The UK’s largest music therapy charity, Nordoff and Robbins, is today announcing the unmissable performance packed line-up for the second Northern Music Awards sponsored by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, to be held in Liverpool on Thursday 27 March.
Ian Broudie, legendary singer, songwriter, producer and frontman of indie-pop royalty, Lightning Seeds, will be honoured with the prestigious Special Recognition Award sponsored by SJM Concerts at the event, and the band will be taking to the stage for a special live performance. The stellar line-up will also include Stockport-bred indie-pop band, Blossoms, Liverpudlian indie-rockers The Zutons, Liverpool’s rising romantic rock star Luvcat and – at the forefront of Hull’s rap scene – Chiedu Oraka.
Taking place this year at the historic Liverpool Olympia, the Northern Music Awards sponsored by Ticketmaster and Live Nation honour the very best artists, festivals, venues and industry figures from across the North. Held for the first time in Manchester in April 2024, the Northern Music Awards are the only awards set up specifically to recognise and celebrate the breadth of musical talent across the North of England.
Hosted by BBC Radio 6 Music presenter Chris Hawkins, with specially commissioned awards designed by contemporary British artist Thomas Wolski, the Northern Music Awards take place in a different Northern city every year to ensure every corner of the region is celebrated. Money raised from the event will go towards increasing Nordoff and Robbins’ music therapy provision in the North of England, using music as a creative health intervention to enhance connection, reduce social isolation, and improve mental health and well-being for diverse local communities across the region.
Tickets to the 2025 Northern Music Awards, priced from £40 (+ £1 venue restoration levy), are available to purchase online now at nordoff-robbins.org.uk/northern-music-awards.
Winner of the 2025 Northern Music Awards Special Recognition Award sponsored by SJM?Concerts, Ian Broudie,?formed?the Lightning Seeds in 1989 and enjoyed prolific success with a string of hits throughout the 90s and beyond, including?The Life of?Riley,?Lucky You,?Three Lions and?Pure.?The proud?Liverpudlian’s?multi-decade spanning career has also included production for the likes of?Echo and the Bunnymen and fellow Northern Music Awards performers, The Zutons.
Ian Broudie said: “It’s a huge honour to receive this award, particularly in the year that the Northern Music Awards comes to Liverpool, a city I'm very proud to call my hometown. I’m excited to perform at the Liverpool Olympia and to celebrate the immense talent that we continue to see thriving in the North. The feeling and emotion that we all get from music is incredibly powerful, and you see that so clearly in the life-changing music therapy that Nordoff and Robbins delivers, so I’m very proud to be raising funds for their work to help people connect and communicate across society.”
The performance line-up at the 2025 Northern Music Awards will also feature:
Following an astounding year, Stockport-bred, acclaimed indie-pop band, Blossoms, will perform a special acoustic set featuring hits from the five-piece’s multiple hit number one albums which include Foolish Loving Spaces, Ribbon Around the Bomb and Gary.
Eclectic indie rockers The Zutons. Best known for their hit singles Valerie and Why Won’t You Give Me Your Love?, the Liverpool band released their long-awaited fourth studio album The Big Decider?in 2024, and will take to the stage for a memorable live performance, kicking off a series of live dates.
Rapidly rising artist Luvcat, shortlisted for the Newcomer of the Year Award, will share her unique brand of jazz influenced romantic rock with ticketholders. The Liverpudlian singer-songwriter’s recent releases including He’s My Man and Dinner @ Brasserie Zédel have catapulted her to star-status and earned a devoted fanbase of ‘Kittens’.
Lyrical artist and leading figure in Northern rap, Chiedu Oraka, from Hull, will bring his high-octane performance, genre-defying talent and impactful social poetry to the Northern Music Awards stage. Chiedu is also shortlisted for the Newcomer of the Year Award alongside Luvcat, Beth McCarthy, The KTNA, Pixey and Seb Lowe.
