Poppy Ajudha: London based but with a world view and
itchy feet, Poppy Ajudha is ready to blow up following the release of her
latest album and some instantly infectious singles. An incredibly bright star
that is only going to get brighter.
More information: https://www.poppyajudha.co.uk/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner - Mega
2022 Winner – Nina Nesbitt
2021 Winner – Penfriend
2020 Winner – Tina Boonstra
2019 Winner – Lauran Hibberd
2018 Winner – Pip Hall
2017 Winner – Poppy Ackroyd
2016 Winner – Joanna Cooke / Lulu James
2015 Winner – Malka
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Best Solo Female (South West) 2024 Winner
Rue: Westcountry singer-songwriter has gone for
quality over quantity this year but, when she’s as good as she is, you can see
why Rue is so highly though of in all of the very best circles.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/itsruetoyou/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Mae Karthauser
2022 Winner – Sounds Like Lily
2021 Winner – Maisy Grace
2020 Winner – Yazzy
2019 Winner – Rise
2018 Winner – Joanna Cooke
2017 Winner – Rosie the Crow
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Best Solo Female (International) 2024 Winner
Angelica Garcia (USA): This was a tough category yet
again in 2024 but Angelica Garcia’s infectious singles, impressive album and intense
live shows put her at the pinnacle of her game.
More information: https://www.angelicagarciamusic.net/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Bludnymph (Canada)
2022 Winner – Jaguar Jonze (Australia)
2021 Winners – Chaii (New Zealand)/UPSAHL (USA)
2020 Winner – Madison Beer (USA)
2019 Winners – Tami Neilson (Canada/Australia)/Mavis Staples
(USA)
2018 Winner – Grace Inspace (USA)
2017 Winner – Deqn Sue (USA)
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Best Single 2024 Winners
Mantaraybryn ‘No Economy’ / Rubberband Girl ‘Star In A
Reasonably Priced Car’
I would put money on neither of
these topping any other single of the year lists but both songs have been
living rent free in my head this year like a pair of persistent little
earworms. Manatraybryn’s ‘No Economy’ is a wonderfully quirky and infectious
take on the way young Cornish people are being forced out of their home county
by second home-owners and the London set. Rubberband Girl, meanwhile, have
crafted an insanely uplifting but relatable single in ‘Star In A Reasonably
Priced Car’ that tackles the self-doubt and arduousness of leaving home to make
your way in music.
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – The Derevolutions ‘Cheetah’
2022 Winner – Joe Hicks ‘Mirror Mirror’
2021 Winner – Fickle Friends ‘Love You To Death’
2020 Winner – The Clockworks ‘Enough Is Never Enough’
2019 Winner – Ferris & Sylvester ‘I Dare You’ /
Bicuruious ‘I Don’t Do Drugs, I Just Sweat A Lot’
2018 Winner – X Ambassadors ‘Joyful’
2017 Winner – She Makes War ‘I Want My Country Back’ / Moses
‘King Size’
2016 Winner – Mowbeck ‘Vaseline’ / Childcare ‘Cinema
Club’
2015 Winner – Azu Yeche ‘Lagos’
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Best EP 2024 Winner
Poppyshow ‘Trials &
Tribulations’: The Exeter lads came up trumps with this EP that provides
the me lodies, the hooks and the
tightness you want from a band but it’s the breathless urgency and relentless
energy that really makes this one so addictive. If you’ve had a bad day, then
pop this one on in the kitchen and jump around like a loon – you’ll feel better
for it.
