Pete picks his highlights of the year in the 2020 Music Matters Awards - The Coventry Observer

Pete picks his highlights of the year in the 2020 Music Matters Awards

Coventry Editorial 27th Dec, 2020   0

AS THE end of the year approaches, Coventry Music Museum curator Pete Chambers BEM announces the Music Matters Awards.

Best Local Artist- Candid

For all artists this year has been a strange one and in some ways, the off-gig time means they can concentrate on new projects, especially songwriting.

Candid have been keeping us informed via social media of what they are up to. I loved their track ‘Concrete Jungle’ released back in early March, as I said at the time: “I like the band – it’s full of energy, it rocks along with some great vocals and a impressive musical soundscape and a great chorus, a real box ticker. I look forward to hearing more from this amazing band in 2021.”

 




Best New artist- Coventry String Orchestra 2020

It’s not all about pop and rock, these guys make a superb sound, a combination of instruments that are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine.


I always envy performers who have an orchestra behind them.

I imagine what it would be like with all that musical power and energy right there live on the stage.

The Coventry String Orchestra 2020, give me a glimpse of that sound.

 

Best Local Single- The Fear, The Session

The Session know a thing or two about creating musical atmospheres.

Plying the layers to create something unique.

‘The Fear’ was one of those songs, powerful vocals combined with musicianship of the highest order and some great lyrics to boot.

Yes, I’m always banging on about The Session, listen to this single and you will know why.

 

Best Local Album- The Front Room Sessions – Various Artists

A superb show of action from Coventry City of Culture 2021.

This is a forerunner to just some of the music that we will be loving next year.

The Front Room Sessions were packed with local talent, musically and visually.

Musicians and visual artists combining their talent.

As I said at the time: “The creative process of a song is handed over to someone else, someone who will make a visual interpretation of your work in the way they see it – scary stuff.

“But all hail these amazing people that let this happen, and the visual artists that took their ideas to another level.

“There is not a bad track on this album, Coventry should be mighty proud that the calibre of musicianship is on here.”

 

Gig of the Year- Rude Six at Knights, 2-Tone Village

Well let’s face it, there hasn’t been many, but one I did catch in the early part of the year in the days when Covid was a thing in China and we thought it wouldn’t happen here, yeah right.

It was Nuneaton’s finest Rude Six at Knights at the 2-Tone Village with a perfect combination of Ska covers punctuated with their original songs.

As always, they gave a blinding set, with Liv up front belting out the vocals like only she can and basically owning the stage.

We all had a great night – little did we know it would be the last live gig for a long time.

 

Outstanding contribution to Coventry Music- Sweetpea Fitzgerald

A kind heart and a love of music sees this Hillz FM presenter as my outstanding contribution to Coventry Music this year.

A real gentleman, whose love for music and radio presentation runs in his veins, especially his beloved Irish based sounds.

He is one of those people that will be there for you if you need his help.

Originally from Robertstown, Kildare, Ireland, he has made Coventry and its music his own.

Catch his ‘Hands Across The Water’ show every Sunday and Monday at 1pm and on Tuesdays at 9am.

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