So not your normal Monday this week… we hung out with Coldplay, Tinie Tempah, Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran, Jessie J, Biffy Clyro, Bon Iver, Noel Gallagher, Gary Barlow and U2! And what do they all have in common? They were all winners at THE music awards event of the year and we were there to get in the way/witness it all.
These awards marked the climax of Q’s 25th anniversary year in spectacular style at a star-studded Q Awards 2011. Taking place at London’s Grosvenor Hotel they were hosted by Al Murray in the guise of his alter-ego The Pub Landlord. In all, a total of 18 awards were handed out – celebrating the very best new music of the last year and beyond.
Among the big winners was Adele, who bagged two awards (for Best Female Artist presented by Nivea Visage and Best Track presented by Q Radio for Rolling In The Deep), Tinie Tempah (Best Male Artist presented by Merc), Coldplay (Best Act In The World Today presented by First Drinks Brands), Ed Sheeran (Breakthrough Artist), Jessie J (Best Video presented by QTV for Do It Like A Dude), Biffy Clyro (Best Live Act), Bon Iver (Best Album), Manchester collective WU LYF (Best New Act presented by Orange Amplification) and Lana Del Rey, the US internet sensation who was crowned Next Big Thing.
The ceremony concluded with a very special award for U2 – who were voted The Greatest Act Of The Last 25 Years (presented by BlackBerry) by Q’s readers.
This year, as there has been at previous ceremonies, there were also artists that received special merit awards… Noel Gallagher (Q Icon), Take That’s musical mastermind Gary Barlow (Classic Songwriter), Fatboy Slim (Q Inspiration presented by YouYou Mentoring), Snow Patrol (Classic Song presented by Zippo for Chasing Cars) and rock legends Queen, who were entered into Q’s Hall Of Fame.
Also in attendance at the Q Awards 2011 as part of a stellar line up of talent were Example, Chase + Status, Nero, Snow Patrol, The Vaccines and a host of other top names.
Commenting on this year’s awards, Q’s Editor In Chief Paul Rees said: “This year’s awards were a true celebration of where music is at right now – being as they were reflective of how rich and varied the musical landscape is, and of how enthused music fans are to be able to discover so much that is new and exciting. It is Q’s job to reflect this passion, variety and scope for new music – and we will be doing so bigger and better than ever before in the months ahead.”
All in all we thought it was an absolutely amazing day and with so many talented people in one room it meant we were left with no choice but to party like a rock star!!
Chase + Status and Fat Boy slim headline at London’s Cafe de Paris and from what this blogger can remember is was the icing on a particularly fine cake!