The awards season has begun. Here we go then!

The music world consists of so many talented and wonderful emerging artists at the moment. It is so hard to choose!

It is always hard to choose.

The DICE Live Award 2015 took place last Thursday (Nov 19) at Hackney’s Moth Club. What an amazing night! What a pleasure to attend it. What a beautiful human beings.

After a tightly contested battle, Little Simz – North London rapper – was named Best Emerging Live Act of 2015 from the UK & Ireland, following 2014 winners Wolf Alice.

This year’s shortlist also included one of my favourites the extraordinary one-man-band aka Jack Garratt [who was announced as the nominee for the BRITS Critics’ Choice Award only yesterday!!!], Irish lads Girl Band [don’t get confused by the name] and lovely gals The Big Moon who played a brilliant set on that night.

Nominees were selected by a panel of over 100 journalists, promoters, broadcasters and venues throughout the UK. Worth to mention that the venue was packed out with 300 lucky fans who’d been picked from over 5,000 entrants to win tickets.

The atmosphere was thrilling and the entire room gathered close to the stage to see the first performance of The Big Moon. I was looking around and seeing many familiar faces including my fave Gengahr [but I kept my distance ’cause – at this point they may think I stalk them. Or worse]. The reason – yep, probably too many gigs. Although, there’s not such thing, is there?

The girls were amazing! There was even a stage invasion at the end of their set! What, considering the size of the stage, was quite interesting to watch. I must admit it is always a nice change to catch a representative of the same sex rocking out with a guitar. Oh and the drums! All the respect for that band. Now I just want to be friends with them.

See a couple of shots of The Big Moon playing at the DICE Live Award and check their music video for the track Nothing Without You.

As for this year’s winner, Little Simz was incredible. I remember seeing her live before and I must say I didn’t enjoy it back then as much as I did last Thursday.

Described by Kendrick Lamar as the illest, Little Simz is the most exciting artist to come out of UK hip hop in the last few years. After finally dropping her much anticipated debut A Curious Tale of Trials + Persons, the quick witted London rapper went on to sell out a date at O2’s Islington Academy and steal the show on Later… with Jools Holland [watch the performance of the song Wings below]. Playing the last show of this year Little Simz said:

It feels totally surreal to have won this award. Performing in front of that crowd, my last show of 2015, it’s such a high to end the year on. The worldwide tour starts next year, can’t wait.

Russ Tannen, Head of Music at DICE, made a comment about the award’s ceremony:

We had an incredible shortlist but Little Simz has smashed it this year so we’re stoked that she’s come out on top tonight. Last year’s winners, Wolf Alice, went on to score a number two album and Mercury Nomination. The next 12 months are going to be massive for Simz.