Words: Bevan Hiller-McBean

As the iconic Roundhouse venue in Camden turns 55, it opened its doors for the 2019 Q awards, hosted by Nadine Shah. With a star-studded list of nominees, LDN had a front row seat to view the UK music scene out in force with Stormzy, The 1975, Pale Waves, Kano and Lewis Capaldi all in attendance, and all leaving with accolades on the night.

The first award was for Best Breakthrough Act, won by Pale Waves. The Manchester four- piece are fresh off the back of their debut album ‘My Mind Makes Noises’ and extensive touring. Frontwoman Heather Baron-Gracie took time to acknowledge their label Dirty Hit and their fans, saying “This is for the weirdos.”

Predictably, Lewis Capaldi nabbed Best Track with his Top 40 mainstay ‘Someone You Loved’. The Glasgow native kept it short, sweet and as witty as ever, joking “Music isn’t a competition, but I fuckin’ won!”

Next, Q honoured Dizzee Rascal, without a doubt one of the most relevant names in UK pop music over the last 15 years. You’d be hard tasked to find any new artist in attendance who wasn’t inspired by him in some way – be it ‘Boy In Da Corner’ or ‘Bassline Junkie’ he was a well-deserved recipient of the Innovator award.

Foals took home Best Album with their (don’t call it a comeback) comeback album ‘Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost (Part 1)’. Another example of what the UK have offered the music world in the last two decades, Foals soundtracked the 2000s for many teens, who will no doubt be happy to see them returning to the height of their powers.

Nominated for more awards than anyone was Stormzy, who quite rightly collected Best Solo Artist, to perhaps the biggest cheer of the evening. Usually confident and collected, he seemed surprised himself to pick up the award, admitting he “didn’t expect to win anything.” However, with his iconic Glastonbury performance, chart topping single ‘Vossi Bop’, and for his influence on UK music today, surely he would have been hard to beat. Then it was on to the biggest award of the night, Q’s Best Act In The World Today. In the running were true titans of the industry – Liam Gallagher, Billie Eilish, Bruce Springsteen and Arctic Monkeys to name a few. However, it was yet another Manchester group winning this year.

The 1975, arguably one of the biggest young bands in the UK for the last couple of years, with three UK Number One albums and with another album on the way – ‘Notes On A Conditional Form’ (out February 2020). They kept it short when it came to their speech, instead opting for an anecdote about drunk nights and incidents in pub toilets.

Meanwhile, earlier on the red carpet, former Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker was joined by bandmates from his new outfit Jarv Is, including bass player and BIMM Performance Tutor Andrew McKinney, showing support for eco protest group Extinction Rebellion with a banner that read ‘No Music On A Dead Planet’ and smaller signs pinned to their clothing that read ‘Rebel For Life.’ Extinction Rebellion received vocal approval for their campaigning from Foals and the 1975, among others, through the night.

It was a great night for music and the UK scene, especially in such an iconic venue. Thanks to Q Magazine and Absolute Radio. Find the full list of winners below.

Best Breakthrough: Pale Waves
Best Track: Lewis Capaldi – Someone You Loved
Best Festival/Event: All Points East
(Christine And The Queens collecting)
Q Maverick Award: Edwyn Collins
Q Innovator in Sound Award: Dizzee Rascal
FenderPlay Award: Anna Calvi
Best Vocal Performance: Little Simz
Q Classic Songwriter: Kevin Rowland
Q Outstanding Contribution to Music: Kano
Q Hero: Kim Gordon
Q Classic Album Award: Tricky – Maxinquaye
Q Song of The Decade: Lana Del Ray – Video Games
Q Inspiration: Madness
Q Best Live Performance: Michael Kiwanuka – End of the Road
Q Best Album: Foals – Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost (Part 1)
Q Icon: Christine And The Queens
Q Best Solo Artist: Stormzy
Q Best Act In The World today: The 1975