AWARD IN HONOUR OF LEGENDARY MIKE LLOYD TO BE ANNOUNCED AT TOP MUSIC AWARDS
A SPECIAL AWARD in honour of legendary Stoke-on-Trent music promoter Mike Lloyd will be announced at a regional awards ceremony this month.
The Music Awards of Staffordshire and Cheshire – which have been made possible due to the continued support and funding of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and UK Shared Prosperity Fund – received more than 300 entries and is organised by Lee Barber (main image) of The Buzz Stoke, along with the team at Honey Box Live – will be taking place on Wednesday 28 January, at the New Vic theatre.
Following 1200 public votes, 54 finalists are now up for awards in nine categories including Best New Act, Best Band and Best Solo Act.
Plus, a special award which recognises contribution measured by commitment, consistency and delivery, will also be presented on the night in honour of Mike Lloyd who passed away in December 2025.
(Main Image Lee Barber).
“Mike Lloyd delivered real, lasting infrastructure for music in Stoke-on-Trent and beyond for more than 60 years, he supported artists at the start of their careers and helped sustain venues, audiences and opportunities over decades,” says Lee.
“This award recognises contribution measured by commitment, consistency and delivery and naming it after Mike Lloyd sets a clear benchmark for what meaningful contribution to music looks like.”
Lee – who led the first awards in 2016, and has since partnered on the awards delivery with the Honey Box Live, team added: “The Music Awards of Staffordshire & Cheshire is to celebrate the incredible wealth of talent the area’s music offers us, talent that often goes all too easily unnoticed.
“These talented musicians deserve to be put on pedestals and celebrated widely, and that is the aim of the Awards.
“It gives musicians some well earned recognition, something to look back on, and of course something they can use moving forward – approaching a new promoter or venue as an award winning act surely gives you a certain cutting edge?
“Plus the awards are designed to showcase the amazing local music scene to new ears, providing a route for music lovers of the area to find new – and most importantly – local music which they can fall in love with.”
Pete Herbert, co-producer of Honey Box Live – said: “The Music Awards of Staffordshire & Cheshire are without a doubt very special in their own right, and it’s such a fantastic way to celebrate our local musical talent.
“Recently the local music scene lost a true legend in Mike Lloyd, whose impact on music was built on action and we wanted to do something to honour him and his legacy, which is why we have introduced an award in his honour with the blessing of his family.”
As well as The Music Awards of Staffordshire & Cheshire, free-to-attend workshops will be taking place at the venue during the afternoon. The awards and the workshops have received support from Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Lee Barber will host Local Venue Managers Coalition exploring what local venues are looking for when booking bands, Sync Publishing with Sentric records and Kris Tomkinson and a panel exploring the Benefits and Challenges of a Strategic Music Board. Plus there will be a Funding Panel – which has received support from Arts Council England.
Registration is required for the workshops and more details can be found at musicawards.live/events
For award finalist news and more information about The Music Awards of Staffordshire & Cheshire please visit musicawards.live
A special performance will take place on the night with Beans on Toast (pictured below).
Beans on Toast. Image by Elliot Hingston.
