LWM Awards 2025 - The Shortlist
Without realising it, I’ve found
myself at the ten-year anniversary of doing these annual awards and, looking
back at the previous winners, I’m pretty happy with my hit rate in terms of
predicting future successes. For sure, there have been some artists that have
disappeared like a Eurovision loser but, for the most part, the previous winner
lists is generally a great guide for music that should be gracing your ears.
So, no pressure, but her come the tenth-year shortlists…. [NB Winners will be announced on Friday 12th December]
Best Band (UK) 2025 Shortlist
BILK
Krooked Tongue
The Assist
Oi Va Voi
Oswald Slain
Witch Fever
Snake Eyes
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – October Drift
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) 2025 Shortlist
Callima
Soot Sprite
3 Days of Wonder
The Ultra Violets
Moosehead
50 Year Storm
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Bailey Tomkinson & the Locals
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) 2025 Shortlist
Calva Louise (Venezuela, France & New Zealand)
WITCH (Zambia)
TAMIW (Japan)
Gurriers (Republic of Ireland)
Thee Marloes (Indonesia)
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Bicurious (Republic of Ireland)
2023 Winner – NOBRO (Canada)
2022 Winner – M(h)aol (Republic of Ireland)
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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Newton Faulkner
Louis Dunford
Scott Lavene
Matthew C Whitaker
J.Lynch
Ollie Dixon
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Jake Isaac
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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Tooth Gore
Joe Chown
Rhys Hurd
Taylor Latham
Jon Fazal
Kevin James French
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Boss Cass
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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Madisine (Italy)
Saul Robles (Puerto Rica)
Spencer Kilpatrick (USA)
Van Morrison (Ireland)
Alex Etchart (Uruguay)
Dope Lemon (Australia)
Parov Stelar (Austria)
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Who Shot Scott (Australia)
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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Luvcat
Better Joy
Sophie Ellis-Bexter
Maya Lakhani
Emily Breeze
Bethany Weimers
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Poppy Adjuha
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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Billie Maree
Third Girl From The Left
Saff Juno
Posturing
Jasmine Wood
Amber Jade Smith
Previous Winners
2024 Winner - Rue
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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Kate Prendergast (Ireland)
Raissa (Spain)
Ava Renn (USA)
Mango In Euphoria (France)
Hope Vista (USA)
Jessie Murph (USA)
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Angelica Garcia (USA)
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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Newton Faulkner ‘Alright Alright Alright’
Life Aquatic Band ‘Stuck In The Mud’
Skunk Anansie ‘An Artist Is An Artist’
Malka ‘Baby I Need This’
Lezard ‘Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Pop Stop’
Mother Vulture ‘Slow Down’
Himalayas ‘Surrender’
Eska ‘Daddy Long Legs’
Thundermoon ‘The Spirit, The Law’
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Mantaraybryn ‘No Economy’/Rubberband Girl
‘Star In A Reasonably Priced Car’
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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Bethany Weimers ‘The Story I Breathe’
Colin Manson ‘Wayfinding’
Better Joy ‘At Dusk’
Bailey Tomkinson & the Locals ‘Witching Hour’
The Family Battenberg ‘Spider Rock Forever’
The Velvet Hands ‘Caller’
Spencer Kilpatrick & the Sand Gators ‘Bobby Jackson’
Dead Air ‘Elements’
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Poppyshow ‘Trials & Tribulations’
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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Louis Dunford ‘Be Lucky’
Newton Faulkner ‘Octopus’
Benefits ‘Constant Noise
Dinosaur Pile-Up ‘I’ve Felt Better’
TAMIW ‘Farewell Party’
Jon Fazal ‘Insomniacs Ball’
Ava Renn ‘Lightning Child’
Luvcat ‘Vicious Delicious’
The Assist ‘Disconnections’
Calva Louise ‘Edge of the Abyss’
Previous Winners
2024 Winners – The Derevolutions ‘Reinvent the Wheel’/Big
Special ‘Postindustrial Hometown Blues’
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 2025 Shortlist
Wille & the Bandits ‘Trouble Round The Bend’
Royal Republic ‘I’m So Excited’
Skindred ‘You Got This’
Luvcat ‘He’s My Man’
Erotic Secrets of Pompeii ‘Moving Sidewards Into Lightning’
Veronica D’Souza ‘Canary Song’
Scott Lavene ‘A Bus In July’
Pollyanna Blue ‘Lovesick’
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Disgusting Sister ‘Killing It’
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 2025 Shortlist
Basement Jaxx @ Powderham Castle, Exeter
Reef @ O2 Academy, Bristol
Tankus @ Carnglaze Caverns, Cornwall
Previous Winners
2024 Winners – Moriaty + Boss Cass + Mutant Menace @ the
Junction, Plymouth
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 2025 Shortlist
Twat Union
Thwack!
The Family Battenberg
100% WET
Heavy For The Tropics
Oswald Slain
Mountaintop Junkshop
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Man/Woman/Chainsaw
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 2025 Shortlist
Heavy For The Tropics ‘Vanities'
BILK ‘Essex, Drugs & Rock’n’Roll’
Luvcat ‘Vicious Delicious’
The Pursuit of Pleasure ‘Lived A Life’
Saiphon ‘New Man’
Oswald Slain ‘BUCKY’
Brother Wallace ‘Who’s That’
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – Rubberband Girl ‘Profiterole Vision’
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 2025 Shortlist
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Luvcat
Ash
Better Joy
Madisine
Witch Fever
Snake Eyes
Previous Winners
2024 Winners – Loose Articles/Lambrini Girls
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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Best PR 2025 Shortlist
Lydia Reed PR (LPR)
Noisy Ghost PR
Measure PR
Memphia PR
Beast PR
Rap & Soul PR
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – DediKATed PR
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 2025 Shortlist
Not Saints Records
Specialist Subject Records
So Young Records
Mascot Label Group
Universal Music Group
Krautpop! Records
Previous Winners
2024 Winner – SO Recordings
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