Listen With Monger Awards 2017 - The Winners
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LWM Awards 2017 Playlist:
Here it is then, the definitive
list of the winners for Listen With Monger for 2017. Remember, the only rules
are that the artist must have featured on the blog in 2017 and they can’t have
won the specific award before. And for all those that were shortlisted but didn't win, prepare
your best proud-of-your-friends faces. Finally, thanks to all those that have sent music in to be judged and reviewed this year - keep it coming in 2018, alright?
Oh, one more thing, there's a Spotify playlist featuring a track from all of the winners at the end of this so check that out while you're wrapping your presesnts - it's a treat. Right, let's go...
Best Band Name 2017
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| Playboy Manbaby - Best Band Name |
WINNER - PLAYBOY MANBABY: Strong work from the musical community this with
some truly outstanding work but in the year that nonagenarian sleazeball Hugh
Hefner finally snuffed it, it seemed fitting that Phoenix crazies Playboy
Manbaby should get this coveted, nay, glittering prize.
Notable Mentions:
BITCH FALCON // SHOTGUN SAWYER //
MANNEQUIN DEATH SQUAD // BABEPUNCH // VELVET VOLUME // DEATH BY UNGA BUNGA
2016 Winner – Yes Babez! / Taco
Hell / Queen of Jeans
2015 Winner – Get Inuit /
Rangleklods
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Best Band (UK) 2017
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| Rews - UK Band of the Year |
WINNER – REWS: There’s no denying that melodic rock duo Rews have delivered
on their promise in 2017 and the singles that built up to their debut album
were fantastic but then there was that debut album, ‘Pyro’. It is awesome in
every sense and fuses the rock power of Royal Blood with sugar-sweet melodies
and hooks bigger than a Halloween abattoir. Hands down 2017 belongs to Rews and
2018 might become their bitch too.
Notable Mentions:
WILDWOOD KIN // BEACH RIOT //
CASSELS // FELIX HAGAN & THE FAMILY // LIFE // REVEREND & THE MAKERS //
SOUND OF THE SIRENS
2016 Winner – Narcs / Berries
2015 Winner - Allusondrugs_______________________________________________________________________
Best Band (International) 2017
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| Parekh & Singh - International Band of the Yaear |
WINNER – PARKEH & SINGH (India): This was a tight one as Prophets of Rage
brought strong game but the Kolkata duo are not only fronting a bit of a
movement in their native country. The pair’s stylish and understated indie-pop
is matched only by their cool attire and steely determination. Expect them to
appear in a Richard Ayoade film any day now and then become darlings of the BBC
6Music playlist.
Notable Mentions:
BALAKO // CHARLY BLISS // FAST ROMANTICS
// LITTLE HURRICANES // PROPHETS OF RAGE // THE DARTS // VELVET VOLUME //
2016 Winner – The Watanabes
(Japan)
2015 Winner – Failure Machine (USA)
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WINNERS - GOZER GOODSPEED/MARTYN CROCKER: This was an incredibly strong category in 2017 and it has been the hardest one to whittle down so I’ve had to share the spoils. On the one hand we have Bluesman Gozer Goodspeed who has released a superb EP, gigged relentlessly and received international airplay and acclaim. On the other hand, Martyn Crocker has released a stylish and introspective indie-rock album as well as playing some tight, intense and encapsulating gigs which have raised his reputation beyond that of a local musician. Strong game gentlemen, strong game indeed.
Best Band (South West) 2017
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| The Malthusian - Southwest Band of the Year |
WINNER - THE MALTHUSIAN TRAP: Plymouth based trio the Malthusian Trap
started the year chatting to me in the back yard of a packed pub talking of
their artistic ambitions and the standards they set for themselves. They went
on to tour Germany, play throughout the UK and win over the hearts and minds of
the masses whilst never deviating from their goal to create something
meaningful and creative. 2017 was their year for sure.
