Devon Music Awards Nominations, Patrons and Line-Up Announced

Community arts enterprise the Music in Devon Initiative CIC (MIDI) are delighted to announce the nominations for the 2nd “MIDI TV Presents the Devon Music Awards”, which will be held at Bomba in Exeter on Friday January 31st 2025.   

The Devon Music Awards will once again recognise and celebrate the copious musical talent in Devon, with the public voting for their favourite acts. The event draws thousands of nominations and four finalists have been nominated across 10 categories by the public;

1. Best Live Act; Samantics, Poppyshow, Omega Nebula, Land of Giants.
2. Best DJ; Iller Instinct, El Barco, Mr.Flexxx, Filthy Dirty Disco.
3. Best New Artist; Leonard and The Zombies 3 Days of Wonder, Foxhole, Moya Silk.
4. Best Album; Omega Nebula – Forward Motion, Obvious Reasons – Diagnosis Crazy, The Kabins – Beehive Sessions, Small Town Jones – Kitsugi.
5. Best Single; Haytor – Osaka, Arizona Law -Loser, The Zaffiros – Alibi, Omega Nebula – Hero.

6. Best Music Video; The Emporiums – Angela Delight, Arizona Law – Loser, Bramwell – Theatrics, Ollie Dixon – Byegone.
7. Best Band; Haytor, Reo and The Novo Collective, Barefoot Bandit, The Kabins.
8. Best Hip Hop Artist; Reo and the Novo Collective, Samantics, Scribes Freeminds.
9. Best Producer; Benny G, Gaz Chatterton, Pete Marten, Aeon Manahan.
10. Legend/ Special Recognition Award; to be announced on the night

There will also be live performances on the night from the cream of Devon’s music talent. These will include Ant Lexa (actress on TV show Sex Education) alongside Samantics, Reo & The Novo Collective, 3 Days of Wonder, Haytor, Twilight of the Pleasure Gods and Leonard & The Zombies.

New for 2025, the Awards will be supported by MIDI’s newly-appointed Patrons. These include British actress and singer-songwriter Ant Lexa (Sex Education), multi award winning Actor and musician Douglas Hodge (The Joker, Everyone hates Suzie), Internationally acclaimed Senegalese musician Batch Gueye, and Cole Stacey of alt-folk duo India Electric Company, who has roamed the highest echelons of British folk. The Patrons will collaborate with the team to help evaluate submissions, share their expertise, and connect MIDI with opportunities beyond Devon, creating pathways for South West musicians to reach wider audiences and raise funds for MIDI's community music projects.

A truly unmissable event, the sold-out first “MIDI TV Presents Devon Music Awards” was an effective platform for the often-ignored South West musical community to showcase their work. As well as creating awareness, the awards create networking opportunities, linking musicians with a range of opportunities. These included BBC Introducing and a range of newspapers, venues and key industry people from promoters, to recording and mixing engineers, photographers and film-makers.

This year’s theme is "Serious Business”. This plays with the idea that local music is both epic and chaotic, glamorous but casual, important but laid-back. It’s a nod to how Devon’s artists are legends in the making but are still down-to-earth and relatable. They take their music seriously, but not too seriously. 

This year, four core sponsors and ten awards sponsors will be supporting the awards.  These include Hilton Ames Chauffeurs, who provide high-quality transport for touring bands. Exeter’s Involving Music, who are building the ultimate guide to Devon’s vibrant, pulse-pounding music scene are also sponsoring the awards. Project Music, one of Exeter’s leading musical instrument stores and Creative UK, who finance creative start-ups, have also come on board as  sponsors. More sponsorship packages are still available and anyone interested in supporting the awards should contact the organisers.

MIDI’s online TV Station “MIDI TV”, akin to MTV for Devon, are providing presenters and film-makers. They will capture the performances and announcements and interview the winners. They filmed last year’s awards and are now sharing their footage on the MIDI TV You Tube channel every Xmas Eve as an annual musical gift for anyone that likes music.

“Following the runaway success of the first Devon Music Awards, which sold out, MIDI TV are delighted to be back with an all-new, bigger and better awards show for 2025. The Devon music scene includes a wealth of hugely talented musicians as the thousands of nominations for the contest show. Our “Serious Business” theme for the awards is our way of showing what sets Devon’s artists apart. Although they are icons in the making, they are still down-to-earth and relatable. We have asked the public to help us pick the nominees and let us know which local legends deserve the spotlight. Get ready to see the public’s favourites and to see Devon's music scene shine!” says Drea Paizs, Director of MIDI TV and organiser of the awards.

Tickets for the Awards Ceremony are £20 and now available here. Doors are at 7.30pm for the awards, followed by an after party and a 2am close.