More information: https://www.poppyshowband.co.uk/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner - Maimuna Memon ‘More Than I Bargained For’ /
Saint Levant ‘From Gaza With Love
2022 Winner – Nobro ‘Love Your Truth Shred Some Gnar’
2021 Winner – Wooze ‘Get Me To A Nunnery’
2020 Winner – Tina Boonstra ‘City of Doubt’
2019 Winner – Sick Joy ‘Them Days’
2018 Winner – Jones ‘New York’
2017 Winner – Mux ‘Can You See Who?’
2016 Winner – Joanna Cooke ‘Wound Up’ / Bare Hunter ‘Dry
Rot’
2015 Winner – Alex Gregory ‘Critical Perfection
EP’
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Best Album 2024 Winner
The Derevolutions ‘Reinvent the Wheel’ /
Big Special ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’:
These two albums present the yin and yang of my musical tastes with the Derevolutions representing my sense of whimsy, creativity and ingenuity while Big Special are the biting, hard and sociopolitically angry bit of me that nobody wants at parties. Without one the other wouldn't exist.
More information:
Big Special: https://bigspecial.co.uk/
The Derevolutions: https://www.instagram.com/thederevolutions/
Previous Winners
2023 Winners - Chappaqua Wrestling ‘Plus Ultra’ / Corinne
Bailey Rae ‘Black Rainbow’
2022 Winner – Jamie Lenman ‘The Atheist’
2021 Winners – Zuzu ‘Queensway Tunnel’/UPSAHL ‘Lady
Jesus’
2020 Winners – Nana Adjoa ‘Big Dreaming Ants’/Moriaty ‘The
Die Is Cast’
2019 Winners – William the Conqueror ‘Bleeding on the
Soundtrack’ / X Ambassadors ‘Orion’
2018 Winners – The Nectars ‘Sci-Fi Television’ / Henge
‘Attention! Earth’
2017 Winners – Noah Gundersen ‘White Noise’ / Rews
‘Pyro’
2016 Winners – Narcs ‘A Thinking Animal’ / Jake Morley ‘The
Manual
2015 Winners – Lost Dawn / Malka
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Best Video 2024 Winner
Disgusting Sister ‘Killing It’:
Not only was this the duo’s debut video but it accompanied their debut single
and the polished indie-pop matched with the lo-fi video aesthetic in a scrap
yard makes for compelling and intoxicating art.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/disgustingsistersband/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Malka – What You Get Out’
2022 Winner – Wooze ‘Huge Axeman’
2021 Winner – Middle Kids ‘Questions’
2020 Winner – Spang Sisters ‘Eddie Murphy’
2019 Winner – Penguin Café ‘Chapter’
2018 Winner – Calva Louise ‘Tug of War’ / LibraLibra
‘Tongues’
2017 Winner – Vei ‘Rolling on You Romeo’
2016 Winner – Michelle O Faith ‘Lemonade’
2015 Winner – Husky ‘I’m Not Coming Back’
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Best Live Show 2024 Winner
Moriaty + Boss Cass + Mutant Menace @ The Junction,
Plymouth: This was a tough category to call but when you combine some fresh
talent, a celebration of a great record and an independent venue with great people
in it, there really is no competition. Moriaty were peerless, Boss Cass had
more energy and ideas in one man than most bands manage and Mutant Menace had
the raw stuff that dreams are made of. It was a night to remember.
More information:
Moriaty: https://moriaty.co.uk/
Boss Cass: https://www.bosscass.com/
Mutant Menace: https://www.instagram.com/mutant_menace_music/
The Junction: https://www.instagram.com/thejunctionplym/
Previous Winners
2023 Winners – Jamie Lenman + Blank Atlas + Moosehead @ the
Junction, Plymouth
2022 Winner – Bicurious @ the Underground, Plymouth
2021 Winner – Bailey Tomkinson @ Panda Fest, Lanivet
2020 Winner – Wille Edwards & Andy Quick @ the Village
Hall, Downderry
2019 Winner – Shihad @ the Thekla, Bristol
2018 Winner – Looe Saves the Day Festival, Looe
2017 Winner – Wildwood Kin @ The Brook Inn, Plymouth
2016 Winner – Blogtober 2016 feat. Berries/Pattern
Pusher/Seaker/Jamie Yost/Rosa Belle
2015 Winner – Tankus the Henge @ Looe Music Festival
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Best Name 2024 Winner
Man/Woman/Chainsaw: Aside from being one of the
coolest bands in the UK right now and having a huge amount of buzz surrounding
them, Man/Woman/Chainsaw have one of the coolest names out there. Buzz, cool
name and great songs. They’ll go far, you mark my words.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/manwomanchainsaw/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – All Day Breakfast Café
2022 Winner – Robocobra Quartet
2021 Winner – Mandrake Handshake
2020 Winner – Death By Unga Bunga
2019 Winner – Those Fucking Snowflakes
2018 Winner – Have You Ever Seen the Jane Fonda Aerobic
VHS?
