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WORDS JANET HARDING / MAIN ARTICLE IMAGES WARREN MILLAR
WAM (WA Music) Awards 2022 at the Brass Monkey, Warrington
Thursday 8th December 2022
ALL MUSIC MAGAZINE UK’S WARREN MILLAR TAKES CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Something a little different for #dreamteam ( my partner in musical reporting, photographer Warren Millar, and myself. Our assignment this time is the first ever WAM WA Music awards bash. With Warren not only being nominated, going into the final 4 (and then going on to win the Best Photographer Award), we jumped at the chance of not only attending this gala musical event, but also to report on it! So, donning our now locally famous combo of ‘rock chick’ and bucket hat, we headed off to the Brass Monkey in Warrington to check out the glitterati of the ‘Wazza music scene’ and this eagerly awaited event.
…”We’ve seen everything from bands signing major label deals, to artists getting onto stage for the first time, and there will be live performances along with 11 different awards handed out”.
“To us, music is to be celebrated all year round and, without any big local events for people to support this year, the artists and fans are missing a chance to celebrate amazing things happening in our town and local area in 2022″. …
Lee Harman, WAM WAMusic.
WAM, WA Music, covers the local music scene in Warrington, Cheshire, and anywhere close by within the WA post code, so Widnes, Runcorn, Frodsham, Newton le Willows and some areas of St Helens fall under the umbrella of WAM and have been taken into account for nominations of the WAM awards. All done via the WAM and Live Warrington social media platforms, it was over to the general public to both nominate and then vote, with the most popular in each category going into the final 4 of each category and then the winners by vote being announced at the awards ceremony. So it really is a ‘for the people by the people’ type award. Voting figures reached in excess of 5000 and tickets for the awards ceremony (250 tickets) completely sold out, so in its first year a tremendous success!
A brilliant night of live performance, awards being handed out and the chance for a vibrant local music scene to come together and do what they do best: embrace creativity, support one another and celebrate local and original music – and all hosted by the wonderful local legend, the Zangwills’ front man, Jake Vickers. Performing are 3 local acts, all very well known within the WAM demographic: Vicky Williams, Christy Bellis and Paul Nixon, and special guests performing from neighbouring Wigan and fresh from their sell out UK tour, the Stanleys.
I caught up with our host, Jake Vickers, the artists performing, some of the nominees and others attending from across the music scene throughout the night, to get a feel of what this first ever Awards means locally.
Jake Vickers (host and member of the Zangwills):
– Oh it’s so good to see so many people doing the same thing, but in different ways, and all celebrating one thing, and that’s music. It’s a good turnout, sold out! I’ve never done anything like this before, it’s a bit weird being up there and not having the band up there with me…I keep wanting to sing! But it’s great, I’m loving this, such an honour to have been asked to host this, and this whole thing is so needed locally!
Dean Fairhurst (nominee for Rising Act award with Standin’ Man and formerly of the Sly Digs):
– I think we need this. There’s been nothing in the Warrington area like this, but so much local talent. It’s the perfect platform to celebrate this local talent. I’m so honoured to have been nominated. It’s not about winning, which would be brilliant, but it’s about supporting and celebrating the thing everyone here is involved in…music. It’s a great atmosphere tonight, and it’s packed, which is so good to see!
Jake and Paul from the Stanleys:
– Wish we had something like this in Wigan, it’s a brilliant thing to be involved with, and we’re so pleased to have been invited to perform. It’s buzzing, so many people are here, we can’t wait to get up on stage, So much talent here, and it really is something to have been asked to perform at these Awards.
Junior Davys (local musician and member of Le Verge):
– This is so good, the local music scene coming together after what’s been a tough couple of years. It’s such an amazing music scene locally, it’s so nice that something’s being given back for all the hard work, some recognition, a thank you, and it’s great for fans of music too to come along, get involved. Great idea, let’s hope it becomes a yearly thing!
The AV Club – Nominated for best video and best band:-
Freya: – This is an amazing thing for local music – there’s so much talent, and for everyone to be here tonight, we can all chat and mingle, which we just never get chance to normally.
Joe: – It’s cool to see a small music scene celebrated, let’s have some pride, let’s celebrate Warrington! There’s s so much negativity, let’s have something good and positive. This is brilliant for local musicians like us!
Dan: – It’s so good to be nominated…of course we wanna win, but we also want our mates/counterparts to win, it’s all just so good to be a part of.
Freya: – I’m just so excited, it’s huge, so many here, I hope we win, but then I want others to win. It’s just so exciting, I’m loving it…thanks to all the brilliant people who nominated and voted for us!