Notable Mentions:
AUCTION FOR THE PROMISE CLUB //
FLASHES // HARBOTTLE & JONAS // HYPOPHORA // LGM ONE // // THE VIEWERS //
2016 Winner – Wildwood Kin
2015 Winner – Lost Dawn / Sound
of the Sirens______________________________________________________________________
Best Solo Female (UK) 2017
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| Poppy Ackroyd - Best UK Female Solo |
WINNER – POPPY ACKROYD: I’m so delighted at how difficult this category was
as it is a great representation of how healthy the UK music scene is in the
hands of strong, independent women. More importantly, it shows the diversity on
offer and Poppy Ackroyd encapsulates that strength, independence and diversity
beautifully with her neo-classical moodscapes that have genuinely moved me to
tears in a seriously uplifting way. I could have comfortably picked any of the
shortlist to win this but Ackroyd just pips it for being so utterly original in
her approach and for the impact she had on the group of Year 10 kids I got to
guest review the song earlier in the year.
Notable Mentions:
PIP HALL // LOTS HOLLOWAY // MS
MOHAMMED // BRYDE // KATE TEMPEST
2016 Winner – Joanna Cooke / Lulu
James
2015 Winner – Malka_______________________________________________________________________
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| DeQn Sue - Best International Solo Female |
Best Solo Female (International) 2017
WINNER - DEQN SUE: Sure, it’s a strong category, but US musician DeQn Sue
was leading from the start with a series of stand-out singles that built up to
a superb debut album. Mixing soul, pop, indie and R’n’B with a truly unique
approach was always going to turn heads. Wearing a hat made of Lego is
guaranteed to turn the heads of anyone left in doubt.
Notable Mentions:
ANGIE // MAYA KILLTRON // AIDA //
BULOW // KAT FRANKIE
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Best Solo Female (South West) 2017
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| Rosie The Crow - Best South West Female Solo |
WINNER - ROSIE THE CROW: Cornish based Rosie The Crow is stretching the
definition of a solo-artist as she has a consistent backing band of two but
It’s her voice and the melodies she creates that put her at the top of the pile
for 2017. In particular, recent single ‘Invisible’ is an intimate account of
the realisation that a relationship is over the deserves a bigger audience.
Notable Mentions:
EILIDH SINCLAIR // // SADIE
HORLER // TALITHA RISE
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Best Solo Male (South West) 2017
WINNERS - GOZER GOODSPEED/MARTYN CROCKER: This was an incredibly strong category in 2017 and it has been the hardest one to whittle down so I’ve had to share the spoils. On the one hand we have Bluesman Gozer Goodspeed who has released a superb EP, gigged relentlessly and received international airplay and acclaim. On the other hand, Martyn Crocker has released a stylish and introspective indie-rock album as well as playing some tight, intense and encapsulating gigs which have raised his reputation beyond that of a local musician. Strong game gentlemen, strong game indeed.
Notable Mentions:
CHAY SNOWDON // FROZEN HOUSES // PAUL
ARMER
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| Gozer Goodspeed |
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| Martyn Crocker |
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Best Solo Male (UK) 2017
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| Jamie Lenman - Best UK Solo Male |
WINNER - JAMIE LENMAN: Not only has Lenman produced an album in ‘Devolver’
that is stunning and so deeply layered it might as well be lasagne, but he’s
also sold out his own festival (Lenmania) and pulled off an improbably haircut.
Even better, he’s now reached the status where people no longer need to talk
about his former band, no matter how ace they were. He truly is the hero we
need right now.
Notable Mentions:
PHILIP WHITEHEAD // XAMVOLO //
MATT EMERY // PAUL DRAPER
2016 Winner – Jake Morley
2015 Winner – Cosmo Sheldrake
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Best Solo Male (International) 2017
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| Noah Gundersen - Best International Solo Male |
WINNER – NOAH GUNDERSEN: I was a Gundersen virgin until I heard his ‘White
Noise’ album but now I am with child. The range of styles, emotions and
landscapes left me breathless so throw in some reportedly sensationally
intimate live shows and you have the kind of talent that can beat the king of
Funk and a dead Blues legend in to first place. He’s just that good.
Notable Mentions:
BOOTSY COLLINS // CHUCK BERRY //
SEAFOAM GREEN // GILI YALO
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Best Single 2017
WINNER - SHE
MAKES WAR ‘I WANT MY COUNTRY BACK’ / MOSES ‘KING SIZE’: A split decision
again this year based on the head and the heart. She Makes War’s brilliant one woman take on the way us Remoaners
feel about the state of the UK right now, ‘I Want My Country Back’, captured my
heart immediately and had to be a winner. My head, however, just can’t ignore
the fact that London boys Moses
pulled an absolute indie banger out of the bag with ‘King Size’ – a track so
instantly lovable and infectious that it could well be a one-hit-wonder but it
isn’t….mark my words.
