Local Music Impact Award winners
In June, Gig Buddies won the Local Music Impact Award!
I (Emily) shared a blog back in April about our nomination for this award, I wrote about how honoured we were and how we didn’t need to win this award, the nomination felt enough – circle to June and we were blown away when our name was announced as the winner!
Aleesha had written a “just in case” speech and left it in the bottom of her bag not expecting to need it. When Gig Buddies was announced, Aleesha was scrabbling to find the speech, we didn’t have far to walk to the stage. The stage had no ramp meaning we couldn’t get everyone onto the stage to accept the award so Aleesha, Ed and myself went together and soon handed the award over to the other gig buddies cheering in the audience.
We are a pretty reserved team (or at least I definitely am), not ones to celebrate our success too loudly – we just keep our heads down and crack on silently making space for others to rightly take the spotlight, so standing up on stage being celebrated for our work was a moment we’ll all remember.
The award ceremony was an evening of celebration, we had over 20 of us celebrating together. We had gig buddies on stage doing the macarena, singing and of course no award ceremony would be complete without one of us doing the space hopper on stage (said no one ever)!
There were lots of emotions when Gig Buddies won the award but mostly, pride – Gig Buddies only exists because of the people around it, the gig buddies themselves, trustees, volunteers, the staff team but also the community of Hull and East Yorkshire who turn up to our events, welcome celebrations of inclusion and stand with us in advocating the fight for equal rights to party!
The Music Cities awards celebrate the world’s most inspiring music cities projects using music to create stronger, safer and more connected cities. Presented annually since 2020 by Sound Diplomacy during the Music Cities Convention, these awards celebrate the individuals, organisations and cities redefining how music shapes communities. This year’s winners represent a diverse range of initiatives across multiple continents, demonstrating how music can support community wellbeing, education, tourism, sustainability, nightlife, technology and policy innovation.
The Local Music Impact Award recognises those driving Hull’s music ecosystem forward: strengthening networks, championing local talent, improving infrastructure, and advocating for a vibrant, resilient, and sustainable music environment across the city and its wider region. Gig Buddies was nominated alongside The Warren and Beats Bus, two well-established and successful organisations.
The best part of the awards was celebrating together with gig buddies, Community Connector and gig buddy Ash said “winning this award has meant so much to me, seeing and been a part of something so special. The moment which we were announced the winner is a moment we all truly deserve, not just one of us but all of us, the whole team - I don't think we'll ever stop celebrating this award.”
It’s taken the last three months to gather my thoughts to write this, but also the work continues - following the award we went straight into two very busy months and we didn’t have time to sit and reflect. A huge thanks to everyone involved, we are really excited to see where the future takes us and we’re going to keep the celebrations going for as long as possible!
2026 Music Cities Awards Winners
Music Community Impact: Sina Loketa / Salam Music Programme (Uganda)
A refugee-led initiative in the Bidibidi Refugee Settlement using music, dance, and creative entrepreneurship to build peace, strengthen communities, and empower young refugees through the Salam Music Program.
Music Talent Development & Education: Agency for Good / Agência do Bem (Brazil)
Brazil’s leading social music education organisation, supporting thousands of children through community music programmes, orchestras, and professional development opportunities for young artists.
Local Music Impact - Presented by Hull City Council: Gig Buddies, hosted by Hull Red CIO (UK)
A community-led initiative matching people with and without learning disabilities to attend gigs together, creating safer, more inclusive access to live music and lasting social connections.
Music Tourism Queensland Music Festival Outback Trail 2025 (Australia)
A large-scale regional music and cultural tourism initiative connecting audiences with live performances, storytelling, First Nations culture, and remote communities across Queensland.
Music & Climate Action: A Greener Future (UK)
A pioneering not-for-profit helping the live music and events sector reduce environmental impact through sustainability standards, carbon analysis, consultancy, and Net Zero strategies.
Music-Led Placemaking: Concerts SA (South Africa)
A live music development project strengthening music ecosystems across Southern Africa through artist mobility, venue support, education programmes, and regional collaboration.
Nightlife & Safe Space in Music: Barcelona City Council (Spain)
Through its Night Commissioner’s Office, Barcelona is creating a safer, more inclusive and sustainable night-time economy by protecting venues, supporting cultural communities, and encouraging collaboration across the city.
Music Cities Tech Solution: MIT Climate Machine (USA)
Developed the first major sector-wide assessment of greenhouse gas emissions from live music in the UK and US, providing research and recommendations to support coordinated climate action across the industry.
Music City Policy: A Ticket To The Future / Bristol Nights & Bristol City Council (UK)
A community-led funding model proposing a 1% ticket contribution to reinvest in Bristol’s music ecosystem, supporting venues, artists, events, and music infrastructure across the city.