By Darren Grayer.
The annual Original Music Awards Dorset ( OMA’s) take place weekend (17/1/26) at The Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth. The event was set up to celebrate the hard work that goes into the county’s grassroots music scene and recognises everyone from musicians to sound technicians and venues that support live events.
Organisers Matt Black and Mel Payne from Hangover Hill, the team behind the grassroots music events,’ Live & Unheard’, and’ Legends’ at Lighthouse in Poole explain: “We started the awards to bring some positivity to the local music industry. We know what a thriving music scene there is in Dorset and we felt it should be celebrated.
“The music community works because it supports itself and as a direct result of the OMA’s there are now more venues across Dorset that are willing to support and encourage original music, which can only be a good thing for creativity in this inspirational part of the world”.
A range of different awards will be presented on the night, decided by a panel of music journalists, musicians, promoters, and radio hosts from across the county.
Aside from the normal categories there are also special awards to give to a wider recognition and thanks. Top of that list will see renowned singer/songwriter Billy Bragg receive an award for putting Dorset on the map with his continual support for local issues in his adopted county.
He has always been vocal on the beauty of Dorset, having lived in Burton Bradstock from 1999 to 2021, and is a keen activist in encouraging it to remain that way. He recently took part in a protest with many other locals against the waste incinerator proposals for Weymouth and Portland where he made a speech and performed.
Billy Bragg continues to visit Dorset and is a huge supporter of the Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival which celebrates 6 farm labourers who were transported to Australia to serve their sentences in penal colonies in 1834 and the 800,000 working class people that campaigned for their release.
On what promises to be a special night that will see a bit of red carpet glamour to the county, a full review will follow next week.
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