Mull It Over 038: Fear and Loathing at the Northern Ireland Music Prize
A drunken journey to the heart of the Northern Ireland music scene.
It was a night that got off on the wrong foot almost immediately. Upon the realisation I was 20 minutes early for dinner plans with my friend who would be accompanying me to the Northern Ireland Music Prize that night, I stopped in for a cold warm-up Guinness in, of all places, The Points on the Dublin Road. Not a student in sight, I could hardly believe my luck, or, in hindsight, believe how quickly it was about to run out.
“A beer each to start, please” we excitedly requested from the waiter. Chatting an ungodly amount of shit between courses and glasses of red wine, no stone left unturned as is true when two old friends meet up, we squared up the bill like the good citizens we are and left this very fine establishment indeed with a hop, skip and a jump - on our way to the biggest night of the year for the local music scene.
Brandishing my coveted press pass, it was hitherto a night to rub elbows with the city’s elite, the gatekeepers of such respected institutions as BBC’s ATL, The Thin Air, Chordblossom, Dig With It and countless others. Maybe I’d bump into Phil Taggart outside for a smoke and tell him about my plucky little Substack and if he wouldn’t mind mentioning me on one of his prime time shows. It turns out we weren’t there for any of that. Evidently we were there for the chaos, the strange magnetic pull of intoxication, the thrill of slamming into something absurd, and the promise of god-knows-what in the shadows and potentially the Guinness world record for most trips to the bar in the space of two hours, pun intended.
The Ulster Hall loomed ahead, a dark beast of Victorian grandeur, all stone and brick, dripping with history like a forgotten nightmare of loyalism and Led Zeppelin. The place had been home to so many glitzy affairs in the past, and here we were—two degenerates, barely able to keep our feet beneath us, headed straight into the belly of the beast.
We left as the show drew to a close, or maybe it was after, or maybe it didn’t end at all. The streets were full of local bands, artists, journalists, radio presenters and hangers on. The smell of wet pavement and the sound of our laughter echoing off Bedford Street’s buildings found a welcoming home in Pug Ugly’s pub across the street. A surprisingly hearty pint of Guinness in one hand, this is where we reliably caught up on some of the blanks from inside the venue. Oh well, you win some you lose some. Congratulations to the winners, the losers and the degenerates. See you again next year.
From my best recollection, here’s how it all went down on the night -
Album Of The Year: Problem Patterns - Blouse Club
Music Video Of The Year: Jordan Adetunji - Kehlani
Live Act Of The Year: Huartan
Single Of The Year: JC Stewart - Hey Babe, I’m A Mess, I’m Sorry
BBC Radio Ulster ATL Introducing Artist Of The Year: Esmerelda Road
Legend Award: Eric Bell
Outstanding Contribution To Music Award: Gerry Anderson
Once again, congratulations to all on the night and sincere thanks to the mighty Oh Yeah Centre gang for another absolutely astonishing Northern Ireland Music Prize. It was a joy to be there and witness the immense talent this country has to offer. After writing about this scene all year it was very special to be in attendance.
Here’s to the next one.