THERE were smiles and songs as crowds of people turned up to the Love Live Music Awards today. 

The event – which took place at The Neon in Newport – was originally launched by Newport City Radio to showcase local talent. 

The inaugural awards were staged in association with Newport City Radio (NCR) and Kymin Financial Planners, with the South Wales Argus as media partner. 



The free-to-attend event was opened by Newport DJ Scratchmaster Slider and was headlined by local band Apple Tree Theory, who got the crowd going with their performance with washboards and banjos. 

The 10 Love Live Music Awards 2017 categories were: best solo male, best solo female, best entertainer, best cover band, best original band, best duo, best music video, contribution to local music, best local event and best original song.

The last category was decided by the people of Newport in an online vote.

Ian Lamsdale, the managing director of Newport City Radio, said: “The Love Live Music Awards were launched as a response to the demand to recognise the enormous wealth of live music talent there is in the city of Newport and to acknowledge the widespread benefits live music and musicians deliver to the city.”

Here's a full list of winners from the awards:

Best Solo Male - To Bear Sir

Best Solo Female - Ellie McCue

Best Entertainer - Rogora Khart

Best Cover Band - Mr Hate

Best Original Band - KINGSON 

Best Duo - Oxbowlake

Best Original Song - 2Rude

Best Music Video – Jake Ellis Scott

Contribution to Local Music - Ben Harris

Best Local Event - Maindee Festival