It was a fitting gesture. Gruff Rhys, long the overlord and inspiration for much of Wales’ musical output over the last ten years, has been awarded the inaugural Welsh Music Prize for his Hotel Shampoo LP. The ceremony, hosted by Adam Walton at Kuku Lounge in Park Plaza Hotel, gave a sense of glitz to the acts who earned the right to call themselves nominees with Al Lewis, Colorama, Sweet Baboo and more in attendance. In response to his victory, Rhys seemed genuinely shocked:
“I really didn’t expect to win, so I didn’t prepare anything”
As well as offering due recognition to some incredibly gifted people, the Welsh Music Prize has also helped to generate another angle of buzz to the country’s releases. The fact that we personally can think of another twenty albums that could and should have been on a comprehensive and representative list shows the quality in depth we have to offer this side of the border.
Keep up the good work folks!
