The Musos Awards 2026
TheZineUK documentary is out for a gallop. Following nicely on from Chaos Twins raising the music tourism game (get involved via the Music Tourist Board launch article), the Fire Horse Lunar Year started early… with a Whole Lotta LOVE thanks to what went down in Camden Town on 12th February..
Photography by Rhona Murphy https://www.instagram.com/rhonamurphyphoto
Report by Caffy/Events Department.
The Musos Awards is (by and) for The People
As a creative collective, TheZineUK are a (very!) grassroots endeavour. We MEAN our support for this circuit, these artists and for such community gatherings.
It feels like many of our golden threads are weaving tighter, especially in the, the age of monsters.
By “threads”, I mean human beings with soul: i.e music lifestylers. Each back story is a book in it’s own right, or even Wright…
Laurie Wright won the Musos Inspiration 2025 then came back to headline the Electric Ballroom in December. The Marquis of Covent Garden regular is about to go on tour and will portray his hero Steve Marriott in a forthcoming film, ‘All Or Nothing’ about the Small Faces. On 2nd October, Laurie is headlining The Forum in Kentish Town. One of those music lifestyle golden threads of the now and next.
The Inspiration Award is one of many “awwww” moments at The Musos. Hearts were warmed. Beers were cooled.
Independent rock n roll is a fertile environment because it is, on the whole…
…an ecosystem, rather than a corporate ego cistern
Forget the greed, tonight was all about the GREEN.
CUP (Creativity Uniting People) Music Industry Soccer Six are back of the net, again!
I (Caffy), along with Chaos Twins and many Playing Class Friends time travel (via Soccer Six’s other home, Manchester) are CUP regulars who appreciate the additional involvement.
We’ve witnessed no end of Musos nominees and winners, plus an expanded fam of players, on the pitch at SoccerSixFest
The Bracknall are winners of Musos Breakthrough 2026. They came into our audiovision at SoccerSixFest Manchester, then gigs were witnessed and they’ve kept going, glowing, growing and will headline another landmark venue, KOKO, at the end of this year. Here pictured with Musos Awards host, Louise Schofield, no stranger to being “on the ball”, so to speak.
JOY is key
The 2026 awards are what founder, Abes, referred to as “that difficult second album”. but the Musos Awards pulled off the Camden Indie Rock Party Of The Year accolade again - and then some - as a glam and punky community again had an escapist ball at Camden’s Electric Ballroom.
Goodbye grey and wet Death Star Dystopia, hallo boosted make-people-happy powers. Rowdy, informal but buzzing with potential being recognised.
This year The Musos Awards are partnered with Music Venue Trust who GET it. Together. Stronger.
Not your average art show - welcome to the A.R.T. SHOW!
There were surreal, beautiful moments like Musos Industry Achievement winner, Tim Burgess, picking up Mani’s Musos Legendary Player award on behalf of his family, saying of the Stone Roses/Primal Scream bassist;
“Mani would have loved it here tonight with his fellow musicians and fans. His smile would have been lighting up this room…
The Charlatans won the Musos Tonic Song with ‘We Are Love’. It’s lucky that the affable Tim Burgess had a big bag, the trophies are heavy. His industry achievements are many. TheZineUK reported from his magnificent-for-musicians Merch Market in January. Ha ha, just realised it was so good we cited it being like The Musos had come early!
The acknowledgements are appreciated
Rod Stewart shouted out Music Venue Trust in his video message accepting the Musos Legend award.
Hey! Protect Our Venues! It is no exaggeration to say that without Music Venue Trust, TheZineUK documentary would be a completely different kind of story. Would we even still be telling it? Would some of tonight’s talents, on and off stage, have experienced certain MOMENTS? I’m so glad that MVT are part of our real-ish world. Musos Appreciation Award is so well deserved.
What Music Venue Trust have done over the last decade doesn’t seem real when you consider what we’re all up against. There’s always more to be helped, stay on their side.
In January, MVT launched their annual report (with Issey from The Molotovs on the magazine cover) at the V&A. The respect and realisation for grassroots music venues and all who sail with them is increasingly recognised as an essential cultural heritage.
In days like these, it’s more important than ever to recognise that artists are the essence of humanity.
Help them take seed via grass roots routes.
We saw Wigan indie band, The Lilacs, first, a few years ago at a This Feeling showcase… They got signed to the mighty Scruff Of The Neck at TF’s Truck Festival Stage and by 2026 are about to head off on another gold tickets tour… Accepring his Musos Hero Award, guitarist Sam Birchall said…
“I think this is all about the music industry sticking together, everybody supporting each other and keeping that kind of live indie music, guitar music alive.”
Credit where it’s due on this independent rock music point.
This Feeling’s many live events, from the grassroots venue trail to multiple stages, are key. Musos Awards winners are courtesy of musicians votes. The Zone did the double and won again this year.
The interdependent sector is in ACTION for Artists.
Welcome to the Isle Of Zone. The legend, John Giddings (Isle Of Wight Festival) presented This Feeling (repped by Nineties Mike and Mikey Jonns with the Musos Promoter 2026 Award. So many audible love sparks for them all in the Electric Ballroom.
The guitar bands - and allied arts- renaissance is ON. Roll with it.
A decade ago, won’t-gig sofa critics were sneering that guitar bands were over. Tell that to Pedestrian Band who would have been in playgrounds around that time:
Incendiary triple headed force of rock nature, Pedestrian Band are the breath of fresh air that gives this 50th Year Of Punk new life. We’ve gone from “No Future” when we had a future to “New Futures” to battle those “no future feelings” we sometimes get by this never ending 2020 vision.
During Independent Venue Week, the review of their set would have simply been “WTF”. The Musos Team were wowed.
Then they played This Feeling’s Big In 2026, the annual grassroots venue tour (in conjunction with MVT) putting ones to watch and hear onto the Zone Airport runway from which so many have taken off now. (spotted down the front of this (packed-before the first set) evening, was Mark Davyd of Music Venue Trust in one of the grassroots venues he has stage dived at, The Water Rats.
It was a treat to catch Pedestrian Band, next at The Electric Ballroom on the high stage of icons, complete with the backdrop and light show. Absolutely fitting that they graced The Musos Awards. Their verdict after? “That was so much fun!”
Interdependent Music Sector? Musos Awards is weaving…
Birmingham risers, The Clause, win Musos Album. It’s been a journey and they are a key, ahem, element of TheZineUK story telling.
It’s a variety show, that’s for sure. Kudos to all who support Abes (Mark Abery, founder of CUP (Creativity Uniting People) which, thanks to creator, Heather Minx, has been woven into this documentary since our first upload included the football skills of Peter Doherty at Soccer Six.
The artist supporters are just as important. Many of tonight’s winners and performers have been profiled by the independent media who gave preview shout outs to the event. Influencer finalist, scouting, supporting music site, Travellers Tunes, is in the crowd and will have written about many of the faces in the Ballroom.
The Musos Influencer 2026 went to Festivals Radar which has proved a valuable resource for artists and events, alike.
Mand of Festival Radar receiving the 2026 Influencers Award from 2025’s Winner, Mark Speller of The Indie Music She is correct, the whole Electric Ballroom know that we don’t do this for the money.
Musos Family - the other green party!
It’s an extending community of ventures and adventures. Loving the DIY chic on the green carpet, by the way! That included the stage!
Outstanding TBCOTP Finalist, Amity, in their customised Diane Goldie Jacket. Diane Goldie (@dianegoldieartist on Instagram): "Painting and pondering life’s big issues in vibrant colour”.
In 2026 The Musos Awards is bigger and brighter than ever – as are some of last year’s musos winners, performers and nominees. This talents-rising variety show veered from acoustic and punk to alt pop and rock circus live on stage.
Amity’s powerful songs were laced by their incredible voice. Fun fact, Amity applied for The Bands Come Out To Play after spotting the shout out on Festivals Radar. Hundreds applied and the winter holidays were spent discovering new sounds. Inarguably amazing talent. Like the t=shirt says, Never Give Up.
So much laughter. So many smiles and cheers.
Happiness was visible. So much is needed in a world of mental and physical rain. Yay!
The Stars Came Out To Play
Alongside the presenters and winners on stage and screen, performances twinkled.
A.R.T., Amity, The Clause, Dirty Blonde, Laurie Wright, Megan Wyn, Pedestrian Band, Shane Callaghan of The Now, Spangled, Sweet Unrest.
Manchester band, Dirty Blonde, won the Musos EP 2026 and also played the live show.
A bit like a house party when yer parents are out of town…
Sure there are posher, slicker ceremonies and yet, welcoming all generations, backgrounds and outfits, The Musos Awards is the beautifully wild function/dysfunction that is 4REAL.
Voted for by musicians who you could hear yesssssssing when Isle Of Wight won Musos Festival.
Music Industry Heritage icon, John Giddings.
“Without him, I think we’d be really, really empty”
(John Kennedy of Radio X introducing John Giddings to present the Isle Of Wight Festival’s trophy).
JK is loved in his own right. Nearly everybody in the room has listened to John Kennedy over the years (for some, that’s their lifetime) so there was youthful energy running to the front to jump up and down, shouting“ John John John!”, while punching the air in excitement for the Radio X presenter, as he was about to present Spangled with the Musos Inspiration Award.
Adoration is an award in it’s own right.
John is warmly and deservedly respected. He knows so many bands, fans and their stories, following their twists and tales with radio plays, sessions, festivals etc.
Independent guitar music is such a kismetic ecosystem and John’s an instigator. The perfect presenter for Spangled.
Dear 2026. Lets. Get. SPANGLED! - the band sparkled at the recent sold out Teenage Cancer Trust gigs by This Feeling. With a chanting army of admirers and over a million streams for their layer crafted sound. Deserving winners of Musos Inspiration 2026 they’ve got so much more up their sleeves for this year, already.
There were fans - new or otherwise - for EVERYbody.
Even by lairy o clock after a few(?) beers at the bar!
It’s a friendly occasion, met some crazy gigglers like a giant pub party. Something about the Musos Awards, here were no “overnight successes” involved – maybe that’s a grassroots thing. Especially these days.
Megan Wyn, the Welsh Indie-Pop Princess is much loved Soccer Six family. One of the YouTube soundtrack artists, a good sport on the field and most of all, a talented artist carving a reputation with instant composition and performance skills and vocal ability. Seeing her charisma emerging like a punky butterfly. She paid homage to Camden, rounding off the party with ‘Back To Black’ by Ami Winehouse.
Tonight was proof that if you can, keep going.
Who knows where you’ll be in a year’s time?
Artists are still coming through (organically i.e. blood, sweat, tears and time) despite the odds being against our circuit of independent venues - let alone the ability to exist outside of being a “content-maker”.
There’s something especially hope-inspiring about a slow burn band back story. It’s like a book or movie but in real time. We are fans of some bands that work it, baby, who had come to support The Musos. Maybe we’ll see them on the big screen one day…
A year earlier, a night out at the Fiddler’s Elbow seeing Laurie Wright. The Molotovs were in the audience supporting their friend. The drummer in his band was Alfie Clayton. The special guests, Sweet Unrest and Lucca Mae caught attention, they’re all documented in our clips. A month later, Laurie and the band played Musos Awards 2025.
The Bands Come Out To Play finalists for 2026, Sweet Unrest, an all guns blazing rock n roll show with melodic sensibility. In short, the full package.
Every single person in the room attended through music love from sponsors and crew (CUP Soccer Six team responsible for this event from polling to presentation and production, are mainly young musicians)
We spotted many faves, friends and new thrills on and off stage, at the bar or dancefloor including Kat Five, MOSES, Anita Maj, The Velvet Hands, The Outers, Lock-In, FNTSY, The Havocks, The Slates, Stereo Cupid, JJ Eringa, The Cases, Liam C, Your Favourite Leech - and The Bands Come Out To Play finalists, Scratchcard and Undici.
There were MANY more, of course – but the above alone would make an awesome playlist or mini fest!
Big up the amazing multi media reporters capturing film, images and interviews or exhibiting fashion designers or DIY chic on the green carpet. There’s more to keep coming for a while, yet as many people have college or day jobs.
People showed up!
It cost under £30 to buy a ticket and support The Musos Awards and the mailing list had discount tickets at Soccer Six quid so as many people as possible could be part of the night.
Perfectly imperfect, The Musos Awards are located in the iconic setting of the Electric Ballroom (by the tube station) of London’s capital of rocking out, Camden Town – a short walk from all the venues being mentioned here.
Thanks to Diabolical, there was even a BuildHollywood billboard near the Hawley Arms where many were meeting for pre-Awards drinks.
With Chaos Twins next level music tourism now launched it’s fair to say that Camden borough’s postcodes - from here to Tin Pan Alley - are a decades long destination.
The Musos Awards is The Ball at The Ballroom! Big up the sponsors and supporters of the scenes who make this happen.
TheZineUK has been on the Camden Town trail for the 2026 Musos journey
From The Bands Come Out To Play finals at the Dublin Castle, to the last giggle n wiggle - at The Good Mixer then The Elephant’s Head - in the early hours when the networking turned into dance moves and new futures.
The Musos Awards 2025, Alfie Clayton was on drums. The Musos Awards 2026, in the air as lead singler of A.R.T. who pull out all the stops to entertain. That showy show thing won The Bands Come Out To Play 2026 in a story that is just SO Musos! Next, it’s gonna be very interesting on 5th June, just ask them and Sweet Unrest. Watch both their spaces!
The Nower Meet Up
Since March 2023 TheZineUK has identified that there is an alt rock / pop + DIY powered Interdependent Music Sector. It’s bloomed, especially since what our own Ruby Blue noted as the “origin stories year” of 2017 when some of this evening’s attendees would have been at school.
Let a youthful, multiple discipline arts-laced pop, nurtured by and united with an experienced crowd who “made so much happen”, be what lifts us all. That’s what’s happening.
Respect to all the musicians who voted for their peers to create the final Awards show. The Players’ Player, innit. This is all part of a movement beyond the situationism we document to being more in your face than your cheek bones. Brace! Brace! Embrace it!
In his acceptance speech, Rod Stewart mentioned Music Venue Trust and that he wants to see pub rock return. Grassroots venues are the music bars across Britain and Ireland multiplied by thousands. It’s returned, Rod, but flavoured by all the outsiders of the 20th and 21st century, playing class friends of all ages and fifty years of punk rock.
The Musos Awards is an amplifier.
If you see 2027 Musos Awards tickets go on sale. Just buy them for the early bird affordability, supporting artist and the vibes. The rest will fall into place and you’ll be glad to be part of it. Trust.
Events Dept., eventing!