Music
03 May 24

Oh Yeah Music Centre first Northern Irish venue to win Grassroots Venue: Spirit of the Scene award

The winner was decided by a public vote from a shortlist of ten venues from all over the UK including The Windmill in London, The Green Door Store in Brighton and the Leadmill in Sheffield.

Belfast's Oh Yeah Music Centre was celebrated as part of the annual Music Week Awards in theGrosvenor House in London last night.

Taking home the gong for Grassroots Venue: Spirit of the Scene, the venue was the first in Northern Ireland to win this accolade.

Led by Music Venue Trust the award is designed to signify the importance of music venues across the UK.

This awards ceremony took place against the backdrop of two grassroots music venues closing per week in the UK alone due to chronic underfunding and crippling rising costs.

The Spirit of the Scene award aims to be a positive step in recognising and supporting their important function as incubators of live music and talent development.

Since 2007, the Oh Yeah Music Centre, a registered charity, has provided ‘open doors to music’ from its base in the Cathedral Quarter area of Belfast.

The Music Centre has decided to dedicate the award to music community in Northern Ireland.

Speaking on the honour, Charlotte Dryden, CEO Oh Yeah Music Centre said: "To win this award means everything. Not only is it official recognition at a major industry awards event but it's also a public endorsement of our work.

"Live music makes a huge collective economic and social contribution to our lives, and we are so proud to bring this home to Northern Ireland. Thank you to everyone that voted for us and massive thanks to Music Venue Trust for making sure grassroots venues are recognised at this prestigious event."

Mark David, CEO and Founder Music Venue Trust said of the recipients: "The Oh Yeah team have done so much for music in Northern Ireland and beyond, and it's great to see that work celebrated with the Spirit of the Scene Award"