Myles Smith and more call for more grassroots music support at BRIT Awards

Luton's Myles Smith was a winner at this year's BRIT Awards, winning the Rising Star award, which has been previously scooped up by names such as Sam Fender, Holly Humberstone and Adele. On Saturday night, the young songwriter used his platform to call on more support for grassroots music in the UK.

He is quoted as saying, "If artists selling out your arenas and your stadiums started in grassroots music, what are you doing to keep them alive?" Calling on the government for more action. The sentiment was shared by The Last Dinner Party, who picked up the award for Best New Artist, and thanked independent venues for their support. 

Ezra Collective won Group of the Year, and used their speech to thank the youth clubs up and down the UK who helped them to pick up instruments. In the words of Femi Koleoso of the group, "The reason we continue to bang this drum is because so many of the problems that face greater society in the UK, where we’re unsure of how to fix it, but the solution lies with giving a young person a trumpet, the solution lies in giving a young person a saxophone."

Elsewhere on the night, Charli XCX was the big winner, cementing the status of last year's BRAT at a piece of cultural phenomena which will remain relevant for years to come. She won Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Dance Act and Songwriter of the Year. The album's producer, A.G. Cook also won Producer of the Year.  

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Image credit: The BRIT Awards (Facebook)