Pure Rawk Awards 2015

The 9th annual Pure Rawk Awards are a readers choice independent rock, metal and punk awards run by the webzine, Pure Rawk (www.purerawk.com).

The doors open, a couple of awards are given out, band plays, more awards given out, band plays and so on until we’ve given them all out. If you turn up for doors we usually have freebies and a chance to grab a seat.

EXIT INTERNATIONAL were bombarded with praise for their fan-funded gem “Our Science is Golden” last year. They are ready to unleash a bag of new material after a quiet 2014 (it’s always the quiet ones you need to watch) and at the Pure Rawk Awards you expect a full on chugging, dual-bass-led, noise-pop assault. They were the Pure Rawk Awards Band Of The Year 2013 and popped up in the nominations last year for Release Artwork Of The Year (album/EP/single for ‘Our Science Is Golden’), Bassist Of The Year for Fudge Wilson and Band Of The Year (again!). More info: https://www.facebook.com/ExitInternational

ZEN MOTEL are a name a lot of Pure Rawk readers will be familiar with. After a break (during which time frontman Lee Wray worked on CJ Wildheart's album "Mable") the dirty rockers have flicked the sign around on the door and are back in business. The history with Pure Rawk and Zen Motel runs deep. Expect lots of fun (and maybe daft anecdotes). https://www.facebook.com/ZenMotel

CHRIS CATALYST is known for his slick pop rock tunes both as a solo artist and the frontman of Leeds rockers, Eureka Machines. Expect quick wit and sing-alongs aplenty. Catalyst and the Eurekas have been part of fan-funded success more recently. Eureka Machines hit their PledgeMusic target for “Brain Waves” within 80 minutes of going live just before Christmas! There are full band tour dates being announced soon. More info: www.facebook.com/eurekamachines

TROPICAL CONTACT were technically the first band that we booked. Between that time, they split up and started back up again! After being hooked to their EP "Go Getters. Jet Setters. Heavy Petters" and seeing their debut London show earlier this year, we had to ask them to play. They’re daft bunch, but they have the tunes and the talent to back it up. Think Andrew WK (I Get Wet) sized anthems, the intelligent humour of Terrorvision and the funked up vibe and quirkiness of Electric Six and you're close to experiencing a Tropical Contact set. https://www.facebook.com/TropicalContact

MR SHIRAZ won Best Single of the Year in the 2014 Awards for "No Prophecy". The Huddersfield groove punks take their cues from bands like The Bronx, Faith No More and Rage Against The Machine. PR scribe extraordinaire, Dan Stent put it best for their recent performance at Nightmare Festival in Camden "their show was a whirlwind of energy. Lead singer Mikey Shiraz has a brilliant voice and his banter in between songs was hilarious – he certainly knows how to work a crowd. Mr Shiraz are destined for big things." https://www.facebook.com/mrshiraz667