MUSOS AWARDS 2026 THE STARS CAME OUT TO PLAY

The fourth indie rock/britpop ceremony presented by Music Industry Soccer Six:

 

The Musos Awards 2026

Electric Ballroom, Camden

Updates / Stories @musosawards

event photography by / (c) Gary Walker https://thisisgary.co.uk  

Hosted by Radio X presenter, Louise Schofield, there were live performances, presentations and speeches – on screen and stage – alphabetically including A.R.T., Amity, The Bracknall, The Clause, Dirty Blonde, John Kennedy (Radio X), Kelly Jones of Stereophonics, Laurie Wright, Megan Wyn, Pedestrian Band, Rod Stewart, Sam Birchall of The Lilacs, Spangled, Sweet Unrest and Tim Burgess of The Charlatans.

 

There was so much warmth in the room for music industry icon, John Giddings and Musos Festival 2026, Isle of Wight.

 

There was a touching tribute to Mani of the Stone Roses/Primal Scream with a special Musos Award, collected on behalf of his family by Tim Burgess. Mani is the first musician to score a hat trick, winning at the 2002 and 2005 Musos Awards also.

 

Musos Awards host, Louise Schofield

 

The whole night was energised by the vibrant fizz of The Musos Awards being the annual gathering of the new rock n roll. Guitar led artists and the wider ecosystem of creators, influencers, sponsors, media and industry came out to play in support of music.

 

Anybody in attendance was invited to have fun on the Musos Green Carpet. It’s The Players’ Player Awards for everyday people - and some were still partying on Friday!

 

Founder, Mark ‘Abes’ Abery said “It was so satisfying that collectively, we were able to stage another triumphant event. The feedback is already beautiful and some serious momentum is building”

The Welsh Indie Pop Princess, Megan WYN

 

After last’s year’s first Musos Awards of this generation, the event has stepped up and out. It’s now partnered with Music Venue Trust – the perfect fit for the Player’s Player of awards ceremonies.

 

Votes are cast by musicians for musicians. “If you can’t play a note, you don’t get a vote”. The event is also run, presented and produced by fellow musicians.

 

https://soccer-six.com/

 

Next Event: Saturday 9th May: 

The Britpop Anniversary SoccerSixFest, Mile End Stadium 

  MUSOS AWARDS 2026 WINNERS

Spangled, Winners of the Musos Inspiration 2026

 

 The Players’ Player - 2026

MUSOS BASS PLAYER - KATIE LLOYD, THE LOTTERY WINNERS

MUSOS DRUMMER - LOUISE BARTLE, BLOC PARTY

MUSOS BREAKTHRUGH EP - DIRTY BLONDE 'LOOKING FOR TROUBLE'

MUSOS SONGWRITER - SAM FENDER

MUSOS BREAKTHROUGH BAND - THE BRACKNALL

MUSOS LIVE ACT - OASIS

MUSOS ICON - PAUL McCARTNEY

MUSOS GIG - OASIS, CARDIFF 2025

MUSOS KEYS PLAYER - ELTON JOHN

MUSOS INSPIRATION AWARD - SPANGLED

MUSOS EMERGING FESTIVAL - BRING THE NOISE

MUSOS ALBUM - THE CLAUSE 'VICTIM OF A CASUAL THING'

MUSOS INFLUENCER - FESTIVALS RADAR

MUSOS LEAD SINGER - KELLY JONES, STEREOPHONICS

MUSOS TONIC SONG - WE ARE LOVE, THE CHARLATANS

MUSOS 90S BAND - THE STONE ROSES

MUSOS INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT - TIM BURGESS

MUSOS LEGENDARY PLAYER - MANI

MUSOS FESTIVAL - ISLE OF WIGHT

MUSOS GUITARIST - RYAN BRESLIN, THE KS

MUSOS PROMOTER - THIS FEELING

MUSOS HERO - SAM BIRCHALL, THE LILACS

MUSOS BAND - WOLF ALICE 

MUSOS VENUE - 100 CLUB  

MUSOS APPRECIATION AWARD - MUSIC VENUE TRUST

MUSOS SONG - PULP 'SPIKE ISLAND'

MUSOS LEGEND - ROD STEWART

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Video acceptance speeches from ROD STEWART, KELLY (STEREOPHONICS) & SAM (THE LILACS)

 

THE BANDS COME OUT TO PLAY competition winners for 2026 were A.R.T. and with runners up Amity and Sweet Unrest they appeared live at The Musos Awards.

 

THE MUSOS AWARDS are voted for, created / presented by musicians in association with the MUSIC INDUSTRY SOCCER SIX 

Dirty Blonde, Winners of Musos EP 2026

 

“Thank you for this wonderful award, it means a lot to me. Also, MVT, Music Venue Trust. I was brought up on pub rock and I hope it returns. Thank you so much.”

 

Sir Rod Stewart

 

“Without him, I think we’d be really really empty”

 

John Kennedy of Radio X on industry legend, John Giddings, Isle Of Wight Festival

 

“It’s a privilege to give a platform to young bands”

 

John Giddings, Isle of Wight

Winner of Musos Festival 2026

 

“Mani would have loved it here tonight with his fellow musicians and fans. His smile would have been lighting up this room…”

 

Tim Burgess accepting - on behalf of Mani and his family - the Musos Legendary Player Award

Tim Burgess won the Musos Industry Achievement 2026

The Charlatans won the Tonic Music Song

 

“Hallo. Thank you very much for the award, very much appreciated to everybody that voted.

 

Sorry we can't be there tonight we're knocking about in the studio. We had a great year on the road last year so anybody that came to the shows thank you very much for coming, we had a good craic.

 

Hopefully we’ll see you somewhere soon.

 

Have a few drinkies on me. All the best.”

 

Kelly Jones of Stereophonics.

Winner of Musos Lead Singer 2026

 

“Hi everybody at The Musos Awards, it’s Sam from The Lilacs here. Sorry I can’t be with you all tonight to accept this award, but I wanted to come on and just say; thank you very much for nominating me for the musical hero award this year.

 

I’m sure a lot of you will know I had battled through cancer last year, went through quite a lot of treatment and in amongst all that, still managed to play a few great gigs and had a great year with the band.

 

I want to dedicate this to everybody else out there who’s going through their own challenges.

 

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.

 

I hope everybody’s having a great night and congratulations to all the rest of the winners and we will see you all very soon. Nice one”

 

Sam Birchall, The Lilacs

Winner of Musos Hero 2026

 

I went to the Musos Awards at The Electric Ballroom.

A nice combination of awards to different people within a certain side of the music industry, complimenting them on their work and their achievements. It was really exciting.

 

They also brought together a whole load of different bands performing live on stage. Some unfamiliar, some familiar and there were some great great sets”

 

John Kennedy, `X-posure show, Radio X

A.R.T. - Winners of The Bands Come Out To Play 2026

 Appreciation to all the sponsors, supporters, audience and believers. You did it, we did it!