Olly: – To be nominated for 3 awards is just something else, we’re so made up. Just being nominated means so much. (Olly and Joe were also in the final for Music Business with Matchbox Productions)
The 22 (local band):
– We’re loving it. Great night, amazing turn out, brilliant event. We’re glad Acoustic Cafe won Best Open Mic – fitting tribute to Fitz who was a great guy and did so much for the local music scene, sadly missed. Bring on next year’s Awards…!
Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs: (nominated for best video:-
Tash: – Firstly thank you, it’s great to be here, and we really didn’t expect to be in the final. Just to be nominated means the world to us!
Ryan: – We had a lovely reception, it’s a great night, and being from St Helens…just being in that WA postcode it means that little bit more to us…I mean Liam Shrives has dug his best pants out for this tonight…he’s brushed his hair!
Liam – Yeh it’s a special occasion, thank you to everyone for voting, it’s a bit overwhelming, but what an amazing night!
Ryan: – And if you think that video was good …wait ‘til you see what we’ve got planned for the next one!
Jim Addison (Love Music Live Warrington) – nominated for Promoter of the year and Event of the year
– This is amazing, I’m in shock. To win Promoter of the year, I mean it’s just brilliant…thank you to everyone who voted, helped and attended all of the events this past year…loads more to come, keep watching this space, and tonight has been brilliant, well organised, excellent. Huge thanks to Lee and WAM for organising all of this!
Christie Bellis (local musician):
– It was fantastic to perform my songs at the WAM Awards to a room full of local industry people, from fellow artists and bands to the creatives and venues in attendance! I think the evening showed how vibrant and talented the local scene really is in and around Warrington!
WAM Awards Winners:
Venue of the year – PARR HALL, David Morgan, Press and Social Media Officer
Rising act of the year – THE RAYMONDS (video)
Promoter of the year – JIM ADDISON (Love Music Live Warrington)
Open mic of the year – ACOUSTIC CAFE. Accepted by Amy Rose (who spoke) and Michelle Fitzsimons
Business of the year – HMV WARRINGTON, accepted by Vic & El
Photographer of the year – WARREN MILLAR
Video of the year – HOMETOWN – THE K’s
Event of the year – NEIGHBOURHOOD WEEKENDER, accepted by Jack Dowling (SJM promoter)
Artist of the year – IAN BROWN (not present)
Band of the year – CRAWLERS (not present)
Song of the year – HOMETOWN – The K’s (accepted by Joshua Johnson from band Collision)
All in all it’s been a spectacular event. It’s obvious to see that this whole concept has been embraced whole heartedly by the local music scene. It’s been a lovely, inclusive, positive and buzzing evening, well organised and well attended and has worked very,very well. Live sets were excellent, stripped back acoustic performances, which really highlighted the creativity and talent of each musician..and such diversity in musical genres. From the breathy, then high and soaring, country feels with a quirkiness from Vicky Williams to the anthemic indie sounds of the now well known Stanley’s; vibrant, shimmery enthusiasm and far reaching vocal of Christy Bellis, to the goose bump inducing raspy tones and evocative sounds of Paul Nixon. The applause which followed each set was truly rousing, and each set was very special indeed.
With a full house, and so many from across the music scene – from venue staff, to promoters, media and sound techs, as well as fans and musicians, attendance was brilliant, and support more so! I truly hope this is just the beginning and the first of many WAM awards, it’s not only filled a gap in our brilliant scene, but it’s given a huge thank you back to all who contribute. From grassroots, local music to huge names who play locally, it’s all special and to be celebrated .
A huge thank you to the uber cool Jake Vickers for hosting, to our wonderful live performers : Vicky Williams, the Stanleys, Christy Bellis and Paul Nixon (well worth checking these artists out), to the nominees, the sponsors and the voters and to all who attended and bought tickets.
Massive congratulations to all the winners of all categories! and an extra special thanks to Sam Heathcote for stage managing…the hidden face behind the smooth running of things, and of course the biggest thank you to Lee Harman and WAM…who works tirelessly, and without him none of this would be happening.
A big thank you also to Matt Kyprian for the photographs of Warren Millar receiving his award…Shout out for Warren…my wonderful All Music reporting partner who so deserved his award! and bring on next year’s WAM Awards
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My life is a soundtrack, i track my life through music, photography is my passion, my escape, my expression. Without both i have pieces missing, thankfully i’m blessed and get to combine both.
Born in Manchester, lived in Australia for 22 years where i was heavily involved in the Australian Music Industry, firstly in bands (Singer) and then managing bands (all original), I moved back to the UK, Wales specifically 10 years ago