2017 Winner – Playboy Manbaby
2016 Winner – Yes Babez! / Taco Hell / Queen of Jeans
2015 Winner – Get Inuit / Rangleklods
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Best Debut 2024 Winner
Rubberband Girl ‘Profiterole
Vision’: Apart from being a brilliantly titled album, this is an
incredibly eclectic, ambitious and hook-laden long player by anyone’s standards
but to pull this out of the hat at the first time of asking is something
special. This is a kaleidoscope of an album that sounds fresh with each listen
and always reveals something new if you pay attention.
More information: https://www.instagram.com/rubberbandgirlband/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Maisy Grace ‘Based On A True Story’
2022 Winners – Peaness ‘World Full Of Worry’/The Assist
‘Council Pop’
2021 Winner – DEJA ‘Intro EP’
2020 Winner – Nana Adjoa ‘Big Dreaming Ants’
2019 Winner – Gazel ‘Gazel’s Book of Souls’
2018 Winner – Georgia Fearn ‘Perfect on Paper’
2017 Winner – Black Futures ‘Karma, Ya Dig?’
201 Winner – Berries ‘Siren’
2015 Winner – Vanessa Forero ‘Heaven Knows’
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Best Year 2024 Winners
Loose Articles/Lambrini Girls –
Two of the most exciting bands in the UK also happen to be two of the
hardest working bands on this sceptic isle. If you’re looking for a riotously
good time, some social commentary and sheer, raw energy then get to one of
their gigs – lord knows there are enough of them.
More information:
Loose Articles: https://www.loosearticles.co.uk/
Lambrini Girls: https://www.lambrinigirlsband.co.uk/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Big Special
2022 Winners – Peaness/The Assist
2021 Winner - Cherym
2020 Winner – Lack of Afro
2019 Winner – Deux Furiesues
2018 Winner - Idles
2017 Winner - Cassels
2016 Winner – Wildwood Kin
2015 Winner – Sound of the Sirens
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DediKATed (Katherine Bawden/Williams): There are certain
email addresses that bring joy into your life and getting a new message from
Katherine Bawden/Williams (aka DediKATed PR) is definitely a highlight of the
day. In 2024 alone she has brought us music from Ber, Beetlebug, Fantastic
Negrito, Ferris & Sylvester, Fiaa, Jake Isaac, Larkin Poe, Nina Nesbitt, Shaznay
Lewis, Tors and X Ambassadors. Not bad for a one-woman show, eh?
More information: https://www.dedikatedpr.com/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – Big Mouth Publicity
2022 Winner – Stay Golden PR
2021 Winner – Wall of Sound PR
2020 Winner – Sonic PR
2019 Winner – Prescription PR
2018 Winner – Fine Company
2017 Winner – Cannonball PR
2016 Winner – Wilful Publicity
2015 Winner – Hannah Gould Music PR
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Best Label 2024 Winner
SO Recordings: In a world where the very existence of
record labels comes into question on an annual basis, it is downright
impressive to see a label like SO Recordings with a catalogue of releases
including Big Special, Public Service Broadcasting, Placebo and Sick Joy. Oh,
and they’re 100% independent, which is nice.
More information: https://sorecordings.com/
Previous Winners
2023 Winner – RCA Records
2022 Winner - Jalapeno Records
2021 Winner – Tantrum Records
2020 Winner – Alcopop! Records
2019 Winner – Say Something Records
2018 Winner – Integrity Records
2017 Winner – Cooking Vinyl
2016 Winner – Superfan 99
2015 Winner – Clue Records