Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith and Paolo Nutini have been among the artists whose work has dominated the album charts in 2014, and found their work rewarded by picking up three of the night’s major awards as voted for by Q readers and the users of Qthemusic.com.
Sheeran – whose second album, ‘X’, is currently the year’s best selling album in the UK and which topped the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic – won the Best Solo Artist presented by Citroën securing in excess of 35,000 votes and beating off stiff competition from Nutini, Damon Albarn, St Vincent and Jake Bugg.
Sam Smith – whose ‘In the Lonely Hour’ debut sits second in the biggest-seller of the year – won Best New Act presented by Xperia Access, beating rising chart-topping songwriter George Ezra who was also in attendance.
Paolo Nutini won Best Q Track presented by Absolute Radio for the outstanding song Iron Sky, a highlight from his ‘Caustic Love’ album (itself the fourth biggest-selling album of 2014).
Alongside Sheeran, Smith and Nutini, the big winners of the night were Kasabian who picked up two of the ceremony’s most coveted awards – Best Live Act presented by The Cavern Club and Best Act In The World Today presented by Buster + Punch. Elbow were also handsome winners, their most emotive album, ‘The Take Off And Landing Of Everything’, being crowned the Q Best Album presented by Raymond Weil.
Elbow were also nominated in the Q Best Video category but were beaten by Jamie xx whose inspirational film for Sleep Sound – directed by Sofia Mattioli and employing members of the Manchester Deaf Centre Youth Group, with ages ranging from five to 27 - captured the imagination of the voters.
Matt Mason, senioreditor of Q Magazine, said: “Today’s winners reflect the breadth and quality of modern music in Britain and beyond. From the soul voices of Paolo Nutini and Sam Smith, through the artistry and invention of Elbow and Jamie XX, to the feel-good, rock’n’roll power of Kasabian and Ed Sheeran’s ability to seduce the world with a guitar and some irresistible hooks, it’s been a thrilling 12 months in music.”
Hosted this year by Absolute Radio’s Christian O’Connell, the Xperia Access Q Awards, powered by Sony is renowned as one of the biggest events on the musical calendar – a point which was further underlined by an impressive roll call of artists whose career-long achievements were recognised this year.
Pink Floyd were presented with the Q Classic Album award for their masterpiece, The Dark Side Of The Moon. Nick Mason, the only member of the band to perform on every Pink Floyd album, including their surprise final album The Endless River released this year, collected the award from Smashing Pumpkins’ Billy Corgan.
Former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr was in attendance to receive the Gibson Les Paul award from Sir Bradley Wiggins thewinner ofeight Olympic medals and newly crowned Time Trial champion of the World. He’ll be going for gold in his fifth Olympics Games at Rio in 2016 and was of course the first British man to win the Tour De France. Simple Minds were on hand to pick up the Q Inspiration award that they received from devotees the Manic Street Preachers. The Q Maverick award was presented to singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist St Vincent, the Q Hero award went to The Charlatans, the Q Classic Songwriter award went to Andy Partridge (known for his work in XTC and beyond), the Q Innovation In Sound presented by Xperia Access went to French electronic music pioneer Jean Michel Jarre, the Q Icon presented by Carling’s Black Label Project was presented to Wilko Johnson and the Q Idol gong went to the recently reformed Culture Club. Q’s Outstanding Contribution To Music went to XL Recordings’ Richard Russell who has allowed the careers of Adele, The Prodigy, M.I.A. The White Stripes and Dizzee Rascal to flourish at the label.
Said Q’s Matt Mason: “It is a real honour to recognise the careers of so many musicians that have really helped define modern music. To have musicians such as Pink Floyd and Jean Michel Jarre sitting alongside St Vincent and Richard Russell seems fitting to us as they all adhere to their own distinct vision. We’re also delighted to be able to honour artists such as Johnny Marr, Wilko Johnson and Simple Minds, who spent 2014 making music as exciting and vital as they did when they first emerged. Basically, that’s what Q magazine and the Xperia Access Q Awards are all about: an unquenchable thirst for great music.”
FULL WINNERS LIST:
Q Best New Act presented by Xperia Access
Sam Smith
Q Maverick
St Vincent
Q Best Track presented by Absolute Radio
Paolo Nutini – Iron Sky
Q Best Solo Artist presented by Citroën
Ed Sheeran
Q Songwriter
Andy Partridge
Q Best Album presented by RAYMOND WEIL
Elbow – The Take Off And Landing Of Everything
Q Best Video
Jamie xx – Sleep Sound
Q Best Live Act presented by The Cavern Club
Kasabian
Q Hero
The Charlatans
Q Outstanding Contribution To Music
XL Recordings, collected by Richard Russell
Q Inspiration
Simple Minds
Gibson Les Paul Award
Johnny Marr
Q Classic Album
Pink Floyd – Dark Side Of The Moon
Q Innovation In Sound presented by Xperia Access
Jean Michel Jarre
Q Icon presented by Carling’s Black Label Project
Wilko Johnson
Q Idol
Culture Club
Q Best Act In The World Today presented by Buster + Punch
Kasabian
