silver-colored hand in a peace sign

28 January | New Vic Theatre

The Music Awards of Staffordshire & Cheshire Awards Ceremony takes place on 28 January at the New Vic Theatre, bringing together artists, bands, industry professionals and partners to recognise achievement across the region’s music scene.


Winners across all categories will be revealed live on the night, with awards presented on stage throughout the evening.

A range of free talks and panels exploring how the local music industry operates behind the scenes.


6:30pm

7:00pm

7:30pm

8:15pm

8:45pm

8:50pm

9:30pm

10:30pm

Guests arrive for pre-show entertainment


Take seats for Awards Ceremony

Awards Ceremony Begins


Interval


Welcome Back

Live performance from Beans on Toast


Ceremony ends


Bar Closes


Guest Performance

Essex-born folk troubadour Beans on Toast has been charming audiences with his candid songwriting and engaging live performances for nearly two decades. His unique blend of humour, politics, and storytelling has made him a beloved figure in the folk scene. Never one to stay still, he spends most of his life on the road, playing festivals across the globe and packing out venues big and small, building a dedicated fanbase along the way.


Known for his prolific output, he has released a new album every year on his birthday, December 1st, amassing a vast and varied discography that reflects his evolving perspectives and experiences. His songs are a celebration of life and the human spirit—raw, honest, and packed with warmth, wit, and an unshakable sense of hope. His live shows are legendary—an unpredictable mix of storytelling, singalongs, and sincerity, where the line between artist and audience disappears. Whether it’s a heaving festival crowd or an intimate backroom gig, Beans on Toast delivers a show that feels like a wild night with an old friend, keeping his music as relevant and vital as ever.


Image by Elliot Hingtson


Presentations

A specially commissioned set of awards, designed and produced by a local artist, will be presented to winners on the night.


  • All awards are announced live on stage.
  • Winners will are invited to collect their awards in person.
  • Each category winner will be announced by a guest presenter.


Awards will be presented in the following order:

  1. Best Young Act presented by Izzy Glover, Dizzy Mag
  2. Best New Act presented by Andrew Marston, BBC Introducing
  3. Best Single presented by Gemma Thomas, Brilliant Bamboo
  4. Best EP presented by Isla Telford, Urban Wilderness
  5. Best Album presented by Sonya Farrall, BabaBoon Media
  6. Best Music Video presented by Ben McManus, Wavemaker
  7. Best Solo Act presented by Dan Townley, 6 Towns Radio
  8. Best Rock and Metal Act presented by Simon Hall, Bloodstock Festival
  9. Bert Band presented by Susan Clarke, Stoke Creates
  10. The Mike Lloyd Contribution award Presented by Nicky Twemlow, YMCA




Guests will be welcomed into the theatre with a distinctive opening to the evening, setting the tone for what follows. A specially commissioned set of awards, designed and made by a local artist, will be presented throughout the ceremony, marking this year’s winners with something genuinely distinctive.