Damon Albarn to receive the NME Award For Innovation


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Damon Albarn will be handed the NME Award For Innovation by the publication when its annual prize giving ceremony is held on February 26th at the Brixton Academy.

“Damon’s enduring popularity is a testament to his unrivalled talent,” NME editor Mike Williams says. “He is somebody who is always pushing things forward, always operating in his own sphere and forever innovating via experimentation and collaboration.”

“Britain rarely produces songwriters of Damon’s calibre, which is why he’s been so popular with NME’s readers for the past two decades. I don’t see that popularity waning any time soon, just as I don’t see his ability to write life-affirming, jaw-dropping songs disappearing either. We’re lucky to have him, and it’s an absolute honour for us to be giving Damon the NME Award For Innovation.”

Albarn is close to releasing his first solo album proper, but saw a potential live outing with Blur at the Big Day Out event last month cancelled due to what the band described as ‘constantly shifting goalposts’ on the part of the organisers.

Blondie have been confirmed as the recipients of the NME’s Godlike Genius Award for this year, while Arctic Monkeys look a good bet to go home happy having been nominated in all the major categories.


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