Your Breakthrough Music Award winners are...

Southampton band BASH! and Bristol-based Agata will be joining us at Larmer Tree Festival this Summer!

We're thrilled to announce the winners of this years’ Breakthrough Music Awards, following a thrilling live final in front of a panel of industry experts. Friday 26th April saw six talented unsigned artists take to the stage at the Winchester Gate in Salisbury, for a chance to win a slot alongside Kate Tempest, Jack Savoretti and many more at Larmer Tree Festival 2019. The packed venue was buzzing with music fans eager to discover the latest up and coming talent, and they certainly weren’t disappointed with the impressive line-up who had already fought off competition from hundreds of hopeful entrants.

Across two stages, audiences were treated to an eclectic evening of music which kicked off with Bristol singer-songwriter Agata, who performed a beautiful acoustic set of heartfelt melodies which had the crowd enraptured. Next up and opening the band stage for the night were Katie O’Malley and her hip-swaying Americana band who had travelled down from Rochdale to get the crowd up and dancing.

Southampton musician Dan O’Farrell was next on the acoustic stage, treating the audience to catchy folk melodies with a comic twist. Also from Southampton, BASH! then filled the band stage with irresistible pop-tinged electronic fun.

Amesbury country duo Miller’s Daughter performed an intimate set full of raw and heartfelt original songs, and the evening was rounded off in style with a performance from popular Salisbury three-piece Luice, who closed the night with an energetic and passionate set of powerhouse rock.

The judges tasked with choosing the two winners were Larmer Tree Director Rob Challice, Larmer Tree music programmer Charlie Hearn, local musician Emma Hughes and owner of Cross Keys record store Vinyl Collectors and Sellers Paul Smith. It was no easy task, but Agata and BASH! were announced as winners by compere and organiser Colin Holton of Salisbury Live, to a rapturous audience response.

The prestigious prize will see winners perform on-stage at this year’s Festival, sharing the bill with a host of internationally renowned artists. Already announced for the Festival are Kate Tempest, Jack Savoretti, Gomez, The Cat Empire, The Shires and KT Tunstall.

The Breakthrough Music Awards 2019 were presented in association with Salisbury Live.

A playlist of tracks from all six finalists can be heard here.