Singer-songwriter PJ Harvey took the top prize at this year’s Ivor Novello awards for Let England Shake, fending off competition from Adele’s 21 and Kate Bush’s second album of 2011, 50 Words for Snow.
The win is one of many for the critically acclaimed album, which also won the 2011 Mercury Music Prize, the Q Magazine award for ‘Best Album’ and the Uncut Music Award.
Harvey was unable attend the awards, so the Novello statuette was presented to Dan Lloyd Jones of EMI Publishing, who said:
“PJ is truly sorry she couldn’t be here today, but this is a great honour for her.”
Despite failing to take the prize for best album, Adele still emerged triumphant with two prizes: PRS for Most Performed Work and Songwriter of the Year. Others winners included a surprise victory for veteran rocker Siouxsie Sioux, who got handed the Ivors Inspiration Award in recognition of her over 30 years in the music industry, Lana Del Rey who was given the award for Best Contemporary Song. While Take That and Ed Sheeran also came out on top, winning awards for Outstanding Contribution and Best Song Musically & Lyrically respectively.
Watch a video for ‘The Last Living Rose’ by PJ Harvey below:
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