1st Old Boys Band helped bring added sparkle to the 2018 Northern Ireland Music Prize awards event in Belfast's Ulster Hall this week.

Now in its sixth year, the high profile awards are coordinated by the Oh Yeah Music Centre, supported by Belfast City Council, the NI Arts Council, Invest NI, and Tourism Ireland along with other related bodies, and are aimed at recognising the great wealth of recorded music from Northern Ireland.

Brass band accompaniment

Northern Ireland native, Hannah Peel opened the show, performing as her synth-based space-age alter-ego Mary Casio with her experimental work combining analogue electronics and a 33-piece brass band.

The Belfast based 1st Old Boys Band certainly enjoyed the challenge of exploring this new musical canvas, and as the current Northern Ireland Band of the Year, performed under the baton of guest conductor Andrew Berryman to entertain a packed audience.

Her magical performance with us on the night was proof that the use of brass can transcend time and space to reach even the most far-flung musical galaxies1st Old Boys

Star on the rise

Band spokesperson Gavin Boyd told 4BR: "Having made the shortlist for Best Album in 2017 at these awards with her acclaimed 'Awake, but always dreaming', her nomination for the second time in the same category in 2018 with 'Mary Casio — Journey to Cassiopiea', her third full length solo release, is proof that Hannah's music star is still on the rise.

Her magical performance with us on the night was proof that the use of brass can transcend time and space to reach even the most far-flung musical galaxies."