Review: Original Music Awards Dorset 2025

By Darren Grayer.

Image: best live act winners Dead Horse Bay. 

The fourth annual Original Music Awards Dorset were held on Saturday night (17/1/26) at the Marsham Court Hotel in Bournemouth.

Event organisers Matt Black and Mel Berkhauer took inspiration from the Salisbury Music Awards in 2022, which were run by the late Thom Belk, and decided that Dorset’s thriving music scene should be celebrated.                  

 The pair run the award-winning Hangover Hill recording studio in Wimborne Minster and share a passion for original music. They run their own live events, giving artists both local and from around the world, a platform to showcase their music.

Putting on the OMAs is an absolute labour of love, and all money raised through ticket sales and sponsorship is put directly into paying for the event, trophies, brochures, food, the hire of the venue and other overheads, with any spare being put into the following year’s event. Matt and Mel are also quick to point out that they couldn’t do this all without the support of a panel made up of people also connected to the local music scene in various ways.

As the program notes suggest, “Music is important, we know it’s important because we have seen what happens when it gets taken away. Just by you being here with us at these awards and you continuing to make this amazing new music and you who support the people making that music you are helping to realise the future of the whole music industry.”

The first thing to note after settling at our table is how well attended this event is – probably 350-400 people by my reckoning, made up of a wide range of ages. There are musicians who have been around for years, but also, it’s so encouraging to see a healthy number of youngsters, to whom making music clearly means so much.

The next four hours will see a total of thirty-one different awards handed out that cover just about every aspect of providing a healthy local music scene (full list below).

It would be quite exhaustive to provide detail to each one, but that’s not to take away the fact that those recipients are all fully deserving of their award, so here are a few highlights.

The Eclectic Achievement Award was presented to Bournemouth based singer/songwriter Helena Mace, a country pop artist who is currently working on her eighth album at the Hangover Hill studio. Three of her previous albums topped the ITUNES country chart and in 2022 she was recipient of The Gary Perkins Angel Award for outstanding contribution to country music in the UK. 2025 also saw Helena receive the prestigious Musician of the Year award at the FPCM Red Carpet Awards in the Netherlands. All remarkable achievements, but when you take into consideration Helena is registered deaf due to a tumour in her brain, it becomes different level territory, and truly inspirational.

Best Under 18 act went to Chasing Leaves, a Poole based solo artist, real name Zara, who writes, records, and produces her own music and has a real passion for playing live. Inspired by the likes of Dua Lipa, Becky Hill, Hozier and Ed Sheeran, there looks to be a bright future ahead for her.

Another young band, Wytch, were the recipients of two awards, Best Breakthrough Act and Best Album. Their blend of melodic 70s rock lends itself to Fleetwood Mac but feels fresh and relevant and centres around an ethereal sound driven by haunting vocals, strong guitar work, a thundering bassline groove and an airy charm of synthesizers. Their music has received great feedback from both UK and worldwide radio play.

As already touched on, live music wouldn’t exist without those working tirelessly in the background to promote it and provide a platform for it to exist. The OMAs reflect that very well with Weymouth based Lyn MacKenzie championed as Grassroots Music Hero for her unwavering support to local and touring artists. She inspires a strong team that helps enhance the quality of the entertainment at her venues for both performers and audience.

Others were also recognised for their promotion work with the Independent award going to Dixie Dix, founder of Originality Live, a music event that has been running for three years and has quickly spread to multiple venues in the county, including Anvil Rock Bar, Chaplins and the cellar bar and The Four Horsemen.  The In House Promoter award was given to Conrad Barr, who generously shared it with Kirsten Stevens for her work at The Bear Cave, which also picked up Best Original Music Venue.

Renowned Dorset artist Ben Waters was rewarded for his unwavering support to local musicians. His Boogie Woogie piano playing is only rivalled by a certain Jools Holland (yes, he’s that good!) and in between his busy work schedule he takes time to mentor emerging musicians and giving them opportunities on the road with him. After the pandemic at a time when the local music industry and performers were struggling, he developed his own Raising Spirit Festival, allowing musicians to take to the stage in front of the masses once again and earn an income.

For Services to the Community, Bournemouth music shop Absolute Music were championed for their expertise and knowledge in providing musical equipment and repairs. It also boasts a charitable trust side which enriches lives through live music and aims to give every child the opportunity to learn and play.

The Alex J T Ward Award is named after a local musician who was diagnosed in his early teens with Aspergers Syndrome, which can severely affect the ability of those who perform, to stand on a stage or be in the limelight. Alex passed away suddenly in 2014 aged 29, having achieved many notable things during his music career onstage, as a producer and also in the gaming industry. Recipients of this award were Sanguis Mortem, a young band whose drummer, Oli, has overcome adversity after being diagnosed with Autism to play and perform.

The biggest name featured was singer/songwriter Billy Bragg, who was recognised for putting his adopted county on the map while residing there between 1999-2021, and lending his support to a number of local causes. Not present on the evening due to touring commitments, his team sent a message of gratitude to the organisers.

To say this awards evening was well organised would be an understatement, the room was filled with smiling faces and positivity. It’s easy to forget that musicians can resemble passing ships in the night, so to see so many in the same room, along with all those playing their part in other ways is something to be treasured and truly inspirational. It was also excellently hosted by David Chinnery and Matt Black, who both displayed their passion and knowledge throughout the evening.

Could Southampton be next to hold something like this and build on excellent events such as Music In The City, to celebrate its thriving music scene? It’s a lovely thought.

Full list of awards and winners:

Accessibilty & Inclusivity – The Angel, Poole

Best Tech Support- Luke Ayliss

Eclectic Achievement- Helena Mace

Open To All Award- Bournemouth Electronic Music Open Mic

Supporting Original Music- The Tap and Grape, Broadstone

Best Under 18 Artist- Chasing Leaves

Best Breakthrough Act- Wytch

Grassroots Hero- Lyn MacKenzie

Best Hard Rock Metal Act- Banasar

Hometown Harmony Award- Rob Hoare

Best Songwriter- Ruffdog Elliott

Dan Meazza Award Best Guitarist- Romeo Kennedy

Independent Promoter- Dixie Dix

Unsung Heo- The Mistakes

In-House Promoter- Conrad Barr

Unwavering Support To Local Musicians- Ben Walters

Original Music Venue- The Bear Cave, Bournemouth

Best Festival- Shaftesbury Fringe

The Alex JT Award- Sanguis Mortem

For Services to The Community- Absolute Music

Best Recorded Work

Single- Nia Nicholls

EP- Velour

Album- Wytch

Putting Dorset on the Map- Billy Bragg

Best Video- Dixie Dix

Inspirational Award- Dan Baker

Best Live Act-Dead Horse Bay

Lifetime Achievement Award- Paul Tucker

Best Solo Act- Jack Grace

Best Small Band- Velour

Best Band- Two Man Travelling Medicine Show