Rolling Stone Awards 2024: Legends, Laughter, and a Bit of Rock ‘n’ Roll Chaos.
If you weren’t at the Rolling Stone UK Awards 2024, you missed a night hotter than a melting vinyl record.
Held at London’s iconic Roundhouse, it was wall-to-wall with music royalty, future legends, and enough dazzling outfits to make Elton John look understated. As Miss England I was lucky enough to be invited along by the Skechers team, alongside global icons and rising stars.
The night started with The Global Icon Award which went to the one and only Nile Rodgers, whose guitar has grooved its way through more hits than you can think, From Chic’s disco anthems to producing for everyone from Bowie to Daft Punk, the man is a walking jukebox of pure funk. Accepting the award, Rodgers reminisced about his career and hinted at his eternal energy. “As long as I can hold a guitar, I’ll keep making people dance,” he declared, giving the crowd another reason to adore him.
It wasn’t all Nile, though. New Order snagged The Icon Award for their trailblazing career, while Ezra Collective won The Group Award, reminding us that jazz is still cool (and they made it Wembley Arena cool). Leeds’ English Teacher opened the night with an incredible performance and walked off with The Breakthrough Award, their Mercury Prize win proving that heartfelt indie rock is alive and kicking.
Meanwhile, performances from JADE, Confidence Man, set the stage ablaze. It was like a live mixtape that went from sultry ballads to floor-fillers faster than you could grab another cocktail.
But it wasn’t all champagne and cheer. The music industry’s struggles loomed large. Artists made an emotional plea for saving small venues, saying, “Without them, we wouldn’t be here.” Between streaming controversies, venue closures, and AI’s creep into creativity, the industry is in trouble.
Still, the night proved that talent always finds a way. Whether it’s Nile Rodgers proving that legends don’t age or championing music’s therapeutic powers, the spirit of creativity remains indestructible.
Why Music Matters
Music isn’t just entertainment—it’s therapy, rebellion, and connection. As I say constantly Music heals—it’s where we find ourselves and each other.” Whether it’s dancing to Rodgers’ funky riffs, crying to New Order’s melancholia, or moshing to the Ezra Collective, it’s clear: music matters, now more than ever.
And as the afterparty spilled into the wee hours, one thing was certain: the Rolling Stone Awards 2024 wasn’t just a celebration of music—it was a reminder of why we need it to survive the madness of modern life. Cheers to that!