Music venue The Black Prince and Northampton Balloon Festival nominated in Skiddle Awards
Music venue The Black Prince and the Northampton Balloon Festival have both been nominated in the Skiddle 25th Anniversary Awards.
The event, by the national ticket operator, takes place in April and seeks to champion independent venues, festivals, events and clubs across the country.
Abington Square venue The Black Prince has been nominated in the ‘Memories Of The Future’ category.
Skiddle describes this category as ‘For the moments when you saw greatness before it was cool. Celebrating grassroots venues where tomorrow’s big names first stepped into the spotlight.’
Also nominated are Jacaranda in Liverpool, Hare & Hounds in Birmingham and The Continental in Preston.
Manager of the Northampton venue, Phil Moore, said: “It’s nice to be recognised for putting on tomorrows stars today.
“Personally it’s given me great pride to be able to host acts who go on to chart success.
“The likes of Working Men’s Club, Red Rum Club, The Clause, The Molotovs all had their first top 40 album after playing here.
“Plus, of course Northants talent like Billy Lockett and Mae Stephens have played early shows here.
“Northampton is a smaller place than the likes of Liverpool and Birmingham so it’s great to be part of that conversation at a national level.
“It’s the community of music fans who really put this place on the map. It’s their loyalty that keeps the scene going.”
The awards are split into four categories, Festivals, Lifestyle, Clubs and Live.
The Northampton Balloon Festival has been nominated in the Lifestyle Category for ‘The One That Made The Family Smile’ Award’.
Other nominees include Girlypop, Comedy at the Castel, Teach Rex and the Highest Point Big Family Day Out.
Elsewhere in the region, Milton Keynes venue Unit Nine has been nominated in the ‘Venue That You Remember The Most’ category and Reggae Land – held at The National Bowl - in the ‘Sounds Like Summer’ Festival category.
The winners will be announced on Thursday, April 30, at Blackpool’s Tower Ballroom as part of the ticket operator’s birthday celebrations.
To vote, visit https://skiddle25.com/vote. Votes can be cast in one or all of the categories.