Dorset-born musician, composer, poet and songwriter PJ Harvey is to be honoured with a special award for her Contribution to Dorset Music at the Original Music Awards at Lighthouse Poole on Friday 17 January.
Having consistently drawn on her Dorset roots, from the gutsy songs of her 1992 debut album Dry, through the Mercury Prize-winning Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (2000) and Let England Shake (2011), to last year’s I Inside the Old Year Dying. In 2022, she published her verse novel Orlam, the first substantial work written in the Dorset dialect for decades.
Polly Harvey grew up on a farm near Corscombe and cut her musical teeth playing pub back rooms and get togethers in West Dorset before joining Bristol-based band Automatic Dlamini that precipitated her forming her own band in 1991 and moving to London where their first demo tape attracted the attention of John Peel, the music press and record labels.
Announcing the award, the Original Music Awards Panel 2024 say: “We are recognising PJ Harvey with this award, not because of her notable successes, but because Dorset has always remained at the heart of her work. Whether it be using soundscapes of Dorset in her creations or writing poetry in the Dorset dialect, it’s very clear that she has always remained true to her roots.
“What we want to celebrate is the inspiration this brings to grass roots Dorset musicians, particularly the younger generation. That in this day and age of streaming music to the masses, as a songwriter and composer you should never be afraid to be experimental, to try new things and continue to discover where your voice and writing can take you.
“This award is for her often unseen or overlooked contribution to the music scene, but one that we think is highly important to recognise and should indeed be celebrated.”
With a splash of red carpet glamour, the annual Original Music Awards celebrate original music talent and the creative services that support it in Dorset.
“The sole aim is to hail this area as a hotbed of musical talent,” say organisers Matt Black and Mel Berkhauer of Hangover Hill, the team behind Live and Unheard, the monthly grass roots music night at Lighthouse.
“Although there are winners, this is not like a race. It’s more like a house of cards – there is a layer at the top, but without the layers below the whole thing is meaningless.
“The music community works because it supports itself and as a direct result of the OMAs there are now more venues across Dorset that are willing to support and encourage original music, which can only be a good thing for creativity in this inspirational part of the world.”
A host of awards will be presented on the night, most of which will see the winners of each category announced from a list of three nominees decided by the judging panel of music writers, presenters, event organisers and PR specialists.
However, the Original Music Awards also feature a number of Special Awards for those whose music, and the circumstances in which it is made, call for wider recognition. Alongside PJ Harvey, this year’s special award winners are:
Inspirational Person: Calvin Glen
Now a professional performer/musician/songwriter who graduated with a First Class BA (Hons) in Performing Arts from the London College of Music, Calvin’s lived experience had previously led to a severe episode of mental illness including self-harm and suicidal ideation. His love of music and performing arts, and the support and positive mentoring he received from arts practitioners, was a huge part of his recovery. He has hosted and created several fundraising events and campaigns, representing Dorset Mind as an advocate, speaking in public and in TV, radio and press interviews. Last year, he became Dorset Mind’s youngest Trustee. Calvin has been awarded the Road to Recovery NHS Award and a Princess Diana Award, and was a finalist for the BBC Teen Star award, where he met Prince William and Prince Harry.
Services To Charity: Joe Musker
Having moved to Dorset in the mid-1980s from his native Liverpool where he had been in bands including Dead or Alive, The Farm and Wah!, Joe was a youth worker for Bournemouth Youth Services for 26 years. Since 1983, he has organised the popular Drumming 4 Life events where numerous young drummers get together and play, raising thousands of pounds for cancer charities. He is also a busy Ambassador for the Youth Cancer Trust and a Trustee for Absolute Music. Since retiring, he has been repairing broken drumkits, polishing them up, tuning them and reskinning them, then giving them to local schools, enabling many children to have access to and learn a musical instrument.
Strength of Character: Macko Grimmer
Bournemouth-based singer, songwriter, musician and dancer, Macko has been blazing a trail with his grunge rock-inspired original music. Having ASD, ADHD, PTSD and a visual impairment, he uses music as a way to push through adversity and send positivity out into the world to show that no matter what challenges we face, there is always hope and a way through.
Spreading the Love: Mischa Weston Green
Mischa is a musician, entrepreneur and philanthropist who leads a musical collective of over 50 musicians, Mischa & His Merry Men (also known as The Merry Many). Alongside this, he manages six businesses and dedicates his time, expertise, and financial resources to various charities and non-profits, supporting more than 25 causes in the last five years alone. Last year, Mischa personally donated £23,000 and played a pivotal role in raising £110,000 through fundraising events. He also volunteered 400 hours of his own time and covered the costs for 545 hours of his team’s efforts – all directed toward grass roots causes and charities. Mischa does this because he feels blessed to have his health and to be born into relative civil society when so many others around the world have far less. Furthermore, he has a deep connection with nature, so has made a pledge to Mother Earth to ensure he does everything he can to protect the environment and all life on it.
Services to Music: Mark Baynes
Mark started his first band when he was 17, somehow he’s now 61. Over the years he has drifted from a punk band to a goth band onto a grebo band before writing a song for a folk band called The Wreckers. Their singer said: ‘No mate, you need to sing it,’ and that was the start of Lady Winwoods Maggot. Some 31 years and multiple very talented musicians later it’s still going. He’s made friends and lost friends playing with Maggot. Their songs have been played at weddings and funerals, birthdays and wakes. They’ve played to crowds hundreds-strong, as well as recently to four people in a bar near the home of Goth legend Carl McCoy (Fields of the Nephilim). Mark says it’s been a rollercoaster but his wife, current band mates and loyal fans have kept him doing what he loves doing most. Music.
Contribution to Dorset Dance Music: DJ Pencil
DJ Pencil has been at the forefront of UK Garage since its very early days, spearheading the scene on the south coast and running successful events for clubs like Slinky (Room 2 Switch, Slinky Balls) and Ministry Of Sound. He also held one of the longest running UK Garage radio shows on Fire 107.6FM and produced a mash up mix for Ministry of Sound Radio. He has a number of syndicate radio shows broadcast online and is working with the infamous Cut Up Boys on bass heavy dance music productions. DJ Pencil runs three record labels – Step2, Step2 Dark, Step2 Future – with a focus on promoting new and undiscovered talent in the bass music scene, providing mentoring and help to new and budding producers. The label also hosted the second arena at this year’s Jurassic Dance festival in Swanage.
Alex JT Award: Rainbow Lion Alex
The award is named after the Dorset artist Alex JT, a former child prodigy who created the soundtrack for a Sony PlayStation game at the age of seven, but passed away in 2014 from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome leaving behind a wealth of music and poetry that continues to find fans all over the world. This year’s winner, Rainbow Lion Alex is a spiritual being living their human experience. They produce soothing sounds and cosmic beats with their handpan drum, Peter, as well as a variety of musical instruments including guitar, cajon and didgeridoo. Diagnosed with ADHD as a child, and suffering from depression and anxiety, Alex is prone to feeling uncomfortable in social situations. Playing handpan has allowed them to commune with yogis and other like-minded people where they otherwise wouldn’t, enabling them to partake in self-care and healing practices such as gong baths, breathing exercises and group meditation.
:: The Original Music Awards are at Lighthouse on Friday 12 January. Tickets available now at https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk or on 01202 280000.
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PJ Harvey image by Steve Gullick