Celebrated punk poet Dr. John Cooper Clarke is to receive the prestigious 2025 Northern Music Award and perform at the second annual Northern Music Awards.
His distinctive literary style, sound and persona and enduring presence as a voice for alternative culture has granted him legendary status across UK creative communities.
In 2024, it was The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess who won the headline Northern Music Award. This year it’s the Salford Bard who will be crowned winner.
Clarke will attend a star-studded ceremony in Liverpool alongside Northern talent Blossoms, Lightning Seeds, The Zutons, Chiedu Oraka and Luvcat.
Other winners include English Teacher for Album of the Year award and Yungblud for the Disrupter in Music award.
Hosted by the UK’s largest music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins, the event will be held at Liverpool Olympia on Thursday 27 March.
The charity’s largest service area is in the North of England. In 2024, it provided over 23,500 music therapy sessions delivered by 55 music therapists, positively impacting the lives of more than 6,500 people.
‘I am knocked out to receive this award’
Clarke said: “The North is where it all started for me. I’m honoured to be recognised in this way.
“I look forward to celebrating with the incredibly talented winners at the Northern Music Awards and to support the life-changing music therapy work that Nordoff and Robbins delivers for people across the North.”
‘John is, among many things, a visionary, a cultural icon and a true wordsmith’
Toria Garbutt, a spoken word artist from Knottingley who regularly tours with Clarke, said: “I am absolutely thrilled that John Cooper Clarke is receiving this well-deserved honour. Since 2015, I have had the privilege of touring with him both nationally and internationally, and I’ve seen first-hand the impact of his extraordinary talent.
“John is, among many things, a visionary, a cultural icon and a true wordsmith. He is a master storyteller whose anecdotes are the stuff of legend, a lyrical genius with an unmatched command of language, who has carved out a lifelong career in poetry—something few have achieved.
“I’ve had the honour of spending time in his company over the years, listening to his new material, and he has always been a gentleman—funny, warm, and generous. Anyone lucky enough to share his company knows the magic of feeling like the only person in the room.
“I’ve watched him sell out huge venues to audiences spanning all ages, and I’ve learned a lot from him about stagecraft. He is a poet of the people, a national treasure, and this award is not just deserved—it is a celebration of a legacy unlike any other.”
Tickets, priced from £40 (+ £1 venue restoration levy), are available to purchase online now at nordoff-robbins.org.uk/northern-music-awards. Ticket prices include a free souvenir brochure, a gift from Flare Audio and entry to an exclusive Northern Music Awards afterparty at BOXPARK Liverpool with free welcome drink.
Feature image: Dr. John Cooper Clarke. Image (c) Andy Hollingworth Archive.
Join the discussion