Notable Mentions:
VEI ‘ROLLING ON YOU ROMEO’ //
BAIT ‘PUSH THE ELEPHANT’ // MUX ‘MDMA’ // AMIQUE ‘GOD’ // PROPHETS OF RAGE
‘UNFUCK THE WORLD’ // LOTS HOLLOWAY ‘STAY A LITTLE LONGER’ // BLACK FUTURES
‘KARMA YA DIG?’ // YVONNE HERCULES ‘ROVING’ // GILI YALO ‘AFRICA’
2016 Winner – Mowbeck ‘Vaseline’
/ Childcare ‘Cinema Club’
2015 Winner – Azu Yeche ‘Lagos’ |
| Moses |
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| She Makes War |
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Best EP 2017
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| MUX - Best EP |
WINNER - MUX ‘CAN YOU SEE WHO?’ EP: I Loved this EP from the first spin but
it was hearing the tracks live that really brought this to life. From the
amazing single ‘MDMA’ that grabs you by the throat and force feeds you, well,
MDMA through to the sketchy wonder of ‘Gold and Prozac’ this is the kind of EP
that will change hands for big bucks in years when these guys are carried at
shoulder-height through the streets of East London.
Notable Mentions:
GOZER GOODSPEED ‘THE BARREL
HEADLONG INTO THE NIGHT EP’ // FAILURE MACHINE ‘WAKE DRAKE SKATE EP’ // // DRONNINGEN
‘SUGARBOX EP’ // THE HAMALAYS ‘EP2’ // VELVET & STONE ‘EMBERS’ // SAN BLAS
‘DRAW, WIN OR LOSE’
2016 Winner – Joanna Cooke ‘Wound
Up EP’ / Bare Hunter ‘Dry Rot EP’
2015 Winner – Alex Gregory
‘Critical Perfection EP’
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Best Video 2017
WINNERS - VEI ‘ROLLING ON YOU ROMEO’ / GILI YALO ‘AFRICA’: OK, I’m not even
sorry about sitting on this particular fence. Vei’s ‘Rolling On You Romeo’ has
a beautifully stylish and choreographed video that fits the song perfectly without
ever going over the top. Gili Yalo’s ‘Africa’, meanwhile is just full of life,
colour and vibrancy that makes for the kind of video you just want on a loop if
you’re having a bad day.
Notable Mentions:
THE RETROACTION ‘THESE THINGS FOR
YOU’ // THE VELVET HANDS ‘I DON’T MIND’ // JERRY WILLIAMS ‘I’M NOT IN LOVE WITH
YOU’ // WHERE FIRES ARE ‘I’VE GOT THE TIME’ // I SEE RIVERS ‘DA RAM’ // KATIE
LAFFAN ‘TASTEMAKER’ // // IDLES ‘MOTHER’
2016 Winner – Michelle O Faith
‘Lemonade’
2015 Winner – Husky ‘I’m Not
Coming Back’
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| Vei |
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| Gili Yalo |
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Best Live Show 2017
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| Wildwood Kin - Best Live Show |
WINNER – WILDWOOD KIN @ THE BROOK INN, PLYMOUTH: Not an easy one to choose
this, what with all the nepotism swarming around the Listen With Monger shows,
but the opportunity to catch a group on the rise in an intimate venue for the
last time is always special. Exeter trio Wildwood Kin playing in a venue so
intimate that they had to shut the bar during the music to avoid interfering
with the sound was something to behold. As always, the harmonies were spot on
and the banter was awkward but that worked so much better when you could see
the whites of their eyes. Once in a lifetime stuff.
Notable Mentions:
BLOGTOBER 2017 @ THE FINSBURY //
REVEREND & THE MAKERS @ LOOE FESTIVAL // ONE DAY FEST @ THE INN ON THE
SHORE // SOUND OF THE SIRENS @ THE RED HOUSE // JAMIE YOST @ THE INN ON THE
SHORE // INDIGO GIRLS @ BIERKELLER
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 Debut 2017
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| Black Futures - Best Debut |
WINNER - BLACK FUTURES ‘KARMA, YA DIG?’: It feels like 2017 had the perfect
balance of ingredients for folks to want to start making music what with all
the political upheaval, societal disparity and general strong feelings all
around. Duo Black Futures fused punk, goth, industrial, dance, EDM and gospel
to create the treacle thick ‘Karma, Ya Dig?’ and it is both devastating and
uplifting at the same time. This is not the end, this is just the beginning of
the end and now we have the perfect soundtrack.
