Peter Mann finds the North-East’s Ubeat Awards are ready for an academy extravaganza

THIS week sees the region's Ubeat TV Music awards arrive at not only its biggest stage in its second year, but preparing for a national burst as host Dan Charles takes the music extravaganza to the O2 Academy, Newcastle.

Nominations across 19 categories include Best Solo Male and Female, Manager of the Year, People’s Choice Award, Outstanding Achievement and the Ubeat TV Act of the Year, celebrating all that is good about regional grassroots music.

Among the stars appearing, with 15 acts performing in-between the award announcements, is local-boy-made-good, Mackenzie Sol, the teen having moved to America to launch an international music career. Mackenzie is not only performing on the night, but is also nominated for an award.

Host Dan Charles says: “We had more than 1,700 acts nominated for the awards which was whittled down to the 190 that are up for awards on the night. This show is going to be brilliant and we’re really excited about it all because it’s something that we’ve created and worked really hard at.

“Last year, at the NE6 Suite, was the first and was more of an experiment to see what could be done. The academy saw what we were capable of, and knew of us through the TV show, so we sat down together and looked at what could be achieved. Making this year’s work means that we can push forward onto next year on a grander scale.”

Up for four awards, including Best Solo Male, is rocker, Craig Roddam. He says: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed and privileged at the fact I've been nominated for four awards this year. It's an amazing feeling and I can't thank the team at Ubeat enough for recognising me as an artist and it seems to be the hard work I've put in over the past year into making my first EP (Believe in What You Want) is paying off.

“It's been an amazing year so far with the achievements I've accomplished like the TFM Big Audition win, supporting Twister at a sold out show with my live band, playing in front of 30,000 people at Metro Radio's firework spectacular and now this. It's been crazy but I've loved every minute.”

Up for Traditional Act is Allendale-born, Bath-based student, Carys Calling, a soloist who produces dark folk music that has, earlier this year, been played on BBC Introducing. Coming home for the awards ceremony the artist, who last year was nominated for Best Video, says: “I’m absolutely over the moon with the nomination. It’s an amazing feeling to be nominated and recognised by your peers and to come and be with some of the incredible talent we have in the North-East is fantastic. I’m really excited to be there on the night and it’ll be great to catch up with people I’ve not seen for a while.”

Fiery red-head sensation from Tyneside Beth Macari also has four nominations, tough categories and strong competition she will look for Best Female and the Ubeat award to cap an incredible year.

“I think Ubeat is such a great way of acknowledging all the great talent the North-East has to offer. The night itself is such a great chance for the North-East music community to come together, get glammed up and enjoy each other’s music and successes, I am thrilled to be nominated for four awards,” says Macari.

Indie/Alt Act nomination Scott Cavagan, the Chester-le-Street musician, confesses he was shocked to be on the list: “It was a surprise because I’ve been away from the scene for a while and only recently came back as a soloist. It’s a good thing for me coming back and being here for this as a lot has changed since I was a part of Laconia, there’s a lot more talent in the region and it’s a great opportunity to see all that in person. Although working full-time I can still be an active musician and I’m looking at releasing my first solo album early next year so I can’t think of a better way to re-introduce myself to the scene.”

Two of the nominees for the Ubeat TV Act are Jamilah Hassan and Geoff Mull, both having made waves this past year and find themselves competing along with Samantha Lavery, Twister, Beth Macari and The Waiters.

Jamilah says: “This has certainly been the best year of my career so far and being nominated for the Ubeat TV Act of the Year is the most rewarding thing of it. I’ve reaped the benefits of it all and for the best things to happen in the same venue (Nelly, EP launch, Ubeat Awards all at the O2 Academy) I get nothing but good vibes and good smiles and that place certainly means a lot to me.”

Mull is a dab hand at award nominations, after success last year. “I was nominated for three awards last year, winning Best Single, so this shows that, what I’m doing, working hard, is paying off. Being nominated alongside other great acts in the region shows that we are growing as a collective. I’m never off my social media and, although I’ve never pushed the album it’s nice to get that nomination in there which opens things up for my new management. I’d love to win Best Male and the Ubeat Award as they’re the main ones, it’s just crazy to be nominated for six this time around, and to perform live on the night, it’s great, it really,” he says.

  • Limited tickets are available from the Academy website for the red carpet music extravaganza, the Ubeat Awards takes place on Sunday, December 4, from 7pm onwards with the main show beginning around 8pm