As well as celebrating the North’s incredible artists, the Northern Music Awards recognise outstanding live music events in the region, that provide a platform for diverse talent to perform. The Festival of the Year shortlist for the 2025 Northern Music Awards is:
Kendal Calling (Lake District)
Tramlines (Sheffield)
Neighbourhood (Manchester)
TK Maxx presents Lytham Festival (Lytham Saint Annes)
Parklife (Manchester)
Sound City (Liverpool)
The winner of the Festival of the Year category will be decided by the public, with voting open at The Guide Liverpool until 7 February. Those who vote can also enter a competition to win two tickets to the awards show.
Championing the Northern venues that nurture developing artists and showcase global superstars, winners for the Inspirational Venue of the Year Under 2,000 and over 2,000 Capacity categories, sponsored by Seat Unique, will be announced soon, with a percentage of the sponsorship fee being shared with the Music Venue Trust.
Nordoff and Robbins provides essential music therapy for those living with dementia, autism, learning difficulties, brain injuries, life-limiting illnesses, mental health issues, grief and trauma. The North of England is Nordoff and Robbins’ largest service area, with 55 music therapists?and?164 partner organisations providing over 23,500 music therapy sessions in 2024, transforming the lives of more than 6,500 people in the region.??
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Blossoms said: “We’re proud to be part of this year’s Northern Music Awards – a unique event which really shines a light on the breadth of talent coming out of the North. Supporting Nordoff and Robbins is something we’re genuinely passionate about. Music has the power to heal, and we’re honoured to help raise awareness for such an important cause.”
The Zutons said: “We can’t wait to perform at the Northern Music Awards with such a great line-up of talent, and to be supporting Nordoff and Robbins’ life-changing music therapy - which makes it even more special for us. We’re thrilled to be part of an event that not only showcases the Northern music scene but makes a real difference to people across the North.”
Luvcat said: “I’ve had the most amazing year! To be sharing the Northern Music Awards stage with such a range of incredible artists and honouring the massive contribution the North makes to the music scene – all while supporting Nordoff and Robbins – is another cherry on the cake. I’m super grateful and excited to perform.”
Chiedu Oraka said: “Performing at the Northern Music Awards with such great Northern talent is a massive moment for me, and I’m proud to be raising money for Nordoff and Robbins in the process. Music has always been a way for me to connect, express and heal, so to back a charity that uses it in such a powerful way is something I’m honoured to do.”
Sandra Schembri, CEO, Nordoff and Robbins, said: “We’re beyond thrilled to announce the spectacular performance lineup for this year’s Northern Music Awards. The North’s music scene is a vibrant, diverse force, and these artists are shining examples of the exceptional talent that continues to emerge from the region. From iconic names to rising stars, this is going to be a celebration of everything that makes Northern music so special and we can’t wait to celebrate in Liverpool, a city with a rich musical heritage that is admired around the world.
“Not only are we looking forward to honouring brilliant musicians and industry talent at this year’s Northern Music Awards, but we’re also raising vital funds to support our music therapy work. With costs rising and demand for our services increasing, every pound raised at the event will help us deliver more transformational music therapy sessions to people across the North, from care homes to hospitals and schools to community centres. Music truly has the power to change lives.”
A total of 16 awards will be given out on the night, including - new for 2025 - Album of the Year and Industry Rising Star:
The Northern Music Award 2025, sponsored by Live Nation
Special Recognition Award, sponsored by SJM Concerts
Artist of the Year, sponsored by Ticketmaster
Band of the Year, sponsored by ASM Global
Album of the Year
Music Moment of the Year, sponsored by American Express
Disruptor in Music
Newcomer of the Year
Breakthrough Act of the Year
DJ of the Year
Music and Culture for Wellbeing
Festival of the Year, voted for by readers of The Guide Liverpool
Inspirational Venue of the Year Under 2,000 Capacity, sponsored by Seat Unique
Inspirational Venue of the Year Over 2,000 Capacity, sponsored by Seat Unique
Industry Icon, sponsored by Tysers Live
Industry Rising Star
Find out more about Nordoff and Robbins at nordoff-robbins.org.uk.?
