Immersed Festival celebrates five years of success with awards ceremony

To celebrate five years of Immersed, the music festival run entirely by University of South Wales (USW) students, a special birthday awards ceremony was held last Friday (17 February) at the Cardiff Campus.

The awards marked the start of this year’s festival, which saw headline act Lady Leshurr take to the stage during the main gig at Tramshed on Saturday 18 February, alongside support acts Sage Todz, Minas and more than 20 other bands and artists. The festival was held in partnership with Wales’ biggest live music promoter, Orchard Live in aid of Music Declares Emergency, a climate crisis charity that works to make the music industry more sustainable.

Held in front of a sell-out audience, the birthday awards were an opportunity to reflect, recognise and celebrate the rise to success that Immersed has enjoyed since its inception in 2018, with a number of categories and special recognition awards. One such award went to Hollie Singer, one third of the Welsh-language band Adwaith, who made history by winning the Welsh Music Prize twice – in 2019, when Hollie was a BA Popular and Commercial Music student at USW, and again in 2022.

The event also featured a preview of the Five Years of Immersed documentary, with exclusive performances from Libertino Records artist Y Dail and a fringe event after-party with guests from USW’s partner colleges – Bridgend, Cardiff & Vale, Coleg y Cymoedd and Coleg Sir Gar.

Lucy Squire, Head of Music and Drama at USW, said: “These awards are a valuable mechanism to celebrate the achievements, contributors and successes of the Immersed journey at its five-year mark. We're immensely proud of this project's ability to connect students across the University with industry, community and each other to address real-world problems such as climate change and health.

“Thank you to everyone who has been involved in making Immersed what it is today. We’re looking forward to building the festival further to provide more first class experiences for our students, partners and audience.”

The full list of award winners is as follows:

Best Solo Act, sponsored by Minchella and Manning

Winner: Faith

Best DJ Set, sponsored by the USW Students’ Union 

Winner: Incurzion Audio

Best Support Act, sponsored by Libertino Records 

Winner: Tom Auton and the Bottle Breakers

Best Headline Act, sponsored by Tramshed

Winner: Mace the Great 

Best Emerging Band/Artist, sponsored by Buzz Magazine

Winner: Terrapins

Best Live Act, sponsored by Beacons 

Winnner: Minas

Best Student Band, sponsored by USW 

Winner: Banshi

Recognition awards

Music Photography Award, sponsored by BA Photojournalism

This award recognises excellence in photography within the field of live music. 

Awarded to Reece Harrison-Strati and Megan Monk, third year BA Photojournalism students

Outstanding Technical Contribution, sponsored by BSc Sound and Live Event Technology at USW

This award recognises Sound and Live Event Technology students who have worked with professionalism and dedication at the festival.

Awarded to Joel Luther-Braun, BSc Sound and Live Event Technology graduate

Hero of Immersed! TV, sponsored by BA Media Production at USW

This award is for Media Production students who have contributed to the success of the online component of Immersed.

Awarded to Kerra Thomas and Abi Rumble, third year BA Media Production stduents

Immersed Inspiration Award, sponsored by Minchella and Manning

This award recognises the industry professional whose energy and enthusiasm has served to inspire Immersed students over the years.

Awarded to Kaptin Barrett, music consultant and previous Head of Boomtown Festival UK

Branding Award, sponsored by BA Advertising Design at USW

This award recognises design excellence and creative thinking in the branding of the festival.

Awarded to Cerys Brinkworth and Harvey Graham, first year BA Advertising Design students

Raising Awareness Award, sponsored by BA Illustration at USW

This award recognises communicative and technical skill in illustration.

Awarded to Ozzy Corbett, Rosario Zeilaa, Emyr Bufton, Chris Morgan and Nikola Kaczmarska, BA Illustration graduates

Graduate Award for Marketing, sponsored by the USW School of Music & Sound

This award recognises excellent strategic planning and creative flair in marketing the festival.

Awarded to Emma Greaves, BA Popular and Commercial Music graduate 

Graduate Award for Excellence, sponsored by Orchard live

This award recognises the student whose overall work on the festival was outstanding.

Awarded to James O’Neill, BA Popular and Commercial Music graduate 

Immersed Above and Beyond Award, sponsored by Cardiff Council

This award recognises the help and support of one individual in particular, who has raised awareness of the festival in the industry and developed a professional work ethic within the Immersed team.

Awarded to Connor Cupples of Orchard Live 

USW Special Recognition Award

This award recognises the international success of one of our alumni, becoming an inspirational role model to other students.

Presented to Hollie Singer of Adwaith, BA Popular and Commercial Music graduate