2012 British Country Music Award Winners
- The 2012 British Country Music Awards (BCMAwards) were held on Sunday 2 September at the Concorde Club, Heathrow.
- The evening was hosted by the BCMAwards committee of Lee Williams, MT Allan, Jim Duncan, Rob Davis, Bob Thomas, Les Evans, and Roger Wild.
- Compere’s for the evening were Nicky Campbell (BBC Radio 5, Watchdog etc) and Charlie Landsborough.
- The overall Sponsor was Ascot Lawyers with individual award sponsorship shown below.
- The sold out Award Show include live performances interspersed between the award presentations from: Ashley Robertson (Cananda), Nicky Campbell, Kate Robbins, Gary Curtis. British band C’est La Vie were on hand to back Glenn Rogers, Travellin Rose, Henry Smith, Brian Hughes, Nancy Ann Lee, Sammy Sadler (USA), Darren Busby, and Gary Curtis.
- Special guest from the
- Toby Keith sent in two video acceptance messages, with Lady Antebellum send over a thank you.
Categories voted for by the public:
People’s Choice Award UK
All round entertainment and/or music show (This can be Band, Duo or Solo)
Winner: Thrillbillies
McKenZie; Henry Smith, Spur, Gary Perkins, Thrillbillies
Band of the Year UK
Winner: C’est La Vie
C’est La Vie, Hayley Oliver Band, Henry Smith Band, Gary Perkins & The Breeze, Texas
Male Vocalist of the Year UK
Winner: Gary Perkins
Henry Smith, Darren Busby, Chris James, Jonny Williams, Gary Perkins
Female Vocalist of the Year UK
Winner: Nancy Ann Lee
Donna Wylde, Hayley Oliver, Nancy Ann Lee, Kay D, Lynnette Marie
Solo Act of the Year UK
Winner: Darren Busby
Chris James, Nancy Ann Lee, Jonny Williams, Darren Busby, Stubby
Duo of the Year UK
Winner: Spur
McKenZie, Spur, Thrillbillies, Travellin’ Rose, Jonny Williams & Lynnette Marie
Line Dance Country Act of the Year UK
Winner: Glenn Rogers
Alan Gregory, Fools Gold, Richard Palmer, Glenn Rogers, Thrillbillies
Horizon Act of the Year UK (Up and coming act) (Sponsored by The Country Music Association, Nashville TN
Winner: Travellin Rose
Gone Country, Travellin Rose, Gary Quinn, Jet Taylor, Dave Inglis
Event of the Year UK
Winner: Americana
International Act of the Year (None UK
Winner: Toby Keith
Collin Raye, Will Banister, Toby Keith, Taylor Swift, Brad Paisley
International Song of the Year (None UK
Winner: Lady Antebellum “We Owned The Night”
International Album of the Year (None UK artist) :
Winner: Toby Keith (Clancy's Tavern)
Irish Country Act of Year (UK or International Irish country act) (Sponsored by Phil Mack Country Show) :
Winner: Big Tom
Daniel O’Donnell, Big Tom, Jimmy Buckley, Dominic Kirwan, Lisa Stanley
These Categories are ONLY voted for by the BCMAwards panel
Entertainer of the Year UK (Sponsored by Ascot Lawyers):
Winner: Henry Smith Band
John Permenter , Henry Smith Band, Darren Busby, Gary Perkins, Richard Palmer
Musician of the Year UK (Sponsored by KEMC Records) :
Winner: Derrick Thurlby
Stuart Payne , Shane O’Byrne, Steve Plaice, Derrick Thurlby, John Permenter
UK Album of the Year :
Pete Kennedy - The Nashville Sessions Vol 1, Gary Quinn – The Cowboys Heart
Steve Black- All The Best, Travellin Rose – Travellin Rose , The Diablo’s – Diamonds & Rhinestones
Original Song of the Year UK (Sponsored by Copper Kettle Promotions) :
Winner: Brian Hughes “Damascus Rd”
Pete Kennedy (“I Am The One”), Brian Hughes (Damascus Rd), Sears & Power (“Big River Bandits”),
Diablo’s (“Continental”, Pig Earth (“All Smoke and Mirrors”)
Americana Act of the Year UK (Sponsored by Maverick Magazine):
Winner: My Darling Clementine
Hot Disc Track of the Year UK:
Winner: Gary Curtis (Song “Life Is For The Living” spent 8 weeks at #1 on the British & Irish Chart)
British Country Music Hall of Fame inductees: Jon Derek, Bob Harris (OBE) , Tony Byworth (www.bcmhof.co.uk)
Related Blog Post: British Country Music Hall of Fame 2012 Inductees
2012 BCMAward Tweets:
Bob Harris @WhisperingBob Good see @NickyAACampbell at the BCMA Awards last night.