Notable Mentions:
MUX ‘MDMA’ // BLESSED ‘SEE
THROUGH ALL THE COLOURS’ // LUCIE BARAT ‘TAKE ME AWAY’ // L.A.D. ‘DANCE FLOOR’
2016 Winner – Berries ‘Siren’
2015 Winner – Vanessa Forero
‘Heaven Knows’
Best Year 2017
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| Cassels - Best Year |
WINNER – CASSELS: Brothers Loz and Jim Beck has been firm favourites at LWM
towers for a while now but it was 2017 that saw them cash in all their promise
for a juicy deal with Big Scary Monsters, a hatful of UK dates and a stunning
debut album. The Chipping Norton duo are not bending to any trends or whims as
they make their angular, acerbic noise so you might as well bend to their will
instead, it’s just easier for everyone. An extra round of Sherries in the Beck
household this Christmas I think.
Notable Mentions:
MALKA // LOTS HOLLOWAY //
REVEREND & THE MAKERS // BLESSED
2016 Winner – Wildwood Kin
2015 Winner – Sound of the Sirens
Best Album 2017
WINNERS - NOAH GUNDERSEN ‘WHITE NOISE’ / REWS ‘PYRO’: Man, I tried so hard to
pick just one album this year but it’s been the best crop of albums this year
and I had to share the love. If you’re after intimate, introspective and life
affirming stuff that will draw you in and change your world then Noah
Gundersen’s superb ‘White Noise’ is the one for you. However, if you want to
turn everything up to 11 and rock out hard to songs that you can also sing
along to then the debut effort from UK duo Rews, ‘Pyro’, should definitely
float your boat.
Notable Mentions:
AUCTION FOR THE PROMISE CLUB
‘SILENCE’ // // HARBOTTLE & JONAS ‘ANNA IS A DANCER’ // SOUND OF THE SIRENS
‘FOR ALL OUR SINS’ // REVEREND & THE MAKERS ‘THE DEATH OF A KING’ // DEQN
SUE ‘JUGGERNAUT’ // THE LAD CLASSIC ‘RECTIFIER’ // CASSELS ‘EPITHET’ // JAMIE
LENMAN ‘DEVOLVER’ //
2016 Winner – Narcs ‘A Thinking
Animal’ / Jake Morley ‘The Manual
2015 Winner – Lost Dawn / Malka |
| Rews - Pyro |
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| Noah Gundersen - White Noise |
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Best PR 2017
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| Cannonball PR - Best PR 2017 |
WINNER - CANNONBALL PR: These guys were newbies on the scene as far as I’m
concerned (despite existing since 2004) but then they just started hitting me
with outstanding artist after outstanding artist. We’re talking DeQn Sue,
AyOwA, Jennings Couch, Josh Wheatley and Velvet Volume amongst others. There’s
passion and a real ear for something fresh and different which makes this small
agency one to pay attention to. Congratulations to Jamie, Jess and Terry on a
fine ass year.
Notable Mentions:
LOST IN THE MANOR PR // BANDWAGON
PRESS // BRICK PR
2016 Winner – Wilful Publicity
2015 Winner – Hannah Gould Music
PR
Best Label 2017
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| Cooking Vinyl - Best Label 2017 |
WINNER – COOKING VINYL: A bit of
a resurgence for a label I grew up listening to this year as they pumped up
some great records from artists like the Darkness, Reverend & The Makers,
Noah Gundersen, Gogol Bordello and Embrace – as well as a whole host of others
that I didn’t get the pleasure of reviewing this year. Top work ladies and
gents, top work indeed.
Notable Mentions:
BIG SCARY MONSTERS // ONE LITTLE
INDIAN // CLUE RECORDS // EASY ACTION RECORDS
2016 Winner – Superfan 99
2015 Winner – Clue Records
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LWM Awards 2017 Playlist: