Of Monsters & Men among EBBA winners

Now in its tenth year, the European Border Breakers Awards 2013 were presented by legendary TV presenter Jools Holland and Dutch celebrity Birgit Schuurman during a televised live event at Da Oosterpoort in the Dutch city last night. The UK presenter apologised to the audience: “I’m sorry I don’t speak Dutch – even though my name is Holland!”

The EBBA Awards are for European artists who have had proven success in crossing borders with their first international release in Europe. Every year the European Commission hands out 10 EBBA Awards during the ceremony at the European music conference and showcase festival Eurosonic Noorderslag in Groningen.

Previous Irish incumbents have included The Thrills, Damien Rice, Dolores O’Riordan, The Script and James Vincent McMorrow, but there were sadly no gongs for any breaking Irish acts last night.

The 10 winners are selected on the basis of analysis by Nielsen Music and votes from EBU radio stations ETEP festivals. For the last three years, the EBBAs have been broadcast by TV and web channels in more than 20 countries around the world. Only one winner is chosen by public vote and this year’s ‘Public Choice Award’ went to French hip-hop act C2C.

Last night’s winners were...

1. PORTUGAL – AMOR ELECTRO
2. FRANCE – C2C
3. NETHERLANDS – DOPE D.O.D.
4. UK – EMELI SANDE
5. ESTONIA – EWERT AND THE TWO DRAGONS
6. FINLAND – FRENCH FILMS
7. SPAIN – JUAN ZELADA
8. DENMARK – NABIHA
9. SWEDEN – NIKI AND THE DOVE
10. ICELAND – OF MONSTERS AND MEN