Paul Brady receives Legend Award at Northern Irish Music Prize 2023

Folk singer Paul Brady took home the 2023 Legend Award, a prestigious honour having been bestowed on the likes of Snow Patrol and Barry Devlin of Horslips in recent years. The Legend Award was sponsored by the Oh Yeah music centre and presented by IMRO, the Irish Music Rights Organisation.

The award physically presented by singer songwriter Eleanor McEvoy who described the occasion as an 'honour'.

The award ceremony took place at Ulster Hall in a night of celebration; one which recognised artists whose career spanned 50 years right through to fresh new Northern Irish talent.

The event, which is now an annual sold out show, which was organised by the Oh Yeah Centre, also went out live on BBC Radio Ulster.

Paul Brady, winner of the Legend Award pictured with Arborist, winner of Album of the Year

In an eclectic showcase of the diversity of talent based in Northern Ireland, from Traditional Pipers to Punk rock, Soul and Pop, it was evident that NI music is fit for a world-class stage.

Industry guests, artists and fans from out of town joined in with a loud and proud local audience of shortlisted artists, friends and family.

This was all accompanied with performances from Chalk, Problem Patterns, Conor Mallon, Ferna, Winnie Ama and last year’s ATL Artist of The Year winners The Florentinas.

The evening also included the Joe Cassidy Chrysalis Award, a special award that was created by friends and family of the Chicago based Belfast artist. The winning act Chalk received a bursary award of £3,000.

Chalk, seem to be on a meteoric rise, as yesterday the act not only signed to Nice Swan Records and announced a new single, but also picked up a second award for Live Act.

Irish three piece Chalk took home both the 20023 Joe Cassidy Chrysalis Award, and the Live Act Award sponsored by Shine Productions

Vic Galloway of BBC Scotland and Peter Leathem CEO of PPL announced the album winner Arborist – an award decided by a panel earlier that evening.

Public vote for Single of The Year went to Moonboot for ‘To U’,

Problem Patterns picked up Music Video Market Place sponsored Video for ‘Who Do We Not Save’ and the BBC Introducing: ATL Artist of The Year award went to Tramp.

Charlotte Dryden from Oh Yeah Music Centre who sponsored the event said of the night; “We might be living in some of the most challenging times, but tonight was a needed moment of positivity.

Recognition and acknowledgment for music creators is more important than ever and we thank our sponsors and supporters for getting behind that"