The Shortlist for the DICE Live Award 2022 has just been announced celebrating the best live music acts in the UK and Ireland. The winner will be announced at the DICE Live Award event on Tuesday 22nd November at The Lower Third in London’s West End. The winner of the sixth DICE Live Award will join a prestigious line up of past winners including Dave, Little Simz, Loyle Carner, Slowthai and Wolf Alice, who have gone on to headline major shows and be recognised by the BRIT Awards or Mercury Prize.
The shortlist has been decided by senior industry figures following testimonial input from promoters, venues, managers and labels, with DICE’s top fans voting to crown the winner. It includes five artists who are not only creating music that people love, but also delivering live performances that keep fans coming back for more. The Top five shortlisted acts are Fred again.., Gabriels, Obongjayar, Self Esteem and Shygirl
Andrew Foggin, Global Head of Music at DICE said: “We’ve loved watching our shortlisted artists create unmissable live shows and memories for fans. Each artist has had an incredible year on the live front – Obongjayar and Self Esteem have seen amazing fan growth on DICE, Gabriels headlined our new partner venues Outernet and New Century, Shygirl sold out her first headline shows in the UK and Fred again.. was immense on Boiler Room”.
The night and hosted by fan favourite app, DICE; the fast growing live event discovery platform. It has transformed how fans discover and buy tickets to live events all over the world. The app stops touts and protects fan and is highly personalised for each fan, with a ‘Discovery’ feature that recommends upcoming gigs and events just for them.
Fresh from her Mercury nomination, Dice shortlisted, Self Esteem burst onto the live scene as a “take-no-prisoners” pop artist. Her solo sound is big-chorussed and experimental, making the atmosphere at her live shows spellbinding and all-consuming. Following the release of her Mercury Prize-nominated second album, Prioritise Pleasure, fan demand has seen her add a run of extra dates including a third night at London’s Eventim Apollo to her sell-out tour.
If you’ve seen, shortlisted, Shygirl live, you’ll know she’s not one to miss. The rapper, singer-songwriter and DJ’s music incorporates elements of house, industrial hip-hop, grime and deconstructed club. Shygirl is quickly becoming a cultural icon, with her sound lighting up venues from Heaven in London and Trinity Centre in Bristol, with shows still to come this year at the iconic Printworks and Manchester’s Albert Hall.
The buzz surrounding Gabriels has been growing since the release of their debut EP, Love And Hate In A Different Time, in 2020. At the time, Elton John called it “one of the most seminal records I’ve heard in the last 10 years” and they came to London to play a series of intimate, word-of-mouth gigs. Now, they’re one of the most talked about bands of 2022, playing Glastonbury for the first time and selling out DICE venues including Outernet in London and Manchester’s New Century.
Obongjayar is the moniker of Nigerian-born, London-based artist Steven Umoh. His bold, genre-defying sound has roots in afrobeat, electronic, soul and hip-hop and tackles everything from family relationships to self-confidence and politics. His supporting performance for Little Simz’ UK tour last year, after collaborating on her track ‘Point and Kill’, introduced him to thousands of new fans and proved he could captivate a live audience with his energising sounds. The release of his first album Some Nights I Dream of Doors in May as well as popular shows at the likes of Rough Trade Nottingham and Patterns in Brighton, have consolidated his position as one of the most exciting live artists of the year.
Fred again… has established himself as an accomplished producer and songwriter. With a sold out album tour this year, Fred again.. has the unique ability to transport fans to an entirely new dimension, with emotive, layered dance beats, tender vocal samples and remixed recorded conversations, making his live shows some of the most sought-after tickets in the UK.
In addition to the winner announcement on the night, the DICE Live Award will include a ‘Ones to Watch 2023’ space, featuring live performances from three up-and-coming artists who are breaking through on the DICE app including alt-R&B artist Amie Blu, whose debut EP was released in April, experimental rapper BXKS, who’s ever-evolving sound has received praise from the likes of Skepta; and Ray Laurél, an artist looking to break “the boundaries of UK Pop”. DICE will be supporting all three artists on the live music scene next year. Amie Blu, BXKS and Ray Laurél will all perform live on the night.
Andrew Foggin, Global Head of Music at DICE said“We can’t wait to celebrate their talent on the night alongside performances from our ‘Ones to Watch 2023’, who are some of the most exciting artists set to break through on the live music scene next year.”
The award event will be held on Tuesday 22nd November at The Lower Third, Outernet’s brand new entertainment venue based in the former 12 Bar on Denmark Street. A selection of tickets are now available to fans on the DICE app here.