Bob Harris @WhisperingBob Thank you to the British Country Music Association for inducting me into their Hall of Fame at the awards ceremony last night. #honoured
Brian Hughes @brian0hughes Chuffed to win Song of the Year with Damascus Road at this years BCMAs in London. AND got to meet the legend that is Whispering Bob Harris!
Bob Harris @WhisperingBob @brian0hughes Good to meet you too Brian. It was a warm night
Pete Kennedy @PeteKennedy3 Very pleased to announce I have won BCM Awards UK Album of the year, I am truly honored
I can't believe it I have won UK Album of the year in BCM Awards !!! Unbelievable :-) :-):-)
Travellin Rose @TravellinRose we actually won our first award last night at the BCMAwards ! Nice to see you again @WhisperingBob here to Nashville xxx lol xxx
Travellin Rose @TravellinRose Well done to @PeteKennedy3 spur Kat @HenrySmithBand @ladyantebellum Toby keith and all the others who got awards lst nite at the BCMAwards x
A look at some of the 2012 BCM Award Winners
Ladies first ! xxx
1) Nancy Ann Lee - Female Vocalist of the Year UK
This “proper Yorkshire lass” was born in Goole! To my knowledge (fellas) she hasn’t found a man good enough to replace Dads duties as a roadie!
Her interest in music started after her parents, who were avid fans of Country Music, got her a keyboard for a Christmas gift. She would take her keyboard along with her whilst riding alongside her Dad in his truck!
Her parents took her along to their local Country Music club in Howden, East Yorkshire.
In 2011 Nancy received a nomination for Best Female Vocalist by British Country Music Awards 2011.
She has played Skipton Fest, Copper Kettle, Wolvestock, Brean Sands Country week, Broken Spoke Festival, Cotswold Country Music Fest, and Towerfest amongst many other various Country Festivals/ venues and even supported Raymond Froggatt and the Grumbleweeds!
In 2010 Lee decided to diversify into the 60’s music industry prompted by a last minute call a 60’s theatre show. Her “Little Miss Sixties” show also includes a tribute to Brenda Lee and Connie Francis, has gone from strength to strength.
This show caters for the avid country music fan, from the country music listening audience right through to the line dancers.
It features the latest in country music hits and some country classics. Songs range from the late Billie Jo Spears, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams to Shania Twain, Trisha Yearwood, Patty Loveless, Lady Antebellum, The Judds, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Sugarland to name but a few.
Quote from 'Up Country' magazine : '”Anyone who has seen and heard Nancy sing live , whether it be at a line dance or listening event, will be aware of just how much she puts into her performance. Her strong and powerful voice can belt out those vocals and is equally impressive whether she is singing about subjects and in tempos as diverse as rousing rock 'n' roll or tender romantic numbers. Her stage presence will leave you breathless as her boundless energy and enthusiasm transmits to every member of her audience'”
Nancy plays the acoustic guitar at her energetic shows with stunning costume to liven and brighten up those country nights!
Watch Nancy Ann Lee live at Wild Rose Dancers Valentines Party filmed Feb 2011
>> YouTube
2) Travellin Rose - Horizon Act of the Year UK
In 2011 Romany ladies Kelly Lee from Hatfield and Talia Smith from Heathrow aka TRAVELLIN ROSE burst onto the British Country music scene after they were brought together by mutual friend Mike Maslen of Halo Records (Kelly previously recorded a solo project with the label).
Brunette Talia (30), former airplane cleaner and mother to children Leanne, 12, William, eight and Dennis, two who lives on a trailer site at Cranford, said: “I was never a singer until after the third baby but I’d been encouraged to sing around the campfire and on karaoke nights”.
Blond Kelly (27), mum to son Riley, three, and daughter Tennessee, two, said: “I’ve been singing since I was a little girl. It’s in our blood. We sing around the campfire”.
The last year has been a “gypsy whirlwind” for this attractive duo described on the Phil Mack Country Show as a “great bundle of fun”
They laugh when they describe themselves: “Trailer Trash'......but in a good way' they add “. They live in trailers, drive pickup trucks, and immerse themselves in country music – “We have been called walking talking stereotypes...but we are proud to be so, and all of our songs are written from this perspective because that's what we are”.
These ladies, with both brains and beauty got on great from the get-go quickly creating a catalogue of original songs with sassy lyrics with bags of attitude.
TR’s OMG, career to date highlights:
- Their first single “Made Up My Mind,” debuted on the Hotdisc Top 40 chart on December 11, 2011 at # 2 and on Dec 18th they topped the Hotdisc British and Irish chart . In so doing they gave Forbes # 1 listed artist Toby Keith and his viral sensation hit Red Solo Cup a run for its money.
- Whilst in Nashville they cut five tracks for their debut album, with Mark Moseley at Sound Control Studio & Catch This Music on Music Row. They returned in the early part of 2012 to complete their album project slated to be called OMG (OH, MY, GOSH) which is due out in the near future.
- Travellin Rose were the cover feature in Country Routes Magazine (January 2012 issue)
- In the week Jan 14, 2012 their single “Made Up My Mind” was #13 on the International Country Music Chart
- In early June 2012 Travellin Rose represented the UK during the CMA Festival at the “CMA Presents The Aristo Global Show” at the Second Fiddle in Nashville – Arista Press Link . They were interviewed for a Billboard Story for a CMA Festival Week story! - See photo Travellin Rose (left) strapless bustiers)
- Also in July they made their festival debut at Wolvestock 18 in Wolverhampton.
- In August/Sept 2012 their third single “Girl From The Backwood’s” has spent 3 weeks at #3 on The Hotdisc Top 40 and #2 on The British & Irish Chart
- Nominated in both the Horizon Act of the Year and Duo of the Year categories in the 2012 (BCMAwards) they pick up the Horizon Award on Sept 2, 2012 !! CONGRATULATIONS ! xx
LISTEN to a sample of the latest single “Girl From The Backwood’s”
Related Blog Posts:
Lee Williams owner of CMR Nashville talks to new UK country duo Travellin Rose (Kelly Lee and Talia Smith) at a London Hotel about their recorded Nashville album OMG (OH MY GOSH ) and the CMA Aristo Global Artist Showcase event in June 2012.
Listen to some of their new songs and interview on soundcloud.com
3) Henry Smith - Entertainer of The Year 2012
Henry has been voted BCMA Band of The Year 2010 and Entertainer of The Year 2010 and 2011 and has now been awarded this accolade for the third consecutive year at the BCMA Award Ceremony 2012. He is a very popular and energetic showman and is well received at both festivals and clubs. Henry is presently being sponsored by The Phil Mack Country Show, UP Country Magazine and WesternView WesternWear.
Henry has regularly appeared on television performing live in the studio as well as showing videos of his performances on stage. He is currently working on some new music videos for duets he has recorded including the track ‘Drinking Lying Down’ with Frank Howe.
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| Henry Smith |
Originally from Reading, England, Henry Smith was born in January 1972 and spent most of his life in the Portsmouth area. His love of country music started at a young age with stage performances from 5 years old.
Henry’s childhood was filled with the music of great artists such as Hank Williams Snr, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, and Johnny Cash. Basically if it was country music he would be interested.
It was at the age of 19 that Henry got his first taste of singing on stage with a live band behind him. That band was the Dalton Boys and Henry soon became a regular feature and the name changed to Henry Smith and the Dalton Boys.
It was at the age of 19 that Henry got his first taste of singing on stage with a live band behind him. That band was the Dalton Boys and Henry soon became a regular feature and the name changed to Henry Smith and the Dalton Boys.
As Henry had been chasing this dream all his life he wanted the name to reflect this so he later named the band Henry Smith’s Country Dreams.
The current line-up is Henry Smith - Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar, Clive Grant - Bass/Vocals, Rob Burns - Lead Guitar, Neil Harris – Drums and Dave Hayward - Steel
A well toured country artist, Henry has had numerous appearances and shared the stage at belated The South Will Rose Again Festivals with artists such as Mark Chesnutt, Billy Yates, Heather Miles, Joni Harms, Eve Selis, Jon Randall and Danni Lee.
Henry has also appeared in many international festivals such as Gravelines, France and Magaluf, Majorca. Other UK festivals include: The Americana, Nottingham, Yorkshire Dales Festival Skipton and The Norfolk and Kings Lynn Festivals at the Norfolk Showground.
He cites his influences as: Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, George Jones and Garth Brooks.
Henry is renowned for his dedication and lively stage performances. According to his website he has been described by many music critics as the UK’s number one Country Artist. WEBSITE - FACEBOOK - GIGS
4) Gary Perkins - Male Vocalist of the Year UK
Gary Perkins was just eight years old when he obtained his first guitar, not knowing how to tune it, he learned to play out of tune, and subsequently, at the age of fourteen, had to relearn the instrument. His first experience of performing in front of an audience came at the age of eight, when he played harmonica and sang songs in junior school assemblies. During his time at Dinnington comprehensive school Gary was a very keen sports man. He was a school prefect and games captain. When he left school he served a four year apprenticeship at Rotherham College of Technology in plate fabrication and structural development. He would sub contract to many different companies working in fabrication shops and power stations around the country.
In 1980, at the age of eighteen, Gary made his debut performance when he was invited by Harry Quinton to sing three songs at one of his shows at the Ivanhoe Hotel in Thurcroft, a South Yorkshire pit village. In 1991 he became a self employed country singer. In 1995 he joined up with a Buxton based band called ‘The Breeze’ and although there has been a few band member changes they are still performing theatres and major country music festivals around the country.
Gary Perkins and The Breeze are based around the South Yorkshire, Derbyshire and North Nottinghamshire area, they are currently made up from Gary Perkins – (Lead Singer and Rhythm Guitar), Johnny Keep – (Bass Guitar), Andy Mottram (Lead Guitar), Rosie Haywood (Drums) and Steve Morris (Keyboard).
Effectively a part-time band, with the members dividing their time between full-time jobs and family commitments they have been able to establish themselves. They were runners up in the BCMA Best Group category in 2008. Since then, they have gone on to bag various prizes at the British Country Music Awards including Best British Male Artist for Perkins (2008).
At the 2011 BCMAwards they won Band of The Year and in 2012 won Popular Band at the Southern Country Awards.
5) Darren Busby - Solo Act of the Year UK
Darren Busby, one of the most popular artists on the UK Country Music scene, started his singing career in 1979 and his early influences were Slim Whitman, Marty Robbins, and Merle Haggard.
Over the 31 years that Darren has been singing he has amassed a staggering 121 awards, and in 2010 gained the accolades of Best Male Vocalist and Best Solo Act at the British Country Music Awards.
He started his musical career in 1980, being part of a short-lived small Barton-on-Humber home town band singing and played the drums. Darren consequently taught himself to play the guitar while his uncle Sean learning to play bass and they formed a band called SOUTHERN PRIDE. They played for several years at clubs up and down the country employing other musicians when required.
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| Darren Busby |
In 1987 Busby went solo while still retaining a job as a welder.
Turning to song writing he wrote 6 songs on BATCHELOR DAYS which was voted runner up in the UK Radio Awards best new song in 2001.
In 1998 Darren turned full-time professional into the music business.
His new Mini-Album AT THE END OF THE DAY was a long awaited collection of 5 original songs all written by Wye Creek Music songwriter Vic Holdroyd.
At the 2011 BCMAwards Darren was a winner of Male Vocalist of The Year (Sponsor – CMDS Magazine) and has now snagged another award!
6) Pete Kennedy - UK Album of the Year
(The Nashville Sessions Vol 1)
(The Nashville Sessions Vol 1)
The towering now London based 35-year old Irishman (Born late March 1977) is the second oldest of a family of five brothers from a small town called Birr in County Offaly, and Carrig in County Tipperary. His music is heartfelt born out of a tough childhood and family tragedy that has engrained in him a positive determination to succeed.
Back in 1988, Pete’s father lost his life in a second floor fire rescuing his wife and young family sleeping above the blaze of the Kennedy’s bar homestead ( read more on his Bio).
Pete had to wait for a year to replace a destroyed guitar but immersing himself in West Coast music it assisted to deal with a fatherless situation. In 1994, when he started a band with some local classmates called Charade.
Fast forward to 2002, to happier times, and Pete married girlfriend Audrey and they have raised two daughters.
As the world recession hit bigtime Pete found himself without work and threw himself into music to support a young family, starting out as a solo act playing bars and pubs. He has been involved with country music for 5 years and he has concentrated on writing his own songs during the last two years.
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Pete (Left) with Steve Moore
CEO of The Country Music Association
June 2012
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In 2010, Pete Kennedy started his own label, KEMC Records working with cousin/engineer Mark McCormack. The song “Yellow” got the attention of BCM Award President and Internet country station CMR Nashville boss Lee Williams.
In early November Pete was invited by Lee to make his first trip to Nashville to join a pre 2011 CMA Awards International Country Music party as the Irish representative playing the famed Cadillac Ranch.
“Yellow” was released as a prime cut on the December 2011 HOTDISC 156 promotional disc. It reached No. 25 on the International Top 40 Hotdisc chart, as well as No. 9 on the British and Irish Independent Hotdisc chart.
“Nashville Sessions Volume 1” the winning BCM Album of the Year, and the nominated Song Of The Year single “I Am The One” were recorded in Music City in January 2012.
In August Pete spoke via phone with journalist Markos Papadatos about this EP and future plans. It contained all self-penned songs, including a recut “Yellow” and was released independently to Ireland and the UK on iTunes Feb 26, 2012 on Kemc Records.
Pete was again to symbolize his homeland in Nashville in June 2012 performing at “CMA Presents The Aristo Global Show” at The Second Fiddle. Additionally he made appearances during the CMA Festival at the Music & Fashion event at the Hard Rock Café and a performance inside the Bridgestone Arena on Thursday, June 7th.
Also sealing details this year Kennedy signed with the America's fastest-growing performing rights organization, SESAC.
In April/May he wrapped up an intense two-weeks in Nashville co-writing with some of the city’s top songwriters for the follow up “Nashville Sessions Volume 2,” slated for an early 2013 release.
During these busy 14 days in Music City, Pete has written with former American Idol contestant Ayla Brown, country music’s newbie Corey Wagar, Canadian songstress Jessica Ridley as well as successful songwriters Beau Fuller (Jimmie Van Zant), Lynn Wilbanks, Cece DuBois, Jan Buckingham (Lee Greenwood, Whitney Houston), Bob McGilpin and Jo-Leah Wallace Tilbury.
Jan commented - “Pete’s a modern-day Neil Diamond. With the melodies and stories of a troubadour master coupled with his good looks and Irish charm, Pete should be unstoppable!”
The Irishman arrived a week early before CMA Fest to spend time in the studio working on this upcoming album. "I've been in Sound Control Studio with producer Mark Moseley," Kennedy told Billboard. "I came in town about six weeks ago to co-write and we've been cutting this week. It looks like recording will wrap in September. In October, I'll go on tour opening for Neil Sedaka in the U.K. and in November and December I'll be on tour with the Stylistics. Then we look forward to coming back here [Nashville] in January."
In July Kennedy played the 101.8 WCR-FM Acoustic Stage at Wolvestock 18 in Wolverhampton. In the September 2012 issue of Up Country Magazine the reviewer wrote – “I went to see Irish heartthrob, Pete Kennedy, perform and I can assure you this young man will go far with his good looks personality and overall very good voice!
7) SPUR - Duo of the Year UK
This Award winning Duo has been nominated no less than 5 times for the BCM Awards.
SPUR consist of Mark Hills (Singer/Song Writer/ Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar) and James Parsons (Singer/Song Writer/ Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar) and they hail from Taunton, Somerset, UK.
SPUR was born out of Mark’s decision in 2001 to produce a home made album which was given to friends and family. Then in 2005 creating the duo name he made a “vital call” to James and said "I’m going to do this, do you want in". Spur was thus born and they started playing in a local bar. They now working full time as an unsigned country duo and are very happy and grateful for everybody’s help. Their overseas Management is Debbie Dean Promotions based in Nashville TN.
They can even count on some “celeb fans”, step forward Posh Spice aka Victoria Beckham (Photo) - Ummm was it “spurred” on by a photo-shopped brainwave!
Their most recent album available from their website JACK DANIEL'S was released on 1st November 2011. The 15 tracks, consisting of mostly covers, include the title cut and opener “How Bout You” (written by Eric Church) along with well known tunes “Thank God For The Radio” (Max D Barnes & Robert John Jones), “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” (Written by Earl Bud & John Wiggins) and “Freight Train” (Alan Jackson) together with 3 self penned songs by Spur’s very own Mark Hills on “Taylor Swift (A Face in the Crowd ) and James Parsons who composed “Baby Was My Beer” and “Never Do You Wrong”. The later was released on the promotional Hotdisc 143 (Dec 2010) which peaked at #22 Top 40 and #8 on the British & Irish Chart
Listen to a sample of “Never Do You Wrong”
On their website they said: “A big thank you to everyone that help to put on a ace show this year at the BCM Awards.. Also to everyone that voted and support us... BIG BIG THANKS TO YOU ALL... - WEBSITE
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