Songlines Music Awards 2010 for World Music Acts Announced

Following on from the success of last year’s inaugural awards, Songlines magazine announced this year’s winners. The Songlines Music Awards recognize outstanding talent in world music and are voted by Songlines readers and the general public. There are four categories: Best Artist, Best Group, Cross-Cultural Collaboration and Newcomer – the results from the public vote generate the final nominees, the top four in each category.

The winners, selected by the Songlines editorial team, listed below, are published in the June issue of Songlines, (#68) available now in the UK “The audience for world music is greater now than it’s ever been,” says Simon Broughton, editor-in-chief of Songlines, “and it’s reaching out in ever more diverse directions. It’s still essential to have awards in which the leading names can be celebrated and the new and innovative names highlighted.”

Winners:

Best Artist

Goran Bregovic (for the album Alkohol on Wrasse Records)

Goran Bregovic will be presented with his Songlines Music Award by Simon Broughton after his performance at the Festival de Jazz de Nice on July 18

Best Group

Staff Benda Bilili (for the album Tres Tres Fort on Crammed Discs)

Staff Benda Bilili will be presented with their Songlines Music Award after their performance at WOMAD Charlton Park on July 23

Cross-Cultural Collaboration

Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara (for the album Tell No Lies on Real World)

Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara will be presented with their Songlines Music Award after their performance at WOMAD Charlton Park on July 24

Newcomer

Deolinda (for the album Canção ao Lado on World Connection)

Deolinda will be presented with their Songlines Music Award by Jo Frost, Songlines editor, after their performance at CCB in Lisbon on June 8

A 16-track compilation album, Songlines Music Awards 2010 (SPLCD003) featuring the four winners and 12 final nominees is out now on CD and download.