27 October 2015 (gig)
03 November 2015
Held in the intimate but conspicuously grand Under the Bridge below Chelsea FC’s stadium, the first ever Mobo pre-awards show was filled to the brim with the crème de la crème of musical talent.
With the full awards show held in Leeds on 4th November, the pre-awards ceremony acted like an aperitif before the main course. Regardless, the Mobo chefs had spared no expense, cooking up a smorgasbord of performances and interviews before handing out the accolades.
The Mobos have always recognised a wide array of genres and talents. This year’s gala was no different. Hosted by charismatic US gospel star Marvin Winans Jr., a variety of honours were bestowed upon ground-breaking artists including Faith Child (Best Gospel), Binker and Moses (Best Jazz) and Shakka (Best/R&B and soul).
Even for nominees that did not triumph at this year’s ceremony, there was still the chance to drink and smooze with an invite-only crowd. Famous faces at the event included Lemar, Annastasia Baker and Jermain Jackman, as well as a host of music industry heavyweights.
The buzz of the excitable crowd was soon drowned out as ensemble acts, like the Hackney Colliery Band, took the stage with their wild horn section. Solo artists similarly captivated the audience, as evidenced during Julia Beal’s powerful melodies.
Aside from the Hackney Colliery Band, larger live sets were sparse, with many artists preferring keyboard-triggered instrumentals as opposed to full band set-ups. While this approach did add to the polish, it subtracted from the raw intensity of some of the performances.
This year’s pre-Mobo awards ceremony may have been the first of its kind but judging from its success, it is unlikely to be the last. Good luck trying to get tickets for next year!
