Alistair Soyode shines at Hot Country Music Awards and Commandant
By Adeniyi Ifetayo
The Hot Country Music Awards is a major award show in country music, and in its eleventh year since inception with the highest recognised awards presented to the biggest and emerging artists in Ireland.
This year’s award also recognised one of the biggest iconic personalities, the late Big Tom McBride.
Big Tom was a founding member of a band that appeared on RTÉ’s The Showband Show in 1966 with Gentle Mother and the song became a major successful hit, establishing Big Tom and the Mainliners band at the top of the Irish Country entertainment industry.
Their contribution saw them packing in large crowds and fans across the country in the 60s and 70s and the man, Big Tom became known as “The King” of Irish country music. He received the Gold Award in 1980 for selling more than one million records.
Some of the winners included Molly O’Connell, the Tipperary country music singer, who received the “Rising Country Music Artist Of The Year”.
Speaking on the award, “Waking up with a very grateful heart this morning. Thank you Hugh O’Brien & all at Hot Country TV for this amazing award.
“I’m truly blessed, I’m looking up also, to say ‘This One’s For You Dad’. “Stephen Hamilton is a huge part of this award too & my beautiful Mum, Family. Friends & Followers, a huge Big THANK YOU to ye all.” the Kilcommon singer added.
A special award was presented to Ambassador Alistair Soyode, the founder of the first ethnic television in Europe for supporting country music. He also became the first non-Irish from the community to present awards to some of the leading European country music singers.
The Chief Host of the event, leading Irish Director and media entrepreneur, Hugh O’Brien commented about the event which witnessed thousands at the venue, was successful due to the calibre of artistes, performers and the quality of the packaging. He thanked all the fans for their continual appreciations of country music as he promises to deliver even a bigger one in the coming year. Country Music and similars broadcasts on Bskyb Channel 181 and www.hotcountrytv.com
The award ceremony and concert was held in the Hillgrove Hotel, Monaghan on Tuesday, April